Helping pets avoid separation anxiety once you finally go back to the office

Original article on NEWS4SA
By: Denise Whitaker

A big benefit for many people working from home right now is the time they get to spend with their families, which includes their pets.

But this new normal of working from home can lead to some poor behavior in both people and pets.

Let's face it, it's not easy for everyone to truly stay healthy under a stay home, stay healthy order. During this time of anxiety and uneasiness, our pets really provide a lot of comfort for us, really helping to keep the stress levels down.

While gaining lots of time with Fluffy or Fido, make sure they're not also gaining weight. Veterinarian Devon Smith cautions against giving your furry friend more treats than they're used to.

“The weight thing is definitely a concern that I talk to my owners about almost every day," Smith said. "And so even if you're home more, there's no reason for Fido to be getting more calories what I would say it use this time to get outside more."

That exercise is great for your pet and for you, as a good mood enhancer.

Another great boost to any mood is scrolling through social media feeds, where you'll see cute posts of pets sitting on laptops or underfoot while people are working from home.

These little ‘helpers’ are adorable, right? Only until it's time to go back to the real office. That's when Smith said pets are likely to suffer some serious separation anxiety.

"One of the ways to help prevent anxiety is to continue to keep a structured schedule in place," said Smith.

She recommends taking steps now, to avoid that hurt later.

"Create structure now where you spend time away from the animal even in your own home," said Smith.

That structure includes putting your pet in isolation at times when you're on an important call or video meeting.

"They don't understand why we're home now and eventually they're not going to understand why we're away again," Smith said. "Increase the amount of time the animal’s spending alone, when you get closer to time to return to work."

Smith suggests putting your pet in their kennel or another room alone at different times during the day, so they get used to being alone before you leave them for the long days at the office again.