We all want our furry friends to be happy, but with crammed social calendars and hectic work schedules, it often means that pets need to be left on their own. Although it’s hard not to feel bad about this, it can be just as hard to tell if your dog needs a friend and what you can do about it. Here are some indicators that might be a sure sign that Fido desperately needs a friend
Signs your dog needs a friend
He’s always following you around the house
Lonely pets tend to follow their humans around the house to get that companionship they so desperately crave. A pet that stalks you from room to room or whines when they can’t see you is a sign of loneliness or separation anxiety.
She’s not as playful as she was before
Loneliness might be to blame if your formerly energetic pet now looks listless and lazy. A lack of interest in playtime is one of the biggest indicators of loneliness.
Your dog has developed a lick granuloma
In some cases, a lonely pet might start licking or biting at its own fur, which leads to hair loss or damage. Lick granulomas are common manifestations in anxious and bored dogs and show up as small circular sores, often found on the dog’s carpus (wrists). These might start off small but can easily develop into major lesions that require medical intervention and even surgery.
They’re sleeping much more than usual during the day
The fact that your pet struggles to settle down at night or sleeps more during the day could be an indicator of loneliness or boredom. Of course, your pet needs more sleep than you do, but animals are flexible sleepers, and lonely pets tend to get their 12-hour sleep quota during the day and then have issues sleeping at night.
Is appetite has decreased
A change in appetite can definitely be an indicator that your dog needs a friend. Lonely pets may start eating or drinking less than they used to, and this can be linked to stress and anxiety, with loneliness being the possible cause.
She’s destructive or howls when she is left alone
If endless barking or whining at the door is a regular thing whenever you leave the house, your dog might be in desperate need of some company. The same goes for excessive howling. In really bad cases, your pet might be petrified of being left alone, so much so that it claws the furniture or rips up carpeting when you’re not there. Your pet is likely suffering from separation anxiety, instead of simple loneliness, if this is the case in your home.
