Dr. Shadi Ireifej explains the science behind Separation Anxiety Disorder in dogs. He also discusses how to diagnose and several possible treatments (including increasingly popular CBD treatments).
By Pet Pro Supply Co. Featured Veterinarian,
Dr. Shadi Ireifej DVM DACVS
Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at VetTriage
What is Separation Anxiety Disorder in Dogs?
Separation anxiety disorder is a disease involving psychological, emotional, behavioral, and physiological aspects. This disorder has been reported in birds, dogs, cat, horse, pig, sheep, goat, cattle, cetaceans (whale, dolphin, or porpoise), and human and nonhuman primates. This discussion will be focused on the canine companion population.
Canine separation anxiety disorder occurs when a given dog is forced to remain at a physical distance from their owner. Dogs affected by separation anxiety disorder can exhibit psychogenic grooming (“over-grooming”) and secondary self-inflicted injury. This disease may be similar to phobic disorders and panic attacks in people. Dogs may show over-exaggeration and overreact to ambiguous or unpredictable situations. Similar to bipolar disorders in people, dogs can fluctuate between manic or agitated states and depressive or subdued states. These clinical signs may be more overt in more severe cases.
How Common is Separation Anxiety in Dogs?
Approximately 14% to 20% of canine patients from general veterinary practices show signs of separation anxiety disorder in their owners’ absence.
However, as with other anxiety disorders in veterinary patients, underdiagnosis of anxiety-dependent separation problems has been previously reported due to misinterpretation of normal…
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