|
Separation anxiety signs & symptoms · Separation anxiety diagnosis · Separation anxiety treatment · Separation anxiety related articles
Separation Anxiety Medical terms: psychogenic grooming, barbering
With cat and dog separation anxiety, the pet becomes anxious when away from their human companions. They exhibit pet separation anxiety with both physical and psychological problems. Many social animals—birds, horses, whales, monkeys—experience separation anxiety because they are genetically programmed to live within a social structure strengthened by emotional bonds. The Humane Society says: typically, your pet will have a dramatic anxiety response within a short time (20–45 minutes) after their owners leave them.
How serious is feline and canine separation anxiety?
Behavior problems are the #1 reason pets are euthanized. Pets with behavior problems frustrate their owners, and frustrated people often mistreat or relinquish their pets. Fortunately, you have the knowledge to prevent or cure separation anxiety.
 |
|
Why is separation anxiety so bad? Won’t the pet just get over it?
Unfortunately, no. Pets with separation anxiety generally get worse rather than better if they aren’t helped; they don’t just get over it. Anxiety eventually causes physical illness; besides, the pet is miserable when it doesn’t need to be.
|
How long does my pet experience separation anxiety?
The symptoms of separation anxiety are generally worse the first 15 minutes the pet is alone, but can persist the entire time you’re away.
Does having 2 dogs rather than 1 make it less likely they will have separation anxiety?
No. Dogs from multi-dog households are as likely to have dog separation anxiety as dogs from single-dog households. The company of other dogs doesn’t prevent dog separation anxiety because it is the relationship the pet has with the person that causes anxiety.
Dogs from multi-pet households can also develop pet-centered separation anxieties when their pet companions are absent.
|
|
Does having 2 cats rather than 1 mean the cats are less likely to have separation anxiety?
No. Cats from multi-cat households are just as likely to have cat separation anxiety as those from single-cat households. The company of other cats doesn’t prevent cat separation anxiety because the significant factor is the relationship the pet has with the person. |
Cats from multi-pet households can also develop anxiety if their pet companions are absent. Although you would think your cat would leap with joy when their pet companion returned, this doesn’t always happen. Separated pets can physically harass each other when reunited, even after short separations. Harassment is more likely if the returning pet smells differently, as it often does after spending the day at the veterinary clinic. Slowly reintroducing cats avoids violence. Provide Comfort Zone Feliway, a pheromone that makes cats feel peaceful when reintroducing pets. For cats that become hysterical and aggressive, provide herbal calming, such as Quiet Moments tablets or Composure Liquid.
What is barbering or psychogenic grooming?
Barbering is a compulsive, repetitive grooming that pulls out (barbers) hair and creates bald patches. It is also called psychogenic grooming. The bald patches are never on the head or neck where the cat can’t reach, but are on the flanks, belly and hind limbs that are easily reached.
Barbering can be caused by many factors:
- anxiety (separation from family)
- allergies
- external and internal parasites (fleas, ticks, roundworms, tapeworms)
- pinched nerves
- autoimmune disease
- endocrine disease (hyperthyroidism)
With some problems, especially fleas, the skin itches and the itching stimulates the cat to lick and groom until over-grooming becomes a habit. With other problems, the cat has a psychological urge to lick, and the licking creates bacterial or yeast infections. These infections cause itching so the grooming behavior never stops.
Treatment for barbering requires a veterinary consult to determine the cause. Your veterinarian may suggest homeopathic medications, such as HomeoPet Anxiety Relief, or prescription medications, such as amitriptyline, Clomicalm, Clomipramine, fluoxetine, diazepam, alprazolam, and buspirone. Your veterinarian will encourage you to keep your cat flea-free, and may recommend Frontline Plus or Advantage.
Is my pet more likely to develop separation anxiety if it is boarded at a kennel?
That depends. Some pets develop separation anxiety gradually; others develop it suddenly after a precipitating event, such as boarding. If your pet will be boarded, prepare it with short pleasant stays at the same place. Provide the boarding establishment with the pheromones Comfort Zone D.A.P. for dogs and Comfort Zone Feliway, for cats because they can help relax your pet. Provide calming herbs, such as Composure or Quiet Moments, and arrange for your pet to have plenty of exercise and human interaction.
|
The articles here were answered by a variety of pharmacists and veterinarians
|
|
|
