Treating Separation Anxiety in Older Dogs.
The root cause of behavioural issues in older dogs is often anxiety, which can increase as they enter their golden years. And just like puppies, senior dogs with anxiety need patience, understanding, and a few lifestyle adjustments to navigate their world more happily and healthily.
Why is separation anxiety common in older dogs?
Anxiety, in general, can start to occur as your dog ages, even when the dog has shown no signs of anxiety previously. While it can be heartbreaking when we start to notice signs of aging in our pets, there is much we can do to help our dogs through this period. Anything we can do to reduce the dog’s anxiety is a good thing.
What Are The Signs Of Anxiety In Older Dogs?
There are several signs to look for when determining whether your older dog is suffering from anxiety. Changes and new behaviour problems in your dog are often the first signs of something wrong. A veterinarian evaluation is warranted if your dog has suddenly developed separation anxiety. It is important to note that not all dogs will display all signs, and some dogs may only demonstrate a few symptoms. Separation-related behaviours may be more subtle in the older dog than what we typically see in a younger animal. You may notice that your dog is becoming increasingly clingy. In a younger dog, we can often push through some of these behaviours, but in a senior dog, we have less leeway. The dog’s threshold may be lower and less obvious when observing their body language. A good camera is essential to observe the more subtle body postures and language. The most common symptoms of anxiety in an older dog are:
- Panting or rapid breathing
- Drooling or excessive licking
- Pacing or restless behaviour
- Whimpering, whining or crying
- Hiding or cowering
- Shaking or trembling/shivering
- Freezing or no movement
- Attempting to escape/running away
- Increase in anxiety at night
- Separation anxiety or the inability to be left at home alone
What are the causes of anxiety in senior dogs?
There are many potential causes of anxiety in aging dogs, including changes in their physical health, changes in their environment, and changes in their routine. Increased anxiety can sometimes result from getting older and being less confident, but it is often correlated to health changes. A dog’s physical health changes can be due to medical conditions, injuries, and aging. Pain can trigger anxiety and is common in all animals as they age.
Pain can come from many sources, but some of the most common are:
- Joint pain, i.e. arthritis
- Dental and teeth
- Gastro-intestinal issues
- Injuries
- Ear pain
- Chronic health conditions, i.e. cancer
Other factors contributing to anxiety are changes due to hearing and vision loss. Changes to living arrangements. Changes in cognitive abilities can also contribute to generalized anxiety.
How do veterinarians diagnose and treat anxiety in senior dogs?
The first thing to do if you notice changes in your dog is to consult with your veterinarian. Vets can diagnose anxiety in senior dogs by observing their behaviour. They will ask you questions about how your dog’s behaviour has changed. They will likely recommend basic medical tests to rule out underlying medical issues that may be contributing to the anxiety. If your vet suspects cognitive decline, they may have you complete an assessment that will help them make a formal diagnosis.
If a senior dog is exhibiting signs of anxiety, such as pacing, panting, or whining, at night, they are likely experiencing nighttime anxiety. Sometimes this might be referred to as sundowners. This can be a very disorienting condition for the dog, who can show signs of distress during this period. A senior dog may experience anxiety at night due to several factors, including age-related changes in vision and hearing, separation from their owner during the day, and changes in their daily routine. Dog anxiety can also be caused by underlying medical conditions, such as cognitive decline or dementia.
A few things can be done to help a senior dog with nighttime anxiety. One is to create a safe and comfortable space for them to sleep in, such as using a crate or setting up a dog bed in a quiet room. Another is to provide them with calming aid, such as a ThunderShirt. Your veterinarian may recommend a calming nutraceutical or behaviour medication to help them. Finally, it is important to stick to a routine with the dog, including walks and playtime during the day and feeding and bathroom breaks at the same time each night.
Can Old Dogs Get Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety can affect dogs of any age, but it is more common in younger dogs. Signs of separation anxiety include panting, pacing, whining, and barking when the owner leaves the house. If your elderly dog shows these signs of distress, it is important to consult your veterinarian to rule out any other underlying health issues. Separation anxiety is a condition that can be managed with behaviour modification and medication, but it will require commitment from the dog owner.
As dogs get older, they may start to experience separation anxiety. This is because they become more attached to their owners and may feel anxious when left alone. The same factors contributing to generalized anxiety can also result in late-onset separation-related issues.
