Is It Separation Anxiety, Isolation Distress or FOMO?
Dogs, like humans, experience a wide range of emotions that have an impact on their mental health including fear, stress and anxiety, and just like us, they can experience these feelings in response to many circumstances. However, one specific situation that sometimes evokes these feelings revolves around alone time. Separation anxiety and alone-time behavior challenges are nothing new, however, over the past few decades, it has gained popularity amongst researchers and more recently, in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has gained awareness amongst dog owners and caregivers as well.
Naturally, when we suspect our dog may be suffering, we want to help them the best that we can and for many of us, that begins with a google search to learn more information on what may be going on. However, there are so many terms floating around the internet related to dogs who struggle with being left alone, that it can get really confusing leading to even more questions like, “does my dog have separation anxiety?” “Maybe it’s isolation distress?” “What exactly is the difference between the two?” “Perhaps it’s just FOMO (fear of missing out)?” “Or could it be “owner hyper-attachment,” “home alone phobia,” or “separation distress (just to name a few of the other names used)?”
As a certified separation anxiety trainer (CSAT), I get calls all the time from people concerned and confused about their dog’s alone time behavior. They want clarity and answers and if you’re anything like them, you do too. So, let’s shed some light on things so you can better understand and help your dog relax when alone.
Separation Anxiety:
Separation anxiety seems to be the most common term used when talking about alone time behavioral problems and in fact, it has become one of the most widely researched behavioral concerns in dogs in recent years. Studies show that 17-20% of dogs in the U.S. alone suffer from separation anxiety, so it’s not a rare phenomenon (Lilly Animal Health, 2007). Behaviors consistent with separation anxiety can vary from mild to severe and include vocalizations, destructive chewing and house soiling when left alone and/or separated from their caregiver(s). Pacing, excessive grooming, excessive drooling/salivation, vomiting and diarrhea when alone are also sometimes observed in dogs with separation anxiety when they’re alone.
This problem can significantly impact the quality of life for the dog as well as any humans in the household. Depending on the severity of the anxiety, dogs may do substantial household damage, particularly to doors/doorways and windows in their panic and desperate desire to escape. Noise complaints due to the excessive barking are also common in apartment complexes and townhomes.
It’s a problem that should not be ignored, both for the welfare of the animal and to prevent the problem from continuing to get worse. Separation anxiety does not go away without the proper interventions which typically includes medication and/or supplementation and an appropriate behavior modification training protocol. A board-certified veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist can diagnose separation anxiety and prescribe appropriate medication or supplements if needed, and a certified separation anxiety trainer (CSAT) can help design an appropriate training protocol as well as rule out any other reasons your dog may be exhibiting some of the behaviors listed above (separation anxiety is not the only possible cause so it’s advised to get the help of a qualified professional to determine the root of the problem and the appropriate solution).
Isolation Distress
This term has emerged and gained popularity as a way to distinguish dogs who show a hyper-attachment to a particular caregiver from those who do not. It’s sometimes said that dogs suffering from separation anxiety have a hyper-attachment to one specific caregiver and cannot be separated from that particular person without exhibiting anxiety, regardless of who else may be with the dog at the time of separation; whereas dogs who suffer from isolation distress exhibit anxiety when alone, but as long as they are left with someone, they are relaxed and can cope. It is believed that the behaviors are the same in both separation anxiety and isolation distress (excessive vocalizations, destructive chewing, house soiling, pacing, excessive grooming, salivation, etc). The difference is whether the dog is hyper-attached to a specific person or not.
While it is certainly helpful to know who the dog is comfortable with for the purposes of designing an appropriate behavior modification training plan, it’s important to note that though some vets look for this hyper-attachment to a caregiver in order to diagnose separation anxiety, not all do. Some will diagnose it in a dog who appears to have “isolation distress” (no hyper-attachment to a specific person). There does not seem to be a clear distinction between isolation distress and separation anxiety in the research literature, nor amongst veterinary professionals.
Separation anxiety includes a spectrum of behaviors and levels of severity, and I am wary of labeling isolation distress as a separate issue from separation anxiety. Doing so implies that it’s a different problem, perhaps in need of a different treatment plan, which is simply not the case. Both issues evoke stress, fear and anxiety and both need a proper treatment protocol, typically consisting of help from a veterinarian, a qualified trainer and/or a veterinary behaviorist.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Admittedly, this is my least favorite term that gets thrown around for describing a dog who is uncomfortable with alone time. I think this one does the biggest injustice to dogs because in our culture, FOMO is used lightheartedly to describe one’s desire to not be left out or miss out on experiences. It’s often viewed as a less significant or severe problem for our dogs, and often referred to as “just” FOMO.
Like I mentioned above, alone-time behaviors can range from mild to severe. Some dogs may experience slight stress or frustration when alone while others can experience a full-blown panic attack. However, the more “mild dogs” are still struggling and labeling them as having “just FOMO” doesn’t do them or the owner any good. All behavior stems from an underlying need. The need for safety and security, the need for social connection and the need to avoid fear or pain are some of the underlying reasons a dog may show undesirable behaviors, whether mild or severe, in the context of alone time. Behavior is a dog’s way of communicating these needs as well as their feelings and regardless of the severity, all dogs deserve to be heard, helped and supported.
A Better Term?
More recently, many professionals have been using a new term, separation related behavior or separation related problem behavior, in order to accurately describe the spectrum of behavior that can be observed from dogs during alone time. I really hope this gains traction and replaces some of the other terms like isolation distress and FOMO that, in my opinion, do a disservice to dogs.
The bottom line is that if your dog is exhibiting any unwanted or concerning behaviors when alone, whether mild or severe, it’s something that needs to be addressed appropriately in a kind and humane way. A trained professional such as a veterinarian or a certified separation anxiety trainer (CSAT) can help you determine whether your dog’s behavior is due to anxiety or something else and design an appropriate treatment or training plan to resolve the problem. Your dog’s emotional well-being is just as important as their physical health and it’s up to us, as their caregivers, to help them learn to cope with alone time and relax so that they can be happy and healthy even when we are away from them.
Interested in chatting about your dog’s alone time behavior and how to help them? Book a free phone consultation here.
With wags and aloha,
Cori- Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT)