Behaviour Modification Best Medicine in Treating Dogs' Separation Anxiety

MANHATTAN -- For the most part, Kasey is a wonderful pet. But during tax season -- the busiest time of year for her owner, Karen -- the 2-year old beagle's behavior takes a nose-dive. The long hours Karen is away and the reduction in attention Kasey receives makes the pet excruciatingly anxious, causing her to urinate on furniture in the house.

Kasey's problem may be deeper than revenge. She may be suffering from a disorder the canine world is beginning to take seriously -- separation anxiety. The malady is one of the most common reasons owners euthanize pets.

Separation disorder, according to Kathy Gaughan, a doctor of veterinary medicine at Kansas State University's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, becomes a problem when pets are separated from their owners. The ailment occurs when the pet, because of an abnormally close bond between it and the owner, becomes extremely distressed or anxious when separated from the owner. The four predominant signs a pet may suffer from the malady include destructiveness, excessive salivation, excessive vocalization or house-soiling when the owner is absent.

According to Gaughan, cats can also have separation anxiety, but tend to suffer from the problem less than dogs. She said cats are typically loners and not apt to get as distressed when the owner is away. "I think we see it more with dogs because they tend to be social or pack animals," Gaughan said. "They tend to see the owner as a pack or family member."

Gaughan said separation anxiety seems to be more prevalent in dogs that are either raised as orphans or shelter dogs that have been previously abandoned. These dogs subsequently develop an "abnormally strong" bond with the owner and will follow the owner from room to room, never letting the owner out of sight.

"Usually the owner doesn't mind at first because they think it's cute," Gaughan said. "But actually it is an inappropriate type of bonding because the pet becomes too attached and too dependent. Although the owner wants the dog as a companion, the dog still needs to learn to be confident and independent."

A new medication, Clomicalm, was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat separation anxiety in dogs. Gaughan said the tricyclic anti-depressant is typically not used for depression in dogs, but to reduce the anxiety associated with separation and facilitate behavioral modification.

"It is our goal to give the dog medication for a defined period of time during which the dog can relax, be less anxious and more confident," Gaughan said. "Owners also need to help the dog relax and not reinforce anxious behavior."

While some are heralding the drug as a speedy cure, Gaughan stresses Clomicalm alone is not the answer for treating separation anxiety. She recommends the drug be used in combination with "behavior modification" for the pet. Behavior modification for separation anxiety includes not making a big production about leaving or rewarding the dog for being anxious, Gaughan said.

Gaughan recommends ignoring the pet for 20-30 minutes prior to leaving to avoid an abrupt discrepancy from giving it lots of attention, then leaving. "It makes their anxiety much worse than if you try to ignore them before you leave and just quietly slip out the door," she said.

Another part of behavior modification for separation anxiety includes teaching the dog to relax when the owner comes home. "This means ignoring the dog that is jumping all over you, waiting until the dog settles down before acknowledging its presence."

Gaughan said behavior modification alone can help the animal overcome this problem; however, in many instances time is of the utmost essence in the training process.

"By the time an owner has consulted with a vet, they're at the point where either the dog goes or they get the problem fixed," Gaughan said. "Often times we don't have the leisure of having six months to work with these dogs. We often need the anti-anxiety medication on board because we need to see improvement much quicker, within a two- to four-week time period."

Gaughan said Clomicalm is not for every dog. She recommends dog owners consult with their veterinarian first to see if the drug is a proper treatment option for their pet.

Please note: Media Relations is unable to answer questions about specific pet health problems. Contact your veterinarian.

For more information, contact Gaughan (pronounced "gone") at (785) 532-5690. Prepared by Keener A Tippin II.

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Thursday, November 4, 1999