5 Best Things to Know About Separation Anxiety in Shih Tzus: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Separation anxiety in Shih Tzus. What is it?

Leaving your Shih Tzu for a couple of minutes or eight hours when you’re going to work should not be stressful, but for dogs, a troubling panic starts to set in. It is heart-wrenching for both pet and owner, and there are several reasons for it. Let’s check out what triggers separation anxiety in Shih Tzus and what you could do about it.

What is Separation Anxiety?

Formerly referred to as “absent owner behavior,” separation anxiety involves intense panic, fear, and anxiety a Shih Tzu, or any other dog breed, might undergo when their owners leave them alone in the house regardless of the length of time–from a couple of minutes to a few hours.

More than fifteen percent of dogs in total are believed to have experienced separation anxiety, but for the small breeds, like Shih Tzus, this percentage somewhat increases. Shih Tzus were particularly bred as companion dogs and thus need constant attention. Now what this means is that the chances are higher that you’d have to cope with your Shih Tzu’s separation anxiety at some point.

Diagnosing Shih Tzu Separation Anxiety

As soon as you first become aware of your Shih Tzu pup or dog behaving strangely and unusually, and you believe that separation anxiety is present, you would first need to eliminate other possibilities to make sure that it is separation anxiety for sure.

For instance, if your dog is potty trained and he suddenly starts to pee around your home, then it’s probably not separation anxiety but rather a medical issue like a urinary infection. If you are in doubt, it is always best to consult your veterinarian.

Symptoms of Separation Anxiety in Shih Tzus

If your Shih is misbehaving when you leave on a daily basis and makes a fuss each time you leave home, then he or she is most probably suffering from separation anxiety. Normally, when your Shih Tzu that has separation anxiety knows you are going to go out without him, he’ll panic and create a big fuss, perhaps follow you around the house, possibly whining, trembling, or whimpering, and he might even try anything he could to stop you from leaving. In severe cases, he might even become aggressive and do something like clamp down his small teeth on your trouser leg to try to pull you back. After you’ve left, there would be a period of distressing behavior, which may manifest in various forms. There might be a bout of relentless loud barking, destructive actions that could include chewing objects like furniture legs, shoes, or cushions. It could also involve peeing and pooping around the house in several places. He may likewise lose his appetite and refuse to eat his food. He might also attempt to escape by chewing and scratching at doors, windows, and walls.

Your Shih might display any of these actions because he’s anxious and distressed due to the fact that you’re gone, and he does not know when and if you’re coming back. You know you’re coming back, but he doesn’t—and it’s that uncertainty that grinds his gears and sends him into a frenzy. When you come back home, your Shih Tzu would be delighted to see you and would make a fuss over you for a bit longer. A happy and well-balanced Shih Tzu would greet you for up to a couple of minutes, but a dog with separation anxiety would persist with his overzealous welcome for a lot longer before calming down.

Causes of Separation Anxiety in Shih Tzus

Separation anxiety in Shih Tzus could be acquired early, particularly in pups that were taken away from their moms and litter siblings too early. This is particularly true of pups that were not sourced from a reliable dog breeder. The pup is taken away from his familiar environment before he’s completely weaned and then kept in a cage for probably a few weeks until he’s sold.

Lack of sufficient exercise and lack of proper socialization causes anxiety and distress. Then, when he is sold, the Shih Tzu pup has to experience another confusion when he’s brought to his new family and new home. It is no surprise that once the Shih Tzu pup has settled in and already familiar with his new family and new environment, he becomes scared and anxious that he will lose everything again.

Another element that could add up to a Shih Tzu’s separation anxiety is the lack of exercise. If your Shih has not been out for a quick walk before you leave home, then he’s going to have too much energy that he would work off inside your house.

Shih Tzu Separation Anxiety Treatment

You first need to diagnose that it’s separation anxiety that your dog is currently experiencing, and not some health and medical issues. If, again, you are in doubt, you should consult your veterinarian prior to taking any actions to try and deal with your dog’s anxiety issues. Your vet could suggest some training exercises for your dog to complete at home or even in doggy training classes.

In severe cases, he could even refer you to a dog behavioral specialist. Moreover, he can also prescribe an antidepressant to get your dog through the worst of his bouts with separation anxiety. If your dog is prescribed such medications, it would only be for a short period until conventional training approaches start to improve his condition.

However, if you would rather not give your Shih Tzu dog such drugs, you could try to give them pheromone releasing diffusers available specially made to calm dogs.

These are likewise available in the form of a jacket for your pup to wear.
You could do several things at home to alleviate the symptoms of separation anxiety and, hopefully, eradicate them totally after some time. However, this would involve training your dog to deal with your temporary absence and some psychological approaches to help your dog be comfortable when left alone at home.

Nevertheless, the first thing and most important thing to remember about treating separation anxiety in Shih Tzus is NEVER to reprimand or punish your dog for his actions. Keep in mind that a dog—regardless of the breed– would always want to please the leader of his pack: you. Any inappropriate behavior is acted out of distress and panic and not because your dog wants to display any malice towards you.