It is heartbreaking to see your pet lethargic, fearful, and unhappy after you return home from work or a short vacation. Our busy schedules make our pets feel left out and create a state of anxiety in their mind. This anxiety is known as separation anxiety, which not only consumes their minds with disturbing thoughts but also affects their overall well-being. Therefore, it is important to understand and deal with this condition in a calm and effective manner.
In this blog, we will explore everything about separation anxiety and ways to manage it with ease.
Let’s get started!
Understanding separation anxiety in pets
Separation anxiety is a stress response to the distance pets experience when they are away from humans or places they are bonded with. It creates panic, fear, and the feeling of abandonment in them, leading to various destructive behaviours and health issues. Moreover, pets feel overwhelmed and happy when they unite with their human companions or places they were separated from.
Identifying separation anxiety in pets
Your furry companion may exhibit some common signs when they suffer from separation anxiety. Let’s have a look at these symptoms:
- Excessive drooling and barking
- Difficulty urinating at home
- Aggressive behaviour
- Excessive chewing
- Whining or pacing
- Appetite loss
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Shivering
Simple tips to manage separation anxiety in pets
Mentioned below are some tips that can help you manage separation anxiety in pets:
- Create a safe space: Focus on creating a haven for your furballs where they feel comfortable and secure. For instance, you can give them proper crate training to help deal with separation anxiety. You can also consider offering them their favourite toys and accessories.
- Practice positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement helps your pet manage separation anxiety in a happy and effective way. Make sure you don’t jump on your pet the moment you return home and reward them for their patient behaviour with treats and cuddles.
- Make departures and arrivals uneventful: Focus on making your departure and exit from home as normal as possible, and not a big event. This will allow them to get accustomed to the fact that a guardian leaving the home is nothing to get stressed about.
- Encourage spending time apart: Make sure you and your pet spend some time apart from each other. This will not only make them learn to spend time with themselves, and prevent separation anxiety when you are not around.
- Offer mental & physical stimulation: It is essential to provide lots of mental and physical stimulation to your pet so they stay engaged and happy. Physical and mental exercises not only keep your furry friend’s overall health in check but also make them tired and fall asleep by the time you leave or return home. Consider playing fetch or puzzle games at least 30 minutes a day with your pets, preferably before you leave.
- Establish a routine: Developing a fixed routine for sleeping, eating, playing, etc. will make your pet get used to the timings of every activity, including your entry and exit. This will help ease separation anxiety when you are not around and keep them relaxed.
- Seek professional help: If your pet’s anxiety gets difficult to manage, consider seeking professional help for better results. You can also make use of calming supplements such as Adaptil Calm On-The-Go Collar for Dogs, Adaptil Spray for Dogs, Feliway Spray for Cats, Natural Animal Solutions Calm Tablets, etc., to alleviate stress.
Final Words
With adequate knowledge and the right approach, you can easily manage separation anxiety and keep your furry friends hale and hearty. Equip yourself with the information mentioned in this blog and keep your pets calm and composed while you are away from them.
