My dog gets anxious when parents leave. How to help her settle?

You can buy a thunder shirt or something similar that is snug fitting to provide comfort. Leaving a white noise machine on or music can help keep her calm and drown out other noises so she will. It bear or react to them. You may need to talk to your vet about a daily medicine such as fluoxetine instead of as needed trazadone to help

They're adorable! Leaving them in a smaller room with music on or a TV will help. Start leaving them for short times before you go back to work to get them used to being alone. Ignore them some of the time when you are home and don't make a big deal about your coming and going. You may consider having someone come in for a while at lunch to take them out and play with them for a few minutes. If needed there are anti anxiety medications that can be given for a short time to get them to relax when alone. Hopefully they will settle into the new routine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dogs.

Behavioral modification things to try: downplay your signals when you leave and give her a long-lasting Kong stuffed with treats to focus on. Don't make a big fuss when you return, either--oftentimes owners are unknowingly making things worse by announcing their departures and arrivals. I've had success with anti-anxiety medication like Lorazepam that your veterinarian can prescribe (off-label) for short-term anxiety management. Anti-depressants like Prozac or Clomicalm are also useful for long-term management. Hope that helps!

There are a number of things you can to that may help with his anxiety. Thundershirts are helpful, some say it solves the problem, some dogs only get some benefit, but it's worth a try. There are also calming foods and treats available, ask your vet for recommendations. Personally, I like Royal Canin and Science Diet foods. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Take him for rides, long walks, runs, get him involved in obedience training, learning tricks, dog agility, anything and everything that will tire his body and stimulate his mind. A tired dog is a happy dog. Simba looks like there may be some Border Collie in his background. Border Collies are highly intelligent and need something to do, so lots and lots of exercise can work wonders.

• Leave on the radio/television. Some dogs may be comforted by background noise. What can I do if my dog already has separation anxiety? Treating an established case of separation anxiety will require the guidance and help of your vet. The road to recovery takes time and patience, but with the right tools you and your dog can both lead a less stressful life. It is very important that you visit with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will help you formulate a specific plan to help reduce your dog’s anxiety and build his confidence. Things your vet may recommend are: Behavioral exercises SPECIFIC for you and your dog. Anxiety-reducing medication. These medications will not cure your dog; however, they can alleviate his anxiety enough so that he is able to learn new behaviors. An examination to look for underlying medical conditions.

Be sure to get him plenty of exercise while he is gone; walks are great. You can talk to your vet about temporarily trying a medication such as fluoxetine or even trazadone to help ease his anxiety. You can try a calming treat such as Composure. I'm not sure if you can get this in India, but it is a good product and no prescription is needed. Thank you for asking PetCoach!

Most people make the mistake of leaving their dogs for the first time without regard to how long they'll be gone. This can lead to separation anxiety. It is best to begin by leaving for, literally, a second or two. The dog will not have had time to work herself up into a frenzy yet. Come back in and greet her happily. Do this several times; then gradually increase the time you are out in 10 second increments; keep lengthening your time away. If you find her anxious when you come in, go back to the amount of time you were able to remain out without upsetting her. You can also use a Kong toy filled with peanut butter (be sure it's not made with xylitol). For a longer play session, freeze the Kong with the snack in it. She will begin to associate your going out with a goody, which will make it pleasureable.