What is separation anxiety in dogs?
Separation anxiety in dogs describes a condition in which a dog exhibits distress and behavior problems when separated from its handler. Separation anxiety typically manifests within minutes of departure of the handler. It is not fully understood why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others do not. The diagnosis process often leads to a misdiagnosis as it is difficult to differentiate from other medical and behavioral problems. The behavior may be secondary to an underlying medical condition. With chronic stress, impairments to physiological health can manifest. Increased stress in the dog alters hormone levels, thus decreasing natural immunity to various health problems.
 
 Signs and symptoms
 Dogs suffering from separation anxiety typically exhibit these behaviors:
 
 Following handler excessively
 Pacing
 Excessive salivating
 Excessive shaking (usually seen in smaller breeds like the Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier)
 Vomiting
 Destructive chewing
 Barking, howling, whining
 Urination, defecation in the house
 Coprophagia
 Self harm
 Digging and scratching at doors or windows in an attempt to reunite with the handler
 Escaping
 Anorexia
 Overactivity (excessive greeting, restlessness)
 Cause
 
 The cause of dog separation anxiety is unknown, but may be triggered by:
 
 a traumatic event
 a change in routine
 major life change (e.g., new home, new baby, death of a family member, abandonment to a shelter)
 extreme attachment or dependency on the owner
Separation anxiety in dogs describes a condition in which a dog exhibits distress and behavior problems when separated from its handler. It can be triggered by traumatic events such as being bitten by other dogs, being mistreated, changes in routes, and major life changes such as new pets or children being added to the family.
 
 It it is not fully understood why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety. The diagnosis process often leads to a misdiagnosis as it is difficult to differentiate from other medical and behavioral problems. The behavior may be secondary to an underlying medical condition. With chronic stress, impairments to physiological health can manifest. Increased stress in the dog alters hormone levels, thus decreasing natural immunity to various health problems.