by Jennifer Sharpe
The end of summer means back to school and a return to routine for many families. The house is likely a lot quieter on weekdays and even during nights and weekends, which often get filled with activities in the fall.
Adjusting to the new schedule affects everyone in the family, including our pets.
A Quieter Home
In many households, summertime means the kids are around family pets more while school is out, and adults might be on different work schedules that allow them to be in the house more frequently. More people might be around the house too, such as college-aged children moving back home for summer break or visitors of all ages stopping by.
As the seasons shift, everyone returns to a more regular pattern of being away, leaving our dogs and cats in a quieter setting.
“Dogs are individuals and react differently to a quieter home,” said Wendy Lyons Sunshine, author of Tender Paws. “Some will feel lonely, others could get frustrated and bored, and others, like older senior dogs, could welcome the extra nap time.”
Our pets’ struggle with the changing home environment could manifest as separation anxiety.
“Separation anxiety is a common behavior disorder in dogs (about 30 percent of the caseload), but less common in cats,” said Leticia Fanucchi, D.V.M., Ph.D., assistant professor, behavior service, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Fanucchi said the clinical signs of separation anxiety include vocalizations when an owner is absent, destruction of things in the house or exit areas such as doors or windows, elimination inside the house, self-mutilation, increased salivation, aggression toward other pets in the house, lack of appetite when left alone, clingy behaviors when the owner is present (“Velcro dog”), and following the owner in the house all the time.
Symptoms in cats might also include vomiting or exhibiting more excitement than usual when an owner returns home.
Seeking Solutions
If you’re concerned that your pet might be struggling from separation anxiety, seek help from your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist.
Lyons Sunshine advocates for establishing security through a predictable schedule and creating routines that remain in place during the school year.
“For example, almost every dog loves a relaxed ‘sniffy’ walk, especially in woodsy places that aren’t busy, where they get time to sniff the ground and the air, as well as to toilet. A sniffy walk can become part of their routine any time of the year,” she said.
Other enrichment activities can be part of the routine as well, said Lyons Sunshine, such as giving dogs a food puzzle or long-lasting chew at a specific time of day. “Younger, energetic dogs who enjoy pouncing and playing could be given a dog-sized plush toy as a wrestling buddy, with supervision, if there aren’t suitable playmates around,” she said.
For pets that experience diagnosed separation anxiety, successful treatment “needs a multimodal approach,” said Fanucchi. “Combining environmental enrichment, such as food-puzzle toys or increased exercise, medications such as anxiolytics and antidepressants, diet modifications, and behavior modification to include developing independence and departure cue desensitization are key.”
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends gradual desensitization, which involves slowly getting your pet used to being alone. Start by leaving your pet alone for short periods, such as a few minutes, and gradually increase the duration to 15, 30, and then 60 minutes. Make sure pets have a “safe space,” a comfortable and secure area where they feel safe, such as a specific room or cozy crate with their favorite toys and bedding.
The AAHA also advises pet owners to form positive associations with departure cues by not leaving as soon as you complete certain tasks, such as putting on your shoes, grabbing a jacket, or picking up keys.
Certain comfort aids also can help alleviate separation anxiety in pets, said the AAHA. Those include treats and supplements that contain natural ingredients that promote relaxation and reduce anxiety, calming sprays or diffusers with pheromones that create a soothing environment for your pet, and background noise such as a radio or television that makes pets feel less alone.
