Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes the anticipation of students, the (dare we say it?) excitement of parents, and the myriad of other expectations. But did you know that your dog is feeling the change as well?
During the Summer there is a bustle of activities and the dog tends to be part of those memories you’ve made. When Fall hits there may be excitement for the humans, but there is typically the opposite for dogs. During the summer your furry friend had constant companions, but when everyone heads off to school, your dog will likely start feeling lonely and bored. We call this the “Back-to-School Blues.”
Depression and anxiety are no strangers to dogs during the school year. Any veterinarian will tell you that dogs suffer from depression just as humans do. Keep an eye out for symptoms such as listlessness, loss of appetite, loss of desire to play, hiding, and lack of energy. These are good signs that your dog isn’t feeling like his perky summer self.
Separation anxiety is also a big one for dogs. The symptoms are the opposite of what you would see with depression. Often you’ll find your dog:
You’ll find that if a dog is depressed when the kids get home, he’ll just stay in bed; whereas when a dog has separation anxiety, he is more likely to ecstatically greet someone whenever they get home. This can be overwhelming for your family as well as your dog.
If your dog begins to display any of these symptoms, you can bet that it’s probably because of the recent schedule change. As a dog owner, don’t be discouraged. This is all a sign that your dog loves you and misses you, and there are ways to solve this!
There are a few options you have when trying to overcome your dog’s back-to-school blues.
If your dog has never experienced the back-to-school schedule because he’s either too young or a recent addition to the family, you’ll find this process might take some time. If he knows the drill, then he will likely settle into the routine faster. Even if you don’t have a dog that struggles with depression or separation anxiety, it’s still a good practice to set a routine that ensures your dog is getting the attention and exercise he needs.
If you know that no one can be home for more than 6 hours, you might want to consider doggie daycare. If you happen to have a high energy dog, this is a definite need to keep your dog sane. At day camp, dogs have the opportunity to play with humans and other dogs through play sessions throughout the day.
This helps promote exercise and socialization opportunities. By bringing your dog to daycare, you relieve yourself of the guilt you might have had during the day if you just can’t make it home. An extra bonus if you choose to bring your dog to daycare at Intermountain Pet, is that a vet technician will make sure to check on your pet every day to ensure he’s doing well.
Intermountain Pet Hospital has an array of steps that can help ameliorate the issues. However, each case is different and may take a different treatment mode specific to your canine.
On a side note, some dogs can suffer from high anxiety or depression when they are left home alone. They may not chew things up but will have a lot of anxiety. One way to tell if there is a problem is to set up a video capture of the pet while they are home alone. This video will help your veterinarian with a diagnosis and treatment direction.
The back-to-school blues can be a thing of the past. Our Doggie Day Camp is just what the doctor ordered. Request a reservation online or over the phone, we are here to help.
Download your copy any time, just fill out the form and we can email it to you.