Separation anxiety: Cant even go to the bathroom?

For some separation anxiety cases, before starting desensitization to predeparture cues, it may be worthwhile to take a step back. And then another, slowly until the pet owner can even leave the room-long enough to go the bathroom by herself-without the dog experiencing major separation anxiety. Interviewed by Dr. Sarah Wooten, our practitioner in the trenches, veterinary behaviorist Melissa Bain, DVM, DACVB, DACAW, MS, suggests mat training.