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Soothing Separation Helping Anxious Dogs to Cope
by Julie Peterson S
eparation anxiety is a common canine problem, diagnosed in as many as 40 percent of dogs seen by
veterinary behavioral specialists. When the dog is leſt alone, it may serenade the neighbors, soil the house or cause damage. Stories abound of unstuff ed couches, dug- up fl oors, destroyed window coverings and dog injury from chewing out of a crate or trying to escape through windows. In an article on separation anxiety
syndrome (SAS) in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine, Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, cites several studies that agree on common risk factors for SAS in dogs: his- tory of traumatic separation, inexperience with being alone, excessive greetings and prolonged departures by owners, relocation and changes in routine or family structure. Symptoms vary in scope and degree,
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24 Austin Area Edition
but SAS is painful for both dog and parent. Repeatedly returning home to complaints from neighbors or considerable damage can cause owners to surrender their dogs.
Get the Diagnosis If a dog is acting out, an assessment is needed to ensure that what seems like SAS isn’t caused by underlying conditions.
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Boredom, illness or canine cognitive dys- function could result in actions and symp- toms such as pacing or excessive salivating that mimic anxiety. If SAS is diagnosed, owners must understand that dogs aren’t exacting revenge and should never be pun- ished for behavior exhibited when they are terrifi ed, advise veterinarians.
Natural Solutions
Human Tricks A 2018 study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests that petting a dog for one minute before leaving may make the dog calmer during separation. Some dogs feel safest when leſt in a crate covered with a blanket. T e human attitude toward separa- tion can be felt by the dog, as well, but some dogs simply need more help coping. Changing the brain might be the way
to go. Calmer Canine is a device that sends targeted, pulsed, electromagnetic fi eld (tPEMF) signals to the dog’s brain. Unlike approaches like medications, supplements and cannabidiol (CBD) that have to be administered repeatedly as needed, “the dog gets two, 15-minute treatments per day for four to six weeks,” says veterinar-
natural pet
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