A vet has issued a stark warning about a common mistake pet owners make that can induce anxiety in their animals.

Vet Amir Anwary, known as @amirthevet on TikTok, has utilised social media to highlight the potential long-term impact of certain behaviours on pets.

He stated in the video caption: "Separation anxiety is such a huge problem dogs these days suffer with! But you guys can definitely help them by implementing these steps! If this doesn't help you may need to consult a behaviourist."

In his video, he cautioned owners against overly exciting their pets when arriving or departing from home, explaining this can cause anxiety as pets misinterpret the significance of 'hello' and 'goodbye'.

He advised: "Stay calm when you leave home and when you return. When you leave home, you go and make it a big scene and when you return home you make it an even bigger scene.

"You are creating heightened emotions around you leaving home which makes the separation anxiety worse because it's so emotional."

Instead, he suggests ignoring your dog for 10 minutes prior to leaving and upon returning home, despite how "cruel" it might seem.

If you're planning to be out of the house for several hours, he recommends taking your dog for a lengthy walk beforehand, suggesting they're more likely to relax in your absence due to fatigue.

In addition to this, he suggests providing them with a treat puzzle to keep their minds engaged and focused on a positive task whilst awaiting your return. For those unable to leave their pets alone for any length of time, Amir advises beginning with brief absences.

He explained: "This is the hardest one because this is the one that requires the most consistency. When you leave home, start with going away for five minutes and monitor their response.

"If they're fine with it, go to 10 minutes and monitor their response. Stop leaving them alone for two hours at a time. Of course their separation anxiety is not going to get any better, you're going to make it a lot worse."

Responding to his video, one viewer shared: "My dog sees the shoes I'm wearing and knows I'm leaving and starts crying."

Another added: "My two Boston terriers actually have really bad separation anxiety and every time we leave the house they go crazy."

A third person commented: "The physical and mental stimulation is so true! My family just rescued a puppy a few months ago now, and making sure he's tired out before we go is a sure fire way to stop the howling and fuss!"