2 weeks Ago By Paige Freshwater, Brigid Brown
Dogs may be considered man's best friend, but they have feelings too, and it's up to us humans to help them when feeling a little anxious . A veterinarian has flagged a typical blunder pet owners commit that leads to anxiety in their furry friends. Dr.
Amir Anwary, who goes by @amirthevet on TikTok, used the social media platform to discuss how certain behaviors can negatively affect pets over time. Dogs can suffer from separation anxiety, but there are ways to ease in and out of the house , making things a little easier on your pet. Dr.
Anwary said: "Separation anxiety is such a huge problem dogs these days suffer with. But you guys can definitely help them by implementing these steps! If this doesn't help you may need to consult a behaviorist." In his footage, Dr.
Anwary advised pet parents to avoid overly enthusiastic greetings and farewells, as animals might misconstrue what "hello and "goodbye" signify, leading to increased anxiety levels. He explained: "Stay calm when you leave home and when you return. When you leave home, you go and make it a big scene and when you return home you make it an even bigger scene.
" He added: "You are creating heightened emotions around you leaving home which makes the separation anxiety worse because it's so emotional." He suggested a more subdued approach with pets, recommending that they be ignored for 10 minutes before the owner leaves and after they return, even though it might seem "cruel." To promote calmness when away for extended periods, Dr.
Anwary further recommended taking dogs on long walks to tire them out, making it more probable for them to rest peacefully in their owner's absence. He suggests that leaving a treat puzzle for pets can keep their minds engaged and focused on a positive activity while owners are away. For those who struggle with the idea of leaving their pets alone, even briefly, he advises starting with very short periods of absence.
He explained: "This is the hardest one because this is the one that requires the most consistency. When you leave home, start with going away for five minutes and monitor their response. "If they're fine with it, go to 10 minutes and monitor their response.
Stop leaving them alone for two hours at a time. Of course their separation anxiety is not going to get any better, you're going to make it a lot worse." In response to his advice, one user said: "My dog sees the shoes I'm wearing and knows I'm leaving and starts crying.
" Another added: "My two Boston terriers actually have really bad separation anxiety and every time we leave the house they go crazy." A third chimed in with a success story: "The physical and mental stimulation is so true! My family just rescued a puppy a few months ago now, and making sure he's tired out before we go is a sure fire way to stop the howling and fuss!".