How do you help an older dog with separation anxiety?
Depending on the dog’s age and the severity of the separation anxiety, some tough decisions are often required. Desensitization training is the preferred method. Underlying medical issues need to be dealt with first before training is considered. No amount of training will address a health issue. First and foremost, ensure your dog has had a recent veterinary exam to ensure medical issues are dealt with. Your veterinarian can help you identify anxiety, including separation anxiety and help you manage your dog’s health during this stage of their life.
If the dog is living with pain, the pain must be treated. Pain medications to manage discomfort can go a long way toward reducing your dog’s anxiety. Ensuring the dog has had a recent veterinarian exam to identify underlying medical issues, including those listed above, will allow you to put a plan in place.
If your vet diagnoses cognitive decline such as canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), a type of dementia in dogs, training may not be your priority. If the dog is struggling, it may be a kinder choice to help your dog through the management of their anxiety versus training for the balance of their days. Training for a dog with CCD can be stressful, overwhelming and confusing. In this situation, management may be the more humane approach. Training can make anxiety, confusion and fatigue worse. Ultimately only you can decide what is best for your dog. Seek advice from your animal’s trusted veterinarian and trainers who are knowledgeable on this topic. Is alone time the biggest priority at this stage in their life? Maybe prioritizing the time you have left together is a more important consideration. Seek a certified separation anxiety trainer (CSAT) to help you navigate this path.
How do you modify the training plan to make it easier for the dog?
If your senior dog is still doing well, desensitization training is the gold standard for treating separation anxiety. The structured approach to training can help an older dog feel the comfort of routine and structure that is reassuring. Your priority should be to make your dog feel safe.
Suspending absences for an older dog can be a bit more tricky. Daycare with lots of exuberant young dogs can be unpleasant and overwhelming. Jumping in and out of cars can be difficult and painful. Often we have to seek other ways of suspending absences for these dogs, including in-home pet sitters, friends, family or a neighbour who works from home or an elderly neighbour who is happy to sit with the dog and provide gentle ear rubs. You can visit my blog ‘30-ideas-to-suspend-absences‘ for more ideas on how to suspend absences. On the plus side, your elderly dog is likely less energetic so finding people to sit with them is often easier. One word of caution is that your pet sitters should be familiar with giving your dog medications, as often that comes with the territory when living with an older dog.
You can do several things to help a senior dog with separation anxiety. If you decide to train, you can help your dog to adjust to the training. Laying down carpets and runners will help dogs, who are likely to follow you, be more mobile. Installing ramps to the couch or the bed will allow the dog to choose a comfortable resting spot easily. Place comfortable mats and beds in locations where the dog is likely to settle, i.e. near the doors and windows. If you always leave through a door on a different level, try using a door that doesn’t entail your dog trying to navigate stairs and risking a fall. Train in shorter sessions with fewer steps, making the training exercise less challenging. With a little creativity, it is possible to do some great training together that will result in quality time for you both.
What other changes can be made to improve your dog’s quality of life in their senior years?
Along with modifying the training plan, you can provide your dog with a comfortable and quiet place to rest away from the busy household and other, younger rambunctious pets. In addition to making accommodations to your home that allow them to navigate safely around the house, we can make accommodations to their feeding regime, including how they are fed. If your dog is losing their hearing or vision, we can help them learn new ways of communicating with us so that they can ask for what they need and safeguard the house, so they don’t risk injury. We can ensure that they have more frequent bathroom breaks. We can ensure they get access to activities that give them joy, such as a leisurely stroll versus a visit to the dog park. And we can provide them with enrichment activities that they enjoy and are appropriate for this stage in their life. If they are living with pain such as arthritis, we can change what we ask them to do. For example, instead of requiring them to sit or go into a down position, we can ask for a watch me or hand target. This prevents them from having to move into a position that may be painful or difficult to get into or out of.
It is often said that we are blessed to share our life with an old dog. I know from personal experience that there is nothing quite like it. It is hard, yes, no question, when you see them stumble or when they seem confused. And it is hard knowing that their days may be numbered. But it has been a privilege to have a dog that lives into old age, and I do whatever I can to help my senior dog make their final days stress-free and happy.