Navigating complementary therapies for canine separation anxiety

In this video, Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC (IAABC), owner and lead clinician at the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon, discusses complementary and alternative therapies that may help support dogs with separation anxiety. He outlines key considerations for selecting safe and effective options for individual patients, and explains how practitioners can navigate these options to find the best fit for each patient.

Related: Is medication necessary for dogs with separation anxiety?

The following is a transcript of the video, lightly edited for clarity and cohesion:

Pachel: My name is Dr Chris Pachel. I am a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and the lead clinician at the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon.

dvm360: Can you talk about alternative therapies for separation anxiety in dogs?

Pachel: There are all sorts of complementary therapies, whether that be supplements, nutraceuticals, herbal therapies, or pheromones. There are even some device-based solutions or adjunctive therapies, like the Calmer Canine device, that can all be helpful. Where we want to be really intentional in our choices is trying to figure out: what's the right solution here?

Now, what I mean by that is that when we look at some particular interventions, there may be contraindications, either due to underlying health concerns or perhaps being just a mismatch between the way in which a particular supplement or herbal therapy is going to have an impact for that particular patient. So, from a practitioner standpoint, I look at a long list of all of those options and say: what are the patient's needs? What is the timeline under which we may be looking for that support? Do we have other medications on board that may be working synergistically or potentially in conflict with what we're choosing from a supplement or nutraceutical or herbal basis?

Related: Choosing the right medication for canine separation anxiety