Separation anxiety is one of the most common behavioral welfare problems in companion animals, causing genuine distress and significant practical challenges for affected animals and their owners.
Separation anxiety represents genuine suffering - not misbehavior - in affected animals. Dogs experiencing separation anxiety show elevated heart rate, cortisol, and behavioral indicators of acute distress during owner absence. The welfare impact is significant and sustained, affecting quality of life on every day the animal is left alone. Treatment requires a systematic desensitization program building tolerance for alone time gradually, combined with management strategies reducing the frequency of distressing absences during treatment. Medication including fluoxetine or clomipramine supports behavioral treatment in severe cases. Owner understanding that the animal is suffering rather than being naughty is the foundation of effective treatment.