Can my dog get sick from separation anxiety during a long trip?

This is certainly not a common occurence, so I would say no. However, if the pet has an underlying illness that can be exacerbated by the stress of being away from the owner, then it could coincidentally lead to the pet getting sick. If your pet is seen regularly by your vet and deemed healthy, then the risk of this happening is also very low. Most pets, as long as they are properly cared for by the relatives, will do well when their owner is away. Now if your pet gets particularly anxious or has separation anxiety whenever you leave the house, then I would advise getting her on an anti-anxiety medication while you are away, to help keep her calm and stress free. You can certainly ask your vet for a prescription or look into a product called Zylkene, which is available online without a prescription b/c it is a supplement. I hope that this helps and best wishes with your pet Mitzy. Take care. : )

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is a very common complaint. I recommend talking to your vet about some anti-anxiety medication for his stay there. There are so many great options that wont turn Milo into a "zombie" - they'll just help him relax and enjoy his stay a bit more. Best of luck to you all and enjoy your travels!

Talk with your vet about an anti-anxiety medication which can help tremendously. I use trazodone most often but there are many options. Other helps include: crate training and the adaptyl collar (a pheromone collar that can decreased stress). Best of luck to you and Sadie!

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is a possibility you may see a little depression in the dogs initially, but in my experience dogs tend to adapt and will probably bounce back quickly. If your parents are noticing depression in Rocky once he moves perhaps they could find a doggy day care where he could interact and play with other dogs occasionally. Best of lucky to Rocky on the move!

If he was part of a bonded pair then he definitely may experience some anxiety with being separated. He may have a decreased appetite or you may notice some behavioral issues. You could try an Adaptil collar or Solliquin and see if that helps him. Good luck. I hope he gets used to his new environment quickly. http://www.solliquin.com/

Hello. I would start with an over the counter anxiety product like Zylkene. I would also start using a dog appeasing pheromone in the home ( room diffuser ) or it comes as a collar. The pheromone can calm an anxious dog without drugs. Adaptil is the name of this product. If this does not help over the course of a couple of weeks, you will need to talk to your vet about possible behavior modification therapy & the use of prescription medications like Trazodone. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.