Your pets are your family, and, like young children, dogs and cats can become anxious and worried when you’ve left their side. Separation anxiety is the distress your pet may feel after you have left the house. Common symptoms include urination, defecation, barking or excessive meowing, chewing, and scratching or digging around the house as well as drooling and attempting to escape. Rather than placing your pet in a stressful situation, where he could potentially hurt himself, treat his separation anxiety with a few easy pet care tips.

First, you must understand the severity of your pet’s separation anxiety to create a pet care program to ease their stress. If your dog or cat experiences mild anxiety when you leave the house, simple counter-conditioning can help him learn to associate your exit with something positive. Next time you leave for work, offer your pet a puzzle toy with a tasty treat inside that preferably takes about 20-30 minutes to open and enjoy. This will help him learn to tolerate or even appreciate alone time.

Alternatively, if your pet’s separation anxiety is more severe, he may require a more intense pet care program to desensitize him to your exit. Try performing pre-departure cues like picking up your keys or grabbing your purse at random times throughout the day at home, so your pet learns that those actions aren’t necessarily indicative of your leaving.

Mililani Town Center Pet Clinic is an animal medical center located in Mililani, HI. They have made it their mission to help the area’s pets stay healthy and happy for the past 29 years. Their well-trained staff of veterinarians and assistants have the experience necessary to effectively create personalized pet care programs for your pets. As the only pet care clinic in the Mililani area, they are available to answer any questions you may have and make appropriate recommendations to help you best care for your animal companion.

Learn more about developing pet care training programs to help ease your pet’s separation anxiety by visiting Mililani Town Center Pet Clinic’s website or by calling them at (808) 625-6744.