My dog chews everything. How to stop destructive chewing and anxiety?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Separation anxiety can be difficult to address but with patience and persistence training can help. Rather than starting on anti-anxiety medications right away, I typically recommend trying products such as NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Chews with Melatonin and an Adaptil collar, which can both be found online or at your local pet store quite easily. I would also recommend using a Thundershirt, which can be found online or at the pet store. It would also help if you began feeding Sienna breakfast and dinner in the kennel so that she becomes used to being inside the cage for positive things. I would move all of her toys to the inside of the kennel and whenever she goes inside the kennel, reward her with her favorite treat. If this does not help, I would recommend speaking with her veterinarian and discuss anti-anxiety medications as these may be beneficial in deterring this separation anxiety she suffers from. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

This is consistent with severe separation anxiety and will need some medical help. Talk with your vet about anti-anxiety medication which can help tremendously. (There are many different kinds.) Even with that, you will probably have to do some training and counter-conditioning. Work with a trainer or behaviorist if needed. Crate training helps some dogs with separation anxiety but can actually make some dogs worse so consider that if you’d like to try. Please note that training is very likely to fail without the medication. Eventually, you may be able to wean off of the medication but some dogs need something long-term. Best wishes to you and Penny May!

Sorry to hear that Bo is having this issue. Thank you for rescuing him :) Separation anxiety is a huge issue in dogs and it is not an easy fix even with medications. We cannot recommend you give any medications without you talking to your vet first, especially a drug like alprazolam that is a controlled substance. What I can tell you though is that 0.25mg will not touch a dog that size. Dogs take a MUCH higher dose than humans as they metabolize the drug differently. What you really need to do is try to correct the behavior instead of trying to mask it. I suggest you consult a dog trainer in your area that will come to your home and assess the situation. They can help you try and correct the behavior. Sometimes medications are indicated to be used in conjunction with training and then you can try to wean them off the drugs eventually. You will need to work with your vet and trainer about using medications in conjunction with behavioral modification. Clomicalm is one of the main drugs we use for separation anxiety in dogs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3144 I recommend Bark Busters for a training company: http://www.barkbusters.com/dog-training-columbia-sc Of course you can do your own research for trainers in your area. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Destructive behavior like this when you're not home is usually caused by separation anxiety - some dogs will chew things when they're bored, but if there is significant destruction and it only happens when you're gone, anxiety is much more likely. If you want to know for sure, I would suggest videotaping her the next time you go out - it's usually very easy to see on the video if this is anxiety vs. boredom. There are a few things you can do to try and help her. You can try crating her, but be aware that many dogs with this problem are more anxious when they are confined - she won't be able to do as much damage to your home, but she may injure herself if she panics trying to escape. I would strongly recommend leaving her with a special long-lasting treat of some kind every time you leave the house, like a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter or something similar. You may also want to try a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Composure or Zylkene to help decrease her anxiety. If you don't see improvement within the next 1-2 weeks, you should talk with your vet about the problem as she may need prescription medication to treat her anxiety, at least for a while. You could also request referral to a veterinary behaviorist for additional help if the problem is severe.

Poor Prim. This is likely due to separation anxiety. Sometimes they feel more comforted if they are in a crate. You can try this. This will also help prevent her from ingesting something that could potentially harm her or get stuck. If she doesn’t like a crate then I would talk to your vet about starting her on an anti-anxiety medicine like fluoxetine. I have had good success with this medicine for anxiety. I hope this helps!

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behavioral issues can be corrected but it does require time and patience. I highly recommend that you find a qualified dog trainer that can help her as this will usually take a professional to help. Good luck and have a good day!