Separation anxiety manifests itself in many different ways. Some dogs tear up papers, chew furniture, soil the carpet, howl and/or cry. Exactly what happens will vary from dog to dog....but one thing is for sure, the dog has a problem when left alone.



Not all dogs suffer from the problem and there are products available to help and procedures that the owner can carry out to assist.

Initially, it is a good idea to consult your vet about the animal's problem. He or she may have advice on the matter and ?top tips? to point you in the right direction. They may suggest consulting a dog trainer or attending a course. Separation anxiety doesn't seem to be uncommon and many people have advice.

Some top training tips include low-key departures, so make the leaving the dog as insignificant as possible. Also practising leaving the dog for a short time before returning. Practise training with the dog that involves it being in another room, such as telling it to sit and stay in one room whilst you are in another. Providing entertainment during your absence can also help as it takes the dog's mind off being left alone. Similarly, taking the dog for a long walk before leaving him might also help as it will tire him out.

Another tactic which can be used with the above is to leave the television or a CD on to stop the dog constantly listening for your return.

As for products, there are some available, such as DAP which may help. DAP stands for Dog Appeasing Pheromone and this is available in different forms such as collars and plug in devices. These emit the DAP and this has a calming influence on the dog due to the fact that the pheromone is a synthetic copy of the natural pheromone a lactating female dog produces. DAP is an unobtrusive way of helping to calm dogs and is certainly worth considering to help cure nervous problems.

Cat spraying is a problem for many cat owners and although it is commonly associated with un-neutered male cats, it is also an act that can indicate ill health.

Before action to ?cure? the problem is taken, the cat's health must be examined. When the cat has been given the all clear, treatment can begin.

As mentioned previously, it is un-neutered male cats who tend to do most of the spraying. They will spray over household furnishings, curtains, sofas....the lot. Not only can cat spray stain, it also leaves a less than pleasant smell. One method of stopping this problem is to have the cat neutered.

Some people are against neutering their animals as they believe it is unnatural and inhumane....but consider the vast quantity of unwanted cats put into rescue homes each year, the stray cats on the streets and, of course, the fact that keeping an animal ?entire? when there is no intention to use it for that purpose might also be classed as unnatural.

However, there are some good reasons why people choose to keep their cat or cats in an un-neutered state. Perhaps they are hoping to breed from their animal and they do practise careful cat ownership that helps prevent unwanted kittens.

If this is the case then there are some products available to help with spraying. Spraying is a form of scent marking and therefore using a product like Feliway Spray can prevent this. Feliway Spray is a chemical copy of a pheromone which has a calming influence over the cat....this helps to reduce stress, and the subsequent scent marking as the cat's impulse to claim its territory is reduced. Feliway diffusers can also be used to help calm cats in the home. This is a plug in device which emits the pheromone that calms cats like the spray, but, instead, the scent is spread around the home constantly ensuring maximum efficiency.