How to ease pet separation anxiety during summer travel: 5 expert tips

As summer travel plans pick up, more pet owners are leaving their animals at home. While a quick trip might seem simple, veterinarians and wellness experts say separation anxiety in pets is a real concern—and can affect their health and safety.

Wellness Pharmacist Tonya Rankin tells News On 6 her pharmacy often hears from owners worried about destructive or unusual behavior when pets are left alone. From barking and pacing to more serious health problems, anxiety can take many forms.

Here’s what experts recommend to help keep your furry family members calm and comfortable while you're away.

1. Watch for common signs of anxiety

Pets with separation anxiety might bark excessively, hide, pace, or even try to escape. In more severe cases, they may injure themselves or damage property.

“Every pet is different. Some pets will shake, some will hide… they might be anxiously pacing throughout the house,” Rankin said.

2. Understand the root causes

Anxiety can be triggered by changes such as adoption, losing a previous owner, moving to a new home, or shifts in routine. Unpredictable weather events can also make symptoms worse.

3. Create positive associations with leaving

Experts suggest giving your pet a special treat or favorite toy when you leave. This helps shift focus from your absence to something enjoyable, reducing anxiety over time.

4. Start small and build up alone time

If your pet isn’t used to being alone, try short trips out of the house and gradually increase the time away. This training can help them adjust without becoming overwhelmed.

5. Explore calming aids and professional help

For pets with severe symptoms, your vet might recommend calming supplements, sprays, or medication. Natural supplements and soothing scents are also options to help ease stress.

“Just like in humans… anxiety can cause stomach aches or other gastrointestinal issues, and we see that in dogs and cats,” Rankin said.

What to do if anxiety doesn’t improve

If your pet continues to struggle, working with a veterinarian or certified animal behaviorist can help develop a treatment plan tailored to your pet’s needs. Experts say early intervention is key to preventing bigger problems down the road.

Medical Owasso Wellness Pharmacy and Compounding offers a supplement called PetCalm to help reduce anxiety in both dogs and cats. The product is a lickable paste that can be flavored to your pet’s liking, making it easy to administer.

Staff at the pharmacy say many dogs love the taste and have responded well to the supplement. They’ve seen it help reduce separation anxiety and also calm pets during vet visits and car rides.