My anxious senior dog won't eat when I'm gone. What should I do?

Poor Kronos! Many dogs won't eat if they are very stressed or anxious - this is the most common reason that they may not eat while their owners are away. You can try providing some extra tasty food for your pet sitter or boarding kennel to feed him while you're gone - perhaps canned food if he normally eats dry. If this doesn't help, your vet can prescribe an appetite stimulant or anti-anxiety medication to be given while you're gone - this may be the best option if he goes days without eating, since this can cause serious health problems. Consider working with a veterinary behavioral specialist to gradually desensitize Kronos to your absence. Behavioral modification techniques may [reduce](https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-ways-to-reduce-separation-anxiety-in-dogs/) the severity of his anxiety when you are away.

Try to stick to the same routine as before, like feeding the same food from the same dog bowl, playing and going for walks, etc. If he is still not interested in food, you can try something like boiled chicken breast to entice him to eat. If it is caused by anxiety, supplements like Zylkene or Comfort Zone Adaptil Collars or Diffuser may help. However, if Gizmo does not seem interested in eating in 24 hours, he may need to see a vet if there is a medical cause for his anorexia. It is possible that it is purely coincidental that his not eating happened when you went to your Grandmother's house.

Poor guy. He will need to see your local vet to get the medication (i.e. Fluoxetine, Clomicalm, etc) he needs to have a hopefully stress free and anxiety free time away from you during your leave. I would recommend scheduling an appt with your vet soon. Anything over the counter (Thundershirt, pheromone diffuser) is likely not going to be strong or effective enough to make a difference, especially if he is as anxious as you say he is. Also, it may be better if he is at home in familiar surroundings, than with you in a foreign place. Having a sitter come to the house is probably the best case scenario for him, unless of course you have tried this before to no avail. Best wishes with Germa and I hope you work things out for her. Take care.

Hi, it seems the question may have posted several times by accident. For your reference, here's the answer that was posted a few minutes ago: Hello, and thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You are right to be concerned - appetite is an important way that our pets can show us how they're feeling, and when a dog doesn't eat, it is often a sign of sickness. However, sometimes dogs will eat less when they're stressed, such as when their owners travel and they're staying in a new environment. I recommend mixing a small amount of cooked rice and lowfat chicken breast in with Poopetta's food - if she cannot be enticed to eat that, then I recommend having her seen by a vet to make sure there isn't something more serious going on. Hope this helps!

I would recommend first getting a crate to keep Darby in while you are gone. This will help prevent her from destroying the house and keep her safe so she doesn't get into anything that could harm her. Crate training can take a few weeks but once she is used to the crate she will begin to feel safe there. I would also recommend taking her on a fast paced walk before you have to crate her to help drain some of her nervous energy. You can also try giving her a chew toy like a kong in the crate to keep her distracted. If these tactics do not work I would recommend talking to your vet about starting her on an anti anxiety medication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes for separation anxiety. It is a very complex problem and takes many months of working with a professional in-home dog trainer (plus or minus behavior modification medications from your vet) to correct this behavior. I strongly recommend you get a professional trainer to your home to check out her behavior and then they can help you make changes to help her get over the anxiety. It will not be easy and it won't be quick. I recommend Bark Busters and they have a trainer in your area. I believe they do a free initial consult. Trying to correct this on your own is not recommended as you could give her incorrect signals and actually make her worse. ( https://www.barkbusters.com/dog-training-winston-salem-greensboro ) Depending on the severity of the anxiety, most dogs will benefit from the short-term use of pheromones until the problem can be controlled. You can start Adaptil pheromones to see if it helps. ( https://www.adaptil.com/us/Products/ADAPTIL-Calm-Home-Diffuser )

Hopefully, it is due to the stress of your absence and not a drug toxicity. Monitor him for lethargy, ataxia (wobbly gait), drooling loss of appetite, dilated pupils or rapid heart rate/breathing. These can all be signs of drug ingestion. Try withholding food for 24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored electrolyte replacement fluid. Resume feeding a bland diet in small, frequent amounts until the stool is normal before slowly transitioning to his regular diet. A bland diet can be plain white rice mixed with either cottage cheese, boiled boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cooked/drained ground turkey or cooked/drained ground beef. Gradually acclimate him to your absence by leaving for ever increasing periods of time. Prepare to leave several times during the day. Leave sometimes, sometimes just put your stuff away and stay. Do not make a big deal about leaving or arriving. Ignore your dog for 15 minutes or until he calms down upon your return. Use special toys or treats only when you leave. Take them up when you get home. Pheromone products such as the DAP Diffuser or Adaptil collar may decrease his anxiety while you are gone.