Many Ways to Relieve a Dog’s Separation Anxiety

When separated from the primary caregiver, a dog with separation anxiety may be destructive indoors. Rock and Wasp/Shutterstock

Q: My dog Clyde takes medication for his separation anxiety, but it’s getting worse as I transition from working at home during the pandemic to spending more time away at the office. Would it help if I found him a canine buddy?

A: A second dog usually doesn’t help in situations like this. In fact, Clyde may even teach the new dog to be anxious. Instead, I recommend you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist to address the problem.

Separation anxiety affects 17 to 29 percent of pet dogs. The condition can torment any dog, regardless of breed, gender, or age.

When separated from the primary caregiver, a dog with separation anxiety may be destructive and eliminate indoors. Barking, whining, and other forms of excessive vocalization are common, as are pacing and panting.

Behavioral and environmental management are important first steps in the treatment of separation anxiety.

Drug therapy can be an effective adjunct. Two medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for canine separation anxiety: Reconcile, known generically as fluoxetine, and Clomicalm, also called clomipramine.

An Adaptil collar or diffuser may help Clyde. Adaptil products emit a synthetic version of the dog appeasing pheromone females produce while nursing their puppies. This pheromone helps dogs of all ages feel relaxed and secure.

Nutraceuticals such as Anxitane and Zylkene can help, as can Calming Care probiotic.

A snug-fitting garment like the Anxiety Wrap or ThunderShirt helps many dogs relax. These products calm dogs the way swaddling soothes newborn babies.

A newer product is the Calmer Canine made by Assisi Animal Health. This halo-style device delivers a pulsed electromagnetic field to the area of the brain responsible for anxiety. A study of 40 dogs with separation anxiety treated for six weeks showed the device was effective and safe.

I’m sure Clyde will accept your absences more calmly after his veterinarian adjusts his treatment regimen using one or more of these therapies.

Q: Why do cat bites hurt so much?

A: Cats’ four long needlelike canine teeth easily puncture the skin and penetrate deeply. The feline mouth contains dangerous bacteria that get trapped beneath the skin when it closes over the wound.

Cat bites become painful when the bacteria cause infection and swelling. The infection can form an abscess, trigger a fever, and even damage nearby joints permanently.

In a study at the Mayo Clinic, 30 percent of 193 people examined for cat bites of the hand or wrist had to be admitted to the hospital, where the average stay was 3.2 days.

Two-thirds of these patients required surgery. Eight needed more than one operation, and some required reconstructive surgery.

Most of the other patients with cat bite wounds were prescribed oral antibiotics and sent home, although some were later hospitalized because their wounds didn’t heal.

Whenever you’re bitten by a cat, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention, even if the wound just looks like an ordinary pinprick.

If your immune system is compromised or the cat that bites you has dental disease, your risk of serious infection is heightened, making it even more important to see your health care provider immediately.