What sort of symptoms have you seen with a dog with separation anxiety??? And what have you done to help them with it?

well when you leave the house if your dog barks, is whining, drooling, jumping, basically going crazy or anything it normally doesnt do when your there

my dog over excited himself too much when i left home one time and had a fit, was not good and a bit scary

my dog often urinated everywhere when we left and got back home, it was kinda gross and luckily its all fixed now

excessive following around (especially before I leave the house, shaking, hiding, etc

I, for one, ignore separation anxiety or any anxiety for that matter & by ignore, I mean when they are showing signs of becoming anxious, you ignore them completely.

I've seen dogs cry continuously & some even become destructive.
The best thing you can do in my opinion is to crate any dog who shows these behaviors, until they learn that you will come back.

Also I have seen in extreme cases, where you can condition the dog by leaving for 2 min. then 5 min. then 10 min. & so on, until they learn that you always return & that there is no need to do anything but wait for your return.

Also every dog needs exercise, a tired dog is a good dog.

My APBT has it and I crate him when we are gone. Some dogs destroy things because they are bored not because they have separation anxiety.

True separation anxiety is a little different and more extreme. Sighs are destructive behavior when you are gone. crying when you are gone. Sever panic when you are gone. Potty when you are gone when the dog is clearly potty trained.

My APBT worries himself some bad sometimes he will passe in his crate and drool all over so bad it looks like some spilled a cup of water. we also left for an hour once and left him in a bed room. He broke down the door from the wall to get out and destroyed the blinds and when potty everywhere!

Sometimes my other dog when he gets bored show similar sighs, but it is not the same its just out of boredom.

Whining, barking, and chewing (destructive behavior) are very common. the book, "better Behavior in Dogs" which was written by William Campbell, gives excellent instructions on how to cure separation anxiety. It also tells you the causes so you can prevent the problem from coming up again in either the same dog or other dogs you may own now or in the future. Additionally, this book covers just about every common behavior problem a pet owner is likely to come across and it is written FOR pet owners, not scientists, so it is easy to understand. the book is a gem and I wish everyone had a copy of it. You can buy a copy at Dogwise: dogwise.com

My pit has it and she destroys everything in sight.

If I have to leave for a large amount of time I leave her at my work (doggie daycare) she loves it there

It is very difficult to determine exactly what the symptoms are. Some dogs whimper and cry, run around the house in a panic. both my dogs chewed newspapers or my slippers if they were left alone. I decided to use a crate just for their own safety – i didn't want them to get into anything that might hurt them and the crate worked out well for both of my dogs. Some people might say that it is cruel but it's not.

Overview of Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Pets suffering from separation anxiety exhibit a wide variety of symptoms. They engage in destructive behavior, bark excessively, suffer from panic attacks and often cry and injure themselves when they’re left alone. although the cause of separation anxiety remains unknown in some pets, dogs that have been rescued from shelters generally suffer from this condition. Apart from this, if you have been spending plenty of time with your pet and he has become overly dependent on you, he will show signs of separation anxiety when you leave him alone for a couple of hours. any change in your routine can also trigger off the symptoms of separation anxiety.

Symptoms of Separation Anxiety

All pets suffering from separation anxiety appear anxious and afraid. They often chew or bite their own skin due to boredom and fear of being alone and may destroy furniture or objects lying around the house. Research indicates that pets suffering from separation anxiety are also likely to get extremely disturbed when they’re suddenly startled by thunderstorms or loud noises. They may also urinate or defecate in unusual places. Separation anxiety shouldn’t be confused with behavioral problems. although the symptoms of the two conditions are almost similar, dogs suffering from separation anxiety require proper medication that will help them calm down. Obedience training will also help to a great extent but most pets will need medication to get relief from the symptoms they exhibit.

Treatment of Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Some of the most common drugs that are prescribed to treat separation anxiety in dogs include Clomicalm and Fluoxetine. Clomicalm falls under the class of drugs termed as tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs alter serotonin imbalances in the pet’s brain and alleviate the symptoms of separation anxiety and other behavior problems. Fluoxetine on the other hand is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that works to increase the amount of serotonin present in the dog’s brain. Apart from these two drugs, the vet may also prescribe amitriptyline to control separation anxiety. Since these medications are prescription drugs, you must discuss the pros and cons of administering them to your dog, with the vet.

Dosage and Administration

In most cases dogs suffering from separation anxiety require 0.5 to 1.5 mg of Clomicam per pound of body weight once a day or every 24 hours. while the dosage and administration instructions for Fluoxetine are always determined by the vet, dogs are generally administered 0.5 to 2 mg of Amitriptyline per pound of body weight every 12 hours. Since each dog reacts differently to these medicines, you need to ask your vet about the dose that’s right for your pet. an overdose is dangerous and can be fatal. You must therefore read all instructions that are listed on the medication you buy and follow them meticulously.

Medications that are prescribed for separation anxiety in dogs have various side effects. Most medicines shouldn’t be combined with other monoamine oxidase inhibitors, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or medications that are used to control seizures. You should also keep the vet informed about any other medicines (over the counter drugs/herbal remedies) that you regularly give your pet. This will help the vet determine if any possible drug interactions could take place. If the pet exhibits any side effects like facial swelling or allergic reactions after taking any of the medications listed above, contact the vet at the earliest.

Home Remedies for Dog Separation Anxiety .

There are several things you can do at home to prevent your pet from suffering from a panic attack when you leave. Since most dogs feel lonely and bored, leave a few toys around the house along with food, water and healthy treats. Keep the window blinds open so that your pet can look outside. This will prevent him from feeling abandoned or confined. Also leave the radio on so that the pet doesn’t sense the silence around the house. Some vets and experts recommend the use of a crate to help the dog feel safe and secure. although not ideal, crate training is beneficial if the dog is left inside for only one hour. once you return home, you must let the dog out of the crate and take him outdoors to urinate and defecate.

Dealing with Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Although there are medications that help control the symptoms of separation anxiety, don’t solely rely on them to keep panic attacks at bay. Instead, consider keeping your pet at a boarding facility when you’re away.