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As people begin to go back to work and offices as well as venture out of the house more frequently, their pets might experience some separation anxiety after all this extra time at home. Experts offer advice on how to best prepare your pets for more time alone.

As the state reopens and more people return to their jobs, offices and some pre-coronavirus routines, local veterinarians expect their phone lines to get a bit busier.

And not just because pet owners feel more comfortable bringing in their furry friends for minor or preventative procedures.

Separation anxiety is an issue many pet owners will deal with the next few months as people begin to leave their homes more frequently and for longer periods, said Dr. Robert Knapp, of Knapp Veterinary Hospital in Clintonville.

There are a whole bunch of animals out there that will be learning a new normal, Knapp said.

From getting walked every few hours to snuggling on the couch during Netflix binges to showing off during Zoom meetings, pets received a huge boost in quality time during the early stages of the pandemic. That will undoubtedly change, now, no matter what a familys new normal is.

While people who recently added a pet to their families stay-at-home orders produced an uptick in dog adoptions might have more difficulties, those who had pets before COVID-19 could still see problems, especially if those animals have a history of anxiety.

If your dog has historically been crated, youve got to get him back in the crate, Knapp said. He probably hasnt been in a crate for six or eight weeks.

Knapp and other animal experts said there are a number of things pet owners, whether new or seasoned, can do to ease their pets transition.

To help, Dr. M. Leanne Lilly and her office at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, where she works as an instructor and practitioner in behavioral medicine, created a flier when the pandemic first hit Ohio titled Mitigating separation-related behaviors when youre home now, but wont always be.

Roughly half of all dogs experience separation-related behaviors, Lilly said. Some are predisposed to it because of breed or have an increased risk if they came from a shelter.

Behaviors, such as a dog always following its owner to the bathroom or whining when alone in a room, might signal that the pet will experience separation anxiety. But its always best to prepare for the possibility during a transition like this, Lilly said.

The first step is to start leaving the house around a typical time for short periods get the dog used to hearing the garage door open or keys jingle. Then pay close attention to how the dog acts.

Spending time separated from your dog is really important for you and your dog so they can learn that being home alone is normal, Lilly said. If you leave really delicious food out for them and they wont eat it until you come home, then you know theyre in distress. Or if they have excessive panting or whining when you leave or come home.

Most dogs exhibit excited behavior when their owners return, but the intensity (knocking over furniture) and duration (cant calm down for 35 minutes) can be concerning.

They were really worried you werent ever coming home, Lilly said.

More obvious signs of anxiety include urination, defecation, piles of drool or destruction.

However, Knapp said to not hesitate to reach out to veterinarians at the earliest signs before your favorite shoes get chewed up.

Knapp recommends going through morning routines several weeks in advance. Instead of leaving, though, sit on the couch.

All the things that wind a dog up to say, Oh youre leaving me, and then you do things like sit down and give them a treat and they think, Oh, theyre not leaving me, Knapp said.

Walking the dog predeparture can release any pent-up energy, but ensure theres enough time for the pooch to calm down before leaving.

Now is the best time to reach out to veterinarians for advice on whether medications, supplements or calming pheromones might be necessary, Knapp said. They can make other individualized recommendations, too, such as playing classical music.

This is on our radar, Knapp said. All veterinarians are aware that as we go back to work, getting pets acclimated is something were going to have to help with.

New dog owner Carol Schwiebert knows there will be an adjustment period as she and her husband, Adam, both head back to work in the next month, leaving their 1-year-old Labrador mix, Austin, at home. The Hilliard couple adopted him in March.

Its such a big shock as hes used to being around us 24/7, Schwiebert said.

She feels better knowing she can watch Austin on the pet camera they were gifted (cameras can be a beneficial in diagnosis and treatment, experts said) and will be able to spot any early signs of distress. Theyre ready to put him in a crate hes trained if necessary.

Plus, she plans to walk Austin on lunch breaks.

We probably should avoid doing communal lunches (at work), she said, citing coronavirus concerns. A quick bite and walk outside the office seems like a good idea.

Other experts think the workplace could actually continue to evolve to the benefit of pets.

Steven Feldman, executive director of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute in Washington, D.C., said he believes more people will have the flexibility to work from home and more businesses might welcome pets as the workplace continues to morph.

Weve had this wonderful experience with our pets being with us, why not take them to work with you? Feldman said. Weve seen a real trend toward a pet-friendly workplace and I think well continue to see a trend to more work-life balance where we work and that will be a lasting effect of the pandemic.

award@dispatch.com

@AllisonAWard

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Animal experts offer tips to ward off pet stress as owners head back to work - The Columbus Dispatch

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