Is It Safe to Leave Your Pet Alone? Signs Your Pet Is Struggling When You're Not Home

Most pet owners leave their pets alone regularly and most of the time, it's completely fine. Pets sleep, wait, and do their own thing. But sometimes something feels off. They've been acting differently. They're not eating normally. You caught something unusual on the camera.

Knowing whether your pet is genuinely struggling or just being a pet is harder than it sounds. Here's what to look for and when professional input matters.

What Normal Alone Time Looks Like

A pet who is comfortable being home alone will typically rest most of the time, eat and drink normally when you return, greet you warmly without signs of distress, and show no destructive behavior or inappropriate elimination. This is the baseline. If your pet consistently behaves this way, they're handling alone time well.

Signs Your Pet May Be Struggling

Dogs

• Excessive barking or howling when you leave, reported by neighbors or caught on camera

• Destructive behavior, chewing furniture, scratching doors, destroying objects

• Inappropriate elimination despite being housetrained

• Refusal to eat while alone, even if food is available

• Pacing, circling, or repetitive behaviors visible on camera

• Excessive drooling or panting not related to heat

• Attempts to escape, scratching at doors, windows, or fences

Cats

• Over-grooming, bald patches or skin irritation

• Changes in litter box habits

• Loss of appetite or water intake changes

• Hiding more than usual or becoming unusually clingy when you return

• Vocalizing excessively

It's worth noting that some of these signs particularly appetite changes and litter box differences can also indicate underlying health issues that have nothing to do with separation. This is where a professional opinion matters.

When to Contact a Vet

If your pet is showing any of the following, a vet conversation is warranted and sooner is better than later:

• Not eating for more than 24 hours

• Vomiting or diarrhea more than once or twice

• Any blood in stool or urine

• Sudden and unexplained behavior change

• Signs of pain, vocalizing, reluctance to move, posture changes

• Breathing changes

The challenge is that these situations often come to your attention when your regular vet is closed at night, over a weekend, or while you're at work. That's where a 24/7 vet service becomes genuinely valuable.

How Waggle Vet Helps When You Notice Something From Home

If you're watching your pet on a camera and something doesn't look right, Waggle Vet lets you connect with a licensed vet in seconds via text chat or video call right from wherever you are. Describe what you're seeing, share a clip if needed, and get a professional assessment in real time.

A vet can help you determine whether what you're seeing is a behavioral issue, a health concern, or something that needs immediate attention without you needing to wait until the next available appointment.

Connect with a licensed vet in seconds, any time. First month free for all new users. 

What to Do If Your Pet Has Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a recognized condition not bad behavior and it responds well to the right approach. Steps that help:

1. Gradual desensitization, practice short absences and build up slowly

2. Consistent departure and arrival routines, low-key goodbyes and hellos

3. Enrichment while alone, puzzle feeders, frozen Kongs, safe chews

4. Professional behavioral support for severe cases

5. A vet assessment to rule out underlying medical causes

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know if my dog has separation anxiety?

Key signs include destructive behavior, barking or howling when alone, inappropriate elimination, and refusal to eat when you're not home. A vet can help distinguish separation anxiety from other medical or behavioral causes.

2. Is it okay to leave a dog home alone all day?

Most adult dogs can manage 6–8 hours alone, though this varies by breed and individual temperament. If you're noticing signs of distress, a vet or behaviorist assessment is recommended.

3. What should I do if my pet isn't eating while I'm at work?

If it's occasional, monitor and see if it resolves. If it's consistent or accompanied by other symptoms, contact a vet. Waggle Vet gives you 24/7 access to a licensed vet to assess the situation.

4. Can I talk to a vet without going in person?

Yes. Waggle Vet connects you with 200+ licensed vets via text chat or video call in seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.