Separation anxiety affects a significant proportion of companion dogs and some cats, causing acute suffering whenever the owner is absent.
Separation anxiety causes real, acute suffering in affected animals. Dogs with severe separation anxiety begin showing distress signals — panting, pacing, excessive salivation — well before the owner actually leaves, in anticipation of separation. During absence, they may bark continuously, destroy furniture, or self-injure through excessive chewing or licking. This is not a training problem or a disobedience issue — it is a welfare condition requiring professional assessment and often medication alongside behavioural intervention. Owners who dismiss the behaviour as attention-seeking delay effective treatment and prolong suffering. Early recognition, veterinary assessment, and evidence-based treatment significantly improve outcomes.