Dr. Walt's happy tails: March 2004

Dear Dr. Walt: I inherited a friend's 1-year-old black lab puppy when they left the country. She is a lovely dog with a great temperament and very rarely barks. However, when she is left alone in the house she starts barking, chewing the furniture, and urinating on the carpet. I have tried leaving the house for short periods and returning, I don't make a fuss when I leave or return, but we've only made it about 10 minutes before 'panic' starts. Help!

I admire your commitment to address the behavioural issues you are facing and happy to hear that some progress is being made. As is often the case for many behavioural problems, progress is a series of many 'baby steps'. What you describe is a condition commonly referred to as separation anxiety. It is complex in its origin and generally requires both pharmaceutical and behavioural modification to control or correct. However, much like the condition itself, treatment is complex and your chance for a successful outcome can be improved by employing the expertise of a veterinary behaviourist - an individual specialized through additional training to specifically deal with problems having a behavioural basis. Therefore my recommendation would be to have your veterinarian evaluate for potential contributing medical conditions and, if none, then seek a referral for you and your puppy to a veterinary behaviourist. Best of luck!

About Dr. Walt Ingwersen
Dr. Walt Ingwersen is Chief Veterinary Officer at PetCare Insurance Brokers Ltd." target="_new">PetCare Insurance Brokers Ltd. He is a 1982 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College. Board certified in Internal Medicine, he has the distinction of being the first Canadian editor of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, a position he currently holds.

Involved in many aspects of the national and international veterinary community, "Dr. Walt" is the recipient of the President's Award for outstanding contribution to the veterinary profession awarded by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). He is also Chief Veterinary Officer and Chairman of the Veterinary Advisory Board at PetCare Insurance Brokers Ltd. -- Canada's leading provider of insurance for dogs and cats.