separation anxiety

My wife and I took in a stray miniture poodle a few months back.  It is about 7 years old and fairly well trained but it seems to have separation anxiety.

We currently crate him when we're gone.  During the day it can be for a fairly long time (up to 8 hours).  If we let him out he'll get on the couch and tear up the blinds to look out.  We tried to gate him to just the kitchen but then he tore up the carpet by the gate.

When we get home he goes nuts and won't calm down unless we let him out of the crate and even then after he's run around like crazy and drinks water so fast it chokes him.  I don't know why he gets so thirsty.  We leave plenty of water in the crate and most times it's not empty when we get home.  We also leave toys and treats but it never seems like he cares for them until we're home.

I'm afraid it upsets his stomach too at times because he'll go through phases where he's got some blood in his stool and/or his poops are liquidy.

I don't know if this information will help but he also chews at his paws and rubs his face all over the carpet/couches on a regular basis.

Any ideas on how to get this dog to calm down some?

Thanks.

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