Separation anxiety describes the problem behaviors associated with an extreme distress response following the departure of a human, usually the owner.
Common signs : agitation around the time of departure followed by defecation, salivation, urination, destructiveness and vocalization when finally left alone.
Other signs : signs associated with a high level of attachment and hypervigilance around the owner, such as:
Persistent following.
Attention-seeking behaviors.
It is important to differentiate this problem from complaints with similar signs such as loss of house training, or arousal from external stimuli in the owner's absence.
Prognosis : generally good if clients are able to implement a suitable treatment program.
Presenting signs
Distress at the departure of a particular person or persons.
Restlessness and tendency to follow owner at this time.
Attention seeking behavior.
NB it is important to separate learned attention seeking signs from the distress.
Elimination (urination and/or defecation) when dog is left alone.
Vocalization (howling, whining or incessant barking) when dog is left alone.
Destructiveness when left alone.
Submission or "cringing" behavior when owner returns after an episode of destruction, etc.
Appetite may either be suppressed or enhanced in the absence of the owner.
Vomiting or diarrhea when left alone.
Self-mutilation in the absence of the owner.
Dog tries to prevent owner's departure with aggressive behaviors.
Depression in the absence of the owner.
Escaping from property as a result of its destruction.
Acute presentation
Destruction of furnishings and fittings.
Sudden loss of housetraining.
Noise complaints from neighbors.
Age predisposition
Onset usually in young adults, particularly if re-homed at less than 12 months of age, (or repeatedly re-homed).
Onset in geriatric dogs.
Sex predisposition
No sex bias reported.
Breed predisposition
Labradors and Labrador crosses but possibly any breed can be affected.
More common in dogs re-homed before they are 12 months old, (or repeatedly re-homed).
May arise following separation and return from a period in kennel accommodation.
The condition may develop when there is a significant reduction in the amount of time shared together by dog and owner, eg owner returns to work following a period of unemployment or sick leave.
Pathophysiology
Increased attachment and/or anxious tendencies in the dog, combine with period of owner absence to produce a distress response a range of visceral reactions.
Failure of these behaviors to alleviate the distress associated with separation to an escalation of the response to a maximal or abnormal level.
With time, the dog learns to associate certain owner behaviors with their impending departure and the associated distress. It then may show signs of anxiety or distress before the owner leaves.
The chronic condition is almost certainly associated with the development of an associated mood change in the individual and ceases to be a simple emotional reaction.
If the owner punishes the dog when they return because of the destruction and/or mess, then the dog will learn to associate such an environment and the presence of the owner with punishment.
The dog is then likely to show appeasement gestures towards the owner when they return. These behaviors are commonly misinterpreted as signs that the dog "knows he's done wrong".
Destructiveness and mess are the product of the dog's behavior at a time of extreme arousal and it is unlikely that such behavior is amenabale to control via punishment.
The punishment may then serve to actually heighten anxiety in the owner's absence and exacerbate the problem, since the dog awaits the return of the owner in the presence of a recognizable signal for punishment.
Noradrenergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic and GABA-ergic neural systems are implicated in the mediation of the anxiety and mood states of this condition.
Noradrenergic stimulation signs associated with hypervigilance.
Dopaminergic stimulation is associated with the integration of stressful signals and the production of structured and persistent behavioral responses.
Reduced serotoninergic activity is associated with depressed mood, particularly as a result of chronic anxiety.
The GABA system is inhibitory and involved in the suppression of the primary symptoms of anxiety. Its relationship with the chronic symptoms of mood depression is less clearly defined although there are inevitably associations between the associated neural systems.
Timecourse (incubation, duration)
Initial episode may be extremely severe if associated with a panic reaction. Alternatively, problem may become gradually more severe.
Dog shows distress at the departure of a particular person or persons.
Behavior signs include restlessness and tendency to follow owner at this time.
Elimination (urination and/or defecation) when dog is left alone. The areas chosen are not normally those associated with a controlled elimination, eg close to the back door, although the owner may report the problem as a loss of house training .
Vocalization (howling, whining or incessant barking ), when dog is left alone.
Dog is destructive when left alone, particularly around exit areas like doors and windows. This may involve scatching, digging or chewing.
Dog normally shows intense greeting behavior towards the owner following any degree of separation.
Dog may show signs of submission or "cringing" behavior when owner returns after an episode of destruction, etc. This is often reported by the owner as a sign that the dog knows that "he's done wrong" or "looks guilty".
Dog is hypervigilant towards the owners and normally follows them around the home.
Owner gives dog a lot of attention and dog has learned specific behaviors which attract owner's attention. NB it is important to separate learned attention seeking signs from emotional responses.
Pools or blobs of saliva may be present when owner returns.
Appetite may either be suppressed or enhanced in the absence of the owner.
Dog may vomit or produce diarrhea when left alone.
Dogs may lick or nibble themselves to the point of self-mutilation in the absence of the owner.
Dog escapes from property on a frequent basis when owner is away.
Dog tries to prevent owner's departure or separation in the clinic with aggressive behaviors .
Dog becomes inactive and unresponsive (depressed), in the absence of the owner.
Dog shakes and trembles when owner starts to leave.
