Separation anxiety is a highly distressing condition affecting a significant minority of dogs. Advanced behaviour therapy and medication protocols can substantially reduce suffering.
Separation anxiety causes profound suffering during each episode, which may occur multiple times daily in affected dogs. The panic response includes vocalisation, destructive behaviour, self-injury and elimination that represent genuine emotional distress. Without appropriate treatment, affected dogs experience chronic stress that significantly reduces their quality of life. Accessing qualified clinical animal behaviourists early in the problem's development greatly improves outcomes.