The 'Back to School' rush is a stressful and busy time for everyone. Buy the school supplied. Get the kids new clothes. Get the children signed up for after-school activities. Arrange transportation to and from school.

Then add the 'end of holidays' stress for parents

It's time to head back to work. Everyone is busy and schedules are undergoing abrupt changes.

Image how this affects Fido. During the summer, everyone was around. The house was filled with traffic and activity.

The children played with him. They took him for walks. Friends came over. There was noise, and laughter everywhere. He joined you at the lake. Everyone was around for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Now the house is quiet. Everyone is gone. And he has been left at home, alone, faced with four quiet walls.

What must he be feeling? Abandoned? Bored? Forgotten?

Some dogs will simply become depressed and withdrawn. Some will start to vomit. Or they may urinate and defecate in the house.

Others start to bark excessively. Some will chew up the items in the house. The stress of separation and perceived abandonment on dogs can be enormous.

How do you avoid this? Ideally you start a couple of weeks before school begins. Begin by changing routines gradually. Get up earlier. Go to bed earlier.

Slowly leave the family pet alone for increasing periods of time. Begin to introduce Fido to his new morning, afternoon and evening routines. Dogs, just like children, thrive on routine.

But what do you do when it's too late? You forgot about the dog. And now the neighbours are complaining because he is howling all the tim. And then you walk into the house and you are stumbling over shredded pillows.

First of all, yelling at the dog won't help fix the situation. You need to get into the head of your pet. Why is he acting out? What has happened? What has changed?

Start by alleviating boredom. Keep an assortment of toys available for play.

Toys that release treats can be helpful. Increase exercise through doggy day care and dog walking services. Leave a radio or TV playing. Don't make a fuss when you leave or when you return. If you are trying to spend more morning and evening time with your dog, don't do it just before leaving or just as you arrive.

Ignore your dog for a time before leaving and after arriving. Make sure they know your departures and arrivals are not a big issue.

Leave a T-shirt with your scent on his bed.

If all else fails, enlist the help of an experienced dog trainer. Even basic dog training can help. It teaches your dog that you are a confident reliable person who will handle stressful situations for him.

Sometimes a cordoned- off area or a kennel is not a bad idea if it keeps Fido out of potential hazards, saves your house, and reduces your anxiety. Positive kennel training can be very valuable for the anxious dog.

If you are still having problems after this, seek the assistance of your veterinarian. There are anti-anxiety drugs that can help. The goal of drug therapy is to take the edge off so the pet can forget the inciting cause and destructive behaviour while learning new routines and goals. This should always be accompanied with intensive training.

Is there a point where you should you seek immediate veterinary assistance?

Yes, if your pet is depressed and won't eat or starts vomiting, this is not a situation you want to tackle alone. Seek the advice of your veterinarian.

n Dr. Borgmann is a pet columnist and veterinarian with the Whatcom Road Veterinary Hospital in Abbotsford.