Clinical signs
Signs of sympathetic hyperactivity, eg high basal heart rate, if owner starts to leave.
During depressive episodes following the departure of the owner visceral parameters may appear abnormally low.
Diagnostic investigation
Other
Video and/or audio tape recording.
A recording focused on the main center of activity following the owner's departure can be very useful in discriminating other cause of the problem behavior, such as reaction to external stimuli.
Confirmation of diagnosis Discriminatory diagnostic features
Clinical signs.
Definitive diagnostic features
History.
In house demonstration.
Differential diagnosis
Housesoiling - Urination or Defecation
Lack/loss of, or inadequate house training .
Fear.
Pathophysiological.
Inadequate opportunity to eliminate in appropriate area.
Contain the problem, eg with the use of a large dog crate or resident kennels.
This is not satisfactory for the long-term management of the case.
Dog taken with owner to work, etc until effective treatment begins.
Standard treatment
Pharmacotherapy
Clomipramine (1-2 mg/kg BID), or selegeline (0.5 mg/kg SID), with behavior therapy, or fluoxetine (1 mg/kg PO SID).
All punishment should also be stopped.
Behavior therapy
Behavior therapy is aimed at eliminating the cues associated with prolonged departure, training the animal to cope with being alone and reducing attachment to the owner.
Eliminating cues associated with prolonged departure.
The owner should consider all the cues, eg putting on shoes and coats or picking up keys, which signal their impending departure.
Other behaviors which appear to provoke anxiety around this time should also be assessed.
The owner should perform these behaviors when they do not need to leave, thus eliminating the predictability of the behavior.
Training the animal to cope with being alone.
Intense exercise or a high carbohydrate meal will make the dog feel sleepy and more relaxed.
Meals should be given prior to departure, (and at other times so they do not become a cue for departure -see above).
A favorite toy, such as a chew toy stuffed with treats, can be given on a periodic basis including prior to departure. (May only respond when starts to recover.)
This should not be left down for the animal the whole time.
Other toys and environmental enrichments should be provided sporadically.
The dog should not be with the owners whenever they are at home, but periodically shut out for a short time.
The owners should go through the normal procedure for leaving but return immediately to reduce the predicability of prolonged absence.
Measures to reduce attachment.
The owner should send the dog away whenever the dog initiates contact or tries to follow the owner around the home.
Attempts by the dog to gain the attention of the owner should be ignored.
The dog is trained to relax in a particular place, eg a special dog mat with quiet attention and affection in this area.
Once this response is established, the behavior may be put on cue with a command such as "go to the mat" before each session.
The owner should remain "detached" from their dog when they return after a period of absence, until he has calmed down.
Monitoring
Owners should keep a record of the intensity of the behaviors and problems along with associated times, eg duration of separation.
Subsequent management
Monitoring
Follow up 4-6 weeks after commencement of treatment.
Continue follow up for months and monitor for relapse.
Blackwell E, Casey R A & Bradshaw J W S (2006) Controlled trial of behavioural therapy for separation-related disorders in dogs.Vet Rec158, 551-554 PubMed.
Gaultier E, Bonnafous L, Bougrat L, Lafont C & Pageat P (2005) Comparison of the efficacy of a synthetic dog-appeasing pheromone with clomipramine for the treatment of separation-related disorders in dogs.Vet Rec156 , 533-538.
Flannigan G & Dodman N H (2001) Risk factors and behaviors associated with separation anxieties in dogs.JAVMA219, 460-466.
Landsberg G M (2001) Clomipramin - beyond separation anxiety.JAAHA37 (4), 313-318.
Overall K L, Dunham A E & Frank D (2001) Frequency of nonspecific clinical signs in dogs with separation anxiety, thunderstorm phobia and noises phobia, alone or in combination.JAVMA219 , 467-473.
McGrave E A (1991) Diagnostic criteria for separation anxiety in the dog.Vet Clinics N America (Small Anim Pract) Advances in Companion Animal Behavior.Marder A R, Voith V (Eds) 21 , 247-256.
Voith V L & Borchelt P L (1985) Separation Anxiety in Dogs.Comp Cont. Ed Pract Vet7 , 42-53.
Other sources of information
Lund J D, Jorgenson M C (1997) Separation anxiety in pet dogs. In: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Veterinary Behavioral Medicine.D S Mills, S E Heath & L J Harrington (eds). Potters Bar: UFAW. pp 133-142
Simpson B (1997) Treatment of separation anxiety in dogs with clomipramine. In: Proceedings of the First International Conference on Veterinary Behavioral Medicine.D S Mills, S E Heath & L J Harrington (eds). Potters Bar: UFAW. pp 143-154.
Vetstream contributor(s)
Daniel S Mills BVSc MRCVS , De Montfort University, School of Agriculture and Horticulture, Caythorpe Court, Caythorpe, Nr Grantham, Lincs NG32 3EP, UK.
Dr Karen Overall MA VMD PhD DipACVB , Department of Clinical Studies, VHUP 3850 Spruce Street, University of Pensylvania, PA 19104, USA.
It is important to differentiate this problem from complaints with similar signs such as loss of house training, or arousal from external stimuli in the owner's absence.
NB it is important to separate learned attention seeking signs from the distress.
a range of visceral reactions.