Separation anxiety makes your dog miserable, and in turn, he makes you miserable. There are cases ranging from mild to extremely severe, where dogs will engage in self-mutilation and worse. If you’ve tried behavior modification therapy and other tips that most commonly do relieve separation anxiety to no avail, you’re probably wondering if there’s anything else you can try. Veterinarians can prescribe dog anxiety medication, but there are a few things you might want to try first.

Lavendar Oil – Lavendar is very calming, and in combination with the behavior modification you’re already working on, it can help relieve your dog’s anxiety. Put the lavendar oil in a place that is already calming to your dog, such as his bed. Give your dog his treats, praise and affection, and any other attention in the bed. This will quickly become a calming place for your dog and can instantly put him in a calm state.

Calming Music - Another option, although it’s not dog separation anxiety medication, is calming music. As you get your things ready to ‘leave,’ place the calming music in the CD player and turn it on. Go outside, and allow the music to play while you wait five minutes. Return, and allow the music to play for a while longer. As your dog becomes comfortable with you leaving, increase the amount of time you wait outside before going back in. Eventually, he will be calmer, and the music you play will help with the loneliness he is experiencing.

Prescriptions – If the separation anxiety simply doesn’t go away at all, speak to your veterinarian. In some cases, vets will prescribe tranquilizers or even anti-depressants for dogs that aren’t responding to any other treatment at all. No matter what, it’s important that you remain patient and understanding of your dog’s condition. After all, separation anxiety is a sickness that your dog can’t help – but with time and treatment, he can get better.