SÍNDROME DE ANSIEDADE DE SEPARAÇÃO: REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Abstract

This article is a qualitative literature review on Separation Anxiety Syndrome (SAS) in dogs. The following keywords were used in association for database research: “Separation anxiety syndrome”, “dogs”, “behavioral disorders”, and “anxiety in domestic animals”. Articles published in indexed journals and included in PubMed from 2019 to 2024 were considered. According to the inclusion criteria, 16 articles composed this literature review. SAS is a behavioral syndrome associated with an imbalance in the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis, leading animals with a lower stress threshold and high attachment to their owner to exhibit signs such as vocalization, agitation, and self-mutilation when left alone. Its diagnosis can be complex since several behavioral disorders share similar signs. However, there are available tools to assist veterinarians, including blood measurements of cortisol, chromogranin A, and copeptin. Treatment should involve behavioral modifications combined with pharmacological management using antidepressants. This article compiles important data from recent research on the diagnosis and treatment of SAS.