Prevent Back-to-School Pet Anxiety

Your kids' impending return to school may give you a well-deserved break, but the change of routine can make your pets anxious and a little lonely.

They've gotten used to having the kids home all summer, showering them with attention. But when the predicted time to interact changes - especially if it's reduced - cats and dogs can become very stressed.

Why It Happens

"Any living being can have a hard time transitioning from a care-free life of fun, games, and cavorting outdoors all day with loved ones to being suddenly all alone inside the house with little to do," says Dr. Kat Miller, assistant science advisor for the ASPCA. It's a form of separation anxiety.

How to Tell

Telling if your family pet is stressed or anxious can be difficult because it usually happens when the house is empty, but there are a few signs, according to Bonnie Beaver, a professor at the Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the Executive Director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

"If your dog or cat has become very clingy when he had not been before, he's showing an excessive attachment," explains Beaver. If you come home to find items disturbed or moved, things torn up, or signs of destruction, your dog is venting. "Over-active greetings or a dejected look in the morning, that haven't occurred before, are also signs," Beaver adds.

What to Do Before School's in Session

During the last few weeks of summer, gradually reduce interaction with your pet during times when the kids will be at school, and increase interaction and exercise activities when they'll be home, Beaver suggests.

Dr. Miller agrees. "Mealtimes, exercise times, potty trips outside for dogs - the timing and amount of attention can all be gradually shifted from the summer to the fall routine, over the course of a few weeks." Although it may seem counter-intuitive to make your pet feel better by spending less time with her, it will help her take the routine shift in stride and spare you both a potentially heart-wrenching separation come the first day of school.

Dr. Miller draws a relatable parallel: "It's very similar to the advice given to parents for gradually transitioning their kids from the summertime to the school-time routine."

What to Do Once School is in Full-Swing

Give your pet a lot of exercise and interaction at times when the children are home, or in the morning before he'll be left alone, and feed him breakfast after, suggests Dr. Miller and Beaver. "An important equation to learn is: tired muscles plus a full belly equals a relaxed, sleepy pet," says Dr. Miller. "A relaxed, sleepy pet is less likely to be bothered about being left alone, since he is just going to want to have a nap."

Unless your dog is geriatric, very overweight, or has medical or mobility issues, rigorous exercise means more than a walk around the block, Dr. Miller points out. "Dogs were born to run, so get her playing fetch or catching a Frisbee or take her for a jog," she suggests.

For cats, use interactive, fishing-rod type toys that you can make scurry, fly and jump to entice your kitty to run, pounce and leap away all of his stored-up energy.

Ramp the fun and games down slowly to ease your pet into a calm state in preparation for the family's departure.

"When it's time for you to leave, provide your pet with his breakfast or a treat so he comes to associate your departure with something good," says Dr. Miller. "It's a great idea to leave a stuffed food toy, such as a Kong for dogs or a Twist-n-Treat for cats, which will keep your pet busy for a while after you depart and allow him to settle in for the day with an enjoyable activity."

Finally, when you get home, try not to get your pet too excited about your arrival - go change your clothes or have a snack first so the signal for interaction is the changing or snacking and not the arrival of a person, Beaver says.