How to Help Your Pet With Back-to-School Blues

September is here! Our summers are winding down and our schedules are filling up. As we transition from our lazy summer days to schedules packed with school, practice and appointments it can be stressful on us and our family, including our four-legged friends.

Separation anxiety seems to spike in the fall as our pets experience more time alone and less exercise. PetPlan conducted a survey using 4,000 of their customers, and found that 26% pet owners with kids going to school noticed their pet experienced more symptoms of separation anxiety in September. Interestingly, only 10% of families that didn't have children going to school saw a change in their pet's behavior.

When your pet's human friends return to school, it can be upsetting for them. If you're concerned your pet will be stressed by changes to their routine and extra time spent alone, keep reading. We'll review how to tell if your pet is stressed or suffering from separation anxiety, and how you can make the back-to-school transition easier on them.

Signs of Separation Anxiety
When left alone our pets can experience separation anxiety and boredom, and understanding the difference will allow you to better help your pet. Signs of separation anxiety begin as you are leaving your pet. For some pets this can begin when you grab your keys or put on your coat, for others it starts as you are walking out the door. Here are some signs your pet is experiencing separation anxiety:

1. Excessive barking, howling or meowing
2. Destructive behavior such as scratching at doors, windows or destroying furniture
3. Indoor "accidents"
4. If crated or confined, frantic attempts to escape (i.e. bar chewing, digging)
5. Excessive panting, salivating, whining

One of the major differences between separation anxiety and boredom is how soon these behaviors start after you leave.  If your pet immediately becomes stressed, they are likely suffering from some level of separation anxiety. If they are behaving normally for a period of time after you leave and then begin to become agitated or destructive this is more likely due to boredom. Families who aren't sure will often set up a camera to see how their pet reacts when they are left alone.

How to Help Your Pet
So what can you do to help keep your pet calm and happy?

1. Exercise: As school starts again, our schedules get busier and it becomes harder to fit exercise into our schedules, resulting in less time outside playing and fewer walks for our pets. Exercising with our pets is one of the easiest ways to keep them happy and healthy, and it can relieve stress for the both of you.
2. Keep them busy: When leaving your pet alone, try leaving them with something to keep their brains busy. Treat filled toys like Kongs are great for this, and freezing them will help them last even longer. Food puzzles are another great way to keep your pet's mind occupied while you are away. There are so many options available and you can even use your pet's normal food to fill them. (Hint: This is also a great way to slow down fast eaters.)
3. Practice: Practice going through the motions of leaving and returning home to help them get used to the transition. Begin by putting on your shoes, grabbing your keys and stepping outside, then try leaving for short periods of time. Gradually build the amount of time you are away, and help your pet become more comfortable with it. For pets that aren't used to being left alone this can help make that transition easier.
4. Calm: It's hard to do, but keeping calm when you are leaving or returning home can help your pet. Saying goodbye and greeting them in a calm manner can help minimize their anxiety and helps teach them that it will be ok when you leave, and there isn't anything to get too emotional or excited about.
   
5. Dog Walker: If your dog is left alone for lengthy periods during the day, consider hiring a dog walker or pet sitter to stop by and spend some time with your pet. Depending on your dog's personality, doggy daycare may also be an option for them. This will help break up their day and provides another opportunity for them to get some exercise.

Returning to a busy school schedule can be stressful on the whole family, and it's important to remember how sensitive our pets can be to changes in their routine. Keeping your pet active and taking the time to practice leaving them for longer periods of time can help reduce their stress. However, if your pet is still stressed and showing signs of separation anxiety contact your vet to discuss other options that might be more helpful for your pet.