Post Lockdown: Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Oh, how we have longed for days when the government would finally ease the stay at home orders and social distancing guidelines for us to head back to school or work as normal. Approximately 181.3 million Americans have received the first dose of the vaccine, while 155.9 million have been fully vaccinated by Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, or Pfizer-BioNTech.
Schools are now reopening, and adults are heading back to their offices for work, but guess who’s left behind? Your loyal four-legged furry friend is subject to separation anxiety now more than ever. Here are common symptoms of separation anxiety to keep an eye out for:
Urinating and Defecating
The separation anxiety kicks in when the guardian prepares to leave — so you can expect agitation before your departure or while you’re away from home. Your dog may urinate or defecate in the house while they’re left unattended. However, you should rule out any medical illnesses as they too cause urinary incontinence in dogs.
In some instances, it has been noted that the dog may defecate and consume some or all of its excrement when agitated due to separation anxiety.
Barking and Howling
Your dog may bark or howl persistently when left unattended or upon being separated from you. Any other activity mustn’t trigger this behavior to be recognized as a trigger of separation anxiety. Moreover, your dog may trot or walk-in circular patterns or back and forth in a straight line on a specific path.
Escaping
Your dog may try to escape through the windows or door when left in a confined place without a guardian. You want to look for signs of chewing or scratching the doors or windows and destroying household items. This is particularly dangerous as it may result in self-injury (i.e., damaged nails, broken teeth, and scraped paws).
The Treatment for Separation Anxiety
To desensitize your dog or puppy from the fear of abandonment, the best solution is never to allow the dog to experience the situation in which its anxiety provokes to the fullest. While there must be an element of tolerance from experiences that don’t frighten your dog, your furry friend must receive graduated absence exercises. We’re not suggesting you head home every 2 hours from work to check-in, but hiring a puppy sitter that visits your home multiple times a day to feed and interact with your pup work just as well.
Chicago’s happiest dog walking Chicago and pet sitting service, Bark Industries, has now geared up to serve you in the Lake View, Chicago region. We give your four-legged furry friend the undivided attention they desire while you’re away; on our special one-on-one care sessions. Book pet care services for dog walkers or puppy sitter services today!