Pet Separation Anxiety

[rguedel]

Hi all,

My husband and I adopted a 7 year old female Beagle from the local humane society that has major separation anxiety anytime we leave. I can only leave her alone for 15 minutes before she starts destroying things. I have a crate for her but she just hates it. I was thinking about exploring medications but didn't know where to start or how expensive the medication is. Thank you!

Robyn
Massillon, Ohio

[stulchinsky]

Hello Robyn,

Thank you for participating in the forum. Sorry to hear about your dog's condition. There is physician-developed and monitored information on Separation Anxiety on this website at the following link:
http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/separationanxiety/index.shtml

I hope this information is helpful. Physicians who monitor these forums respond to some posts but not to all, so please continue to post in the forum as you learn additional information.

I wish you the very best.

[Inthedoghouse]

You sound just like us. We adopted a 7 or 8? year old male beagle from a shelter about 5 months ago. Like you, we can't leave Mickey alone at all either. I've tried a metal cage which he chewed through. I tried a gate for the kitchen and he climbed it. I tried leaving him uncrated. He then shredded my drapes, my curtains and started on my mini blinds. I then got him an airline crate which he hates. I've recorded him in my absence. He barks, whines and tears at his bedding the entire time.
I've read numerous books on dog behavior, tried pheromones, music, TV, bones, calming drugs from the vet. I even recorded myself on a DVD reading and talking to Mickey so I could play it while I'm gone. No improvement. I now have a taller metal gate but he still paws the door and barks the entire time. I feel very confined because I can't leave him alone without worrying the entire time. I can't give him back to the shelter because I've made a commitment to him. I give up. Maybe our two would be great companions for one another.
Kathy in Dayton, OH

[rguedel]

It sounds like they could be long lost siblings!

[badpuppy]

I can totally relate. We have a hound mix that we adopted from a shelter a little over a year ago. She has always had separation anxiety (mildly) however when my husband went away on a business trip a few months ago it escalated dramatically. She has always been crate trained in during the day while we work however recently she started moving her crate around the room and pulling objects into her crate to destroy. She has also managed to destroy the woodwork while in the crate! She cries and howls very loud and is often panting when we get home. We used a video recorder and recorded what she does when we are away. We are working with a trainer from Bark Busters but our dog is far too stressed out and nervous to cooperate. Her behavior has escalated to the point that she is in danger of hurting herself physically. She has bent her crate bars from biting and slamming her body against the crate. She has also made groove impressions on the bottom of her crate trying to dig her way out. I made a vet appointment to discuss meds to help her relax a little so that we can hopefully retrain her to be a more condident, calm dog when we are gone. Unfortunately behavior training alone just isn't working. Our entire family is stressed out and I can genuinely relate about not wanting to take the dog back to the pound. Unfortunately getting another dog as a "companion" just isn't the issue. We have another dog whom she loves and who has to witness this drama everyday! If anyone has tried meds and they work please let me know which one worked well for your dog.

Thanks!