As pet owners, we know that our pets are like family to us, more kids if you will. It would be great if we could spend all of our time with our pets, but that just isn’t very feasible for most. The majority of us have to go to work, the grocery store, the gym, to dinner and do various other activities that are not very conducive to pets. Leaving our pets at home can be an extremely difficult decision, sometimes it can be hard to justify being away from them for too long but the sad reality is most people have to. Now just as hard as it is for you to leave them behind, it can also be extremely challenging for your pets to deal with you leaving them. Pets are especially hard because unlike children, you can’t just tell them you are going to the store and will be back in an hour and to text you if they need anything. While many of us feel like we have a connection with our pets and they can kind of understand, it's still hard to know how much they can really understand. Additionally, you may or may not know exactly how difficult it is for your pets to be without you. Some pets, especially cats, can seem extremely impartial to us leaving while other pets immediately whimper when you close the door. Then there are all the pets in the middle where it is difficult to know if they are sad. If you are unsure if your pet suffers from separation anxiety, we have compiled a list with a few key signs they might be.
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Peeing or pooping inside
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This can be a simple sign that your pet has anxiety when you leave them home alone. However, it is important to note that if your pets urinate or defecate while you are home, this is not a sign of separation anxiety.
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Escaping
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According to ASPCA, “A dog with separation anxiety might try to escape from an area where he’s confined when he’s left alone or separated from his guardian. The dog might attempt to dig and chew through doors or windows, which could result in self-injury, such as broken teeth, cut and scraped front paws and damaged nails. If the dog’s escape behavior is caused by separation anxiety, it doesn’t occur when his guardian is present.”
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Barking or howling
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This one is pretty straight forward, but if after you leave your pet seems to bark or howl disportionality more than when you are home this can be a good indicator of separation anxiety.
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Chewing, digging, and other destruction
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Another sign is that your dogs chew on objects, door frames or window sills, dig at doors and doorways, or destroy household objects when left alone or separated from their guardians. It is also important to realize that these behaviors can cause self-injury, such as broken teeth, cut paws and damaged nails. If a dog’s chewing, digging and destruction are caused by separation anxiety, they probably don’t occur when their owner is home.
If you think your dog does suffer from separation anxiety, we recommend using CBD products to help calm them down while you are gone. We like using Zen Frenz Peanut Butter on some of our pets toys so that once we leave they are distracted trying to lick the peanut butter out. And while they’re getting the peanut butter out they are feeling the calming effects of the CBD.
Works Cited
“Separation Anxiety.” ASPCA, www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-