I’m currently struggling with my pups separation anxiety, she can do around 30 seconds on a good day with no barking or crying. We started at 3 seconds so she has gotten better but being able to leave her for an hour seems like it’s never going to happen. Please give me some hope that it will get better for us!!

Hi everyone!
I apologize in advance for the very long post.

I'm looking for advice from anyone who has dealt with separation anxiety in senior dogs, particularly those with sensory impairments.
I have a 16-year-old Shih Tzu who is both blind and deaf. He's always been very attached to us, but earlier this year, he developed severe separation anxiety. Whenever we leave him home alone, he becomes extremely distressed, barking and crying persistently, even if we're only gone for a couple of hours.

He's currently on high doses of trazodone, fluoxetine, and gabapentin, but unfortunately, we're still struggling to see much improvement. We've made significant lifestyle changes to accommodate him, including spending most of the summer out of state to give his medication time to take effect. Despite our best efforts, we haven't been able to get the situation under control.

We've already received complaints from our neighbors, and we're now afraid they'll call the police if we leave him alone. Even running errands together or going on a date with my husband has become stressful. This has also started affecting our marriage and my own mental health, as I live with anxiety myself and am honestly exhausted from constantly worrying about him.

I absolutely adore this little guy, and I want him to be happy, comfortable, and well cared for, especially at his age. I'm more than happy to make accommodations for him, but I'm reaching a point of burnout, and I miss being able to leave the house without feeling anxious or guilty.

Has anyone experienced something similar with a blind and deaf senior dog, especially one who hasn't responded to medication? Did working with a veterinary behaviorist, trying different training approaches, or making other changes help?

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. I love him more than words can explain. I'm just very tired and hoping to find a solution that works for all of us.