So it isn't only the children who suffer.....
Pets suffer when owners split
ITN - 2 hours 19 mins ago
Stressed-out cats and dogs are suffering compulsive disorders because of Britain's high break-up rate between couples, an animal charity has claimed.
The increasing frequency of relationship breakdowns means pets are developing obsessive and compulsive disorders, including self-harming, because of the stress caused by their owners breaking up.
Leading UK veterinary charity, the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals), is now urging owners to make the well-being of their pets a central part of the process of agreeing to a separation.
Sean Wensley, senior vet at PDSA, said: "Dogs that are stressed can show signs of compulsive disorder.
"This may include chasing their own tail or excessive licking of one or more limbs. As a result of such licking, the area can become raw and itchy, which in turn leads to further licking or chewing.
"Cats can be prone to 'wool sucking' which, as the term suggests, involves sucking or chewing on woollen items such as blankets."
Mr Wensley added: "Other species can also show signs of stress. Parrots, for example, sometimes pull out their own feathers after losing a mate or experiencing some other type of trauma.
"Self mutilating behaviour like this can be brought on by stressful circumstances, or there may be a pre-existing condition which is made worse by the animal's surroundings."
He said that cats and dogs, like young children, are sensitive to adult human emotions, and when these become tense or unpredictable this can cause the stress-related health problems.
"A separation or divorce may not only cause logistical issues, such as a dog not being walked as often by one partner as it might have been by two people.
"Such a situation can result in them developing psychological and behavioural problems which can take a long time to resolve."
Mr Wensley said owners had a responsibility to try and establish the most compassionate ways to help pets through the stress caused by a split.
