Behavior & Feeding
Separation Anxiety and Eating: Why Won't They Eat When Left Alone?
Many dogs won't touch their bowl when left alone, then devour everything in the evening. We'll show you how to use feeding to alleviate anxiety.
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Separation Anxiety and Eating: Why Won't They Eat When Left Alone?
Separation anxiety is not a bad habit, but a real panic reaction. One of the earliest signs is related to eating: the dog won't touch their food when left alone, not even their favorite.
Eating Signs That Give It Away
- The bowl remains untouched while alone, then they devour everything upon your return
- Drooling, with saliva spots around the food
- Stress diarrhea by the afternoon
- Excessive drinking, followed by urination
- Gluttonous, frantic eating in the owner's presence
Why Is This Important?
The large meal consumed after a day of fasting carries two risks: bile vomiting after an empty stomach, and in large, deep-chested breeds, the risk of bloat.
Feeding as a Therapeutic Tool
This is the quickest, risk-free step:
- Puzzle Toys: give part of the daily portion only when leaving, filled in a Kong or a snuffle mat
- Make Leaving a Good Thing: the special treat is only available when they are left alone
- Short Trials: 30 seconds, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, only extend as long as they remain calm
- Don’t Make a Scene when saying goodbye and arriving
- Morning Exercise before leaving: a tired dog settles down more easily
- Spread Out Meals: don’t have a huge portion waiting upon your return
What to Avoid
- Punishment for destruction or barking: increases anxiety
- Getting a new dog as a "companion" as a quick fix
- All-day free access to food (you can't monitor if they ate)
Do Supplements Help?
Some can be supportive, but none solve anxiety on their own:
- Tryptophan, alpha-casozepine containing calming products
- Omega-3
- Dog-specific probiotics that act on the gut-brain axis
Each should be introduced in consultation with a veterinarian.
When to Seek Professional Help?
- If the dog injures themselves (scratching at the door, bloody paws, broken teeth)
- If they need to be alone for 8+ hours daily and there’s no improvement
- If their weight is decreasing
In such cases, a behavior therapist and veterinarian can work together to create a plan; medication support is not a shame.
Free tool — no sign-up
Enter weight, age and body shape: 30 seconds and you get the daily portion.
References
- 1.Sherman BL, Mills DS — Canine anxieties and phobias: an update on separation anxiety and noise aversions. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 38(5):1081–1106, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2008.04.012 (accessed: 2026-09-10)
- 2.WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee — WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines. World Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2021. https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/ (accessed: 2026-09-10)
This is general information and does not replace a veterinary diagnosis.
This guide was compiled based on the expert input of Reka Fazekas-Birizdo canine nutritionist.
Certified Canine Nutritionist