With many people rejoicing the return of varying normalcy in their everyday lives, after the stripping of restrictions in Victoria, a new pattern has begun to surface. A number of pets seem to be experiencing a condition called post-Covid separation anxiety as their owners return to work, when they are left alone at home once more. The term is being commonly used to describe the anxiety some domestic animals are experiencing with the growing absence of their owners, after the lifting of Covid-19 related restrictions.
Veterinarian Dr Tamara Mallan expects the case numbers to rise quite soon, as more people transition to working out of home. “I’ve certainly noticed the phenomenon, but not in vast numbers, as many people are still working from home,” she says. “I believe it will surface to a greater extent over the next few months.”
Mallan advises that pet owners look out for key signs of separation anxiety. “Look out for destruction, like dogs destroying furniture or fencing. Vocalisation, like barking, howling and crying. And inappropriate urination and defecation, like urinating inside,” she says. “There could be incessant following of owners around when they’re home, perhaps vocalising when their owner, for example, locks themselves in the bathroom. They can also present gastrointestinal signs (inappetence, vomiting, diarrhoea), which can occur due to stress.” Mallan also says that “displays of aggression towards strangers”, as well as “obsessive compulsive disorders and displacement behaviours”, like tail-chasing and feet licking, can be signs of separation anxiety.
Former professional pet minder Mary Thorpe explains the source of the separation anxiety in domestic animals. “It’s because they’ve had their humans home pretty much 24/7 for nearly a year,” she says. “And now we’re all transitioning back to the office so they’re by themselves, so they’re getting very stressed. Especially dogs — they’re mostly pack animals. They’re used to having their pack, and when their pack is taken away, they get incredibly stressed. They don’t like being on their own.”
Both Mallan and Thorpe give examples of ways pet owners can assist in transitioning their animals back to post-Covid normalcy. Thorpe suggests a few techniques, including activities and toys that are time-consuming. “To transition back, you want to try and give them activities to do during the day, to sort of ease the loneliness,” Thorpe says. “So you can do things like leave a radio on when you go to work. Leave them a long day chew type situation. Mentally stimulating toys give them activities to do that are more than just a few minutes, that sort of take them a while to work out, like how to get the treats out, that kind of thing.
“For some pets, I guess having a second pet sometimes helps, but I don't tend to advocate people who already have little time for their animals to then run out and get more animals. It's not generally a good thing, but sometimes it works for some dogs to have another dog as a companion.”
Mallan advises similar techniques, with focuses on companionship and intellectual activities. “Leading up to the owner’s return to work outside the home, get the pet used to being left alone for progressively longer periods," she says. "Don’t make a fuss of them when leaving, just leave. Make a fuss of them when you return.
“Leave plenty of toys, and hide treats in the toys. Make these special treats that the pet doesn’t get when you’re at home. This is aimed at making the absence as positive as possible. Exercise the animal before you leave them, so they aren’t full of unspent energy.
“Socialisation can help. Consider dog sitters, walkers, or doggy daycare.”
Thorpe also advocates for pet sitting as a way to keep pets from being anxious while owners are away for longer timeframes. She says having a person in the house can assist in keeping pets from becoming lonely and anxious. “Being a pet minder, I would say you can do alternate things like take them to doggie daycare if it’s a dog, or get a pet minder into the house to break up the boredom of the day. So if you can afford it, hiring a pet minder to come in and walk them during the day, or to play with them, or talk to them, if you have cats or birds, and play with them. That kind of thing.”
Sydney Animal Hospitals also advises human presence throughout the day when transitioning pets to post-Covid life, with their article ‘After Covid-19 with Pets’ saying, “Stagger working hours with housemates or partners, or have [a relative] drop by during the day, so that the time your pet spends alone is as short as possible.”
Thorpe supports this statement.“These pets are missing their owners. Being alone for 10–12 hours at a time is not very healthy,” she says. “They need mental stimulation. They need physical stimulation. And they need some sort of company. Just break up that boredom and missing of their family.”
As we continue to become less restricted and may begin leaving our residences more often, we might forget to consider how our furry, feathery or scaly companions are affected by our absence. It is important to keep them in mind when leaving the house for the day, to ensure that our animal friends continue to be happy and healthy.
To read Sydney Animal Hospitals’ article, you can visit their post here.
Please be sure to refer to veterinarian professionals for further advice.
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