Hi all it's Cody! We don't have any kids in our house, but we know that many of you do!! Today many kids are heading "Back-to-School". This is the time that many cats and woofies who live with kids may start
to feel lonely or experience separation anxiety. You don't have to have kids for your pets to experience separation anxiety. The signs of separation anxiety and the tips offered to help deal with it are beneficial to anyone who has pets and might be leaving home for a period of time due to any sort of a change in routine, (new job, travel etc.).
A PARTIAL LIST OF SIGNS OF
SEPARATION ANXIETY:
Improper Urination-many kitties could choose to not use their litter box and woofies many have accidents in the house.
Excessive Barking or Howling- we once had two woofies who lived in our building that used to do this when their parents weren't home. It used to work the woofies into a frenzy and can be concerning to those listening to it happening for many hours.
Change of Appetite-not eating or overeating (ok, I overeat but that's totally different!)
Pacing-that is often a sign of an anxious pet!
Feeling sad and lonely sure isn't fun!
Recently Mom and I were offered the chance to listen to Purina Veterinarian, Dr.Kurt Venator share his Top 5 Tips to Address Separation Anxiety in Pets during Back-to-School Season, and since we want to help kitties and woofies who experience this to feel better, here they are! (Oh and some have a little editorial from MOI!!)
HOW DO YOU HELP YOUR PET?
1) Get your pet into a routine. Pets love routine because it
makes them feel secure. If I don't get my meals at the time that I am used to eating, watch out! During the summer, kids are always around to make
things entertaining and exciting for their pets. When they suddenly disappear,
some cats and dogs will feel sad and confused while others may experience real
separation anxiety. As a result it is important that pet owners help get their pet
acclimated to the change by replacing the old schedule with a new one, such as
allocating time to play with them after work or keeping a consistent schedule
when coming and going from the house.
2) Burn off some energy. Some pets deal with separation anxiety
by becoming destructive (e.g. howling, chewing on objects or other parts of the
house). A great way to keep your dog from doing this is by taking them on a
walk in the morning before you leave the house to help burn off some of that
extra energy. For cats, consider playing with them at night as well – whether
it’s making them chase a feather wand or play with a ball.
3) Create an interactive environment: Back-to-school season is
a great time to buy your pet a new, interactive toy to play with. This will
help mentally stimulate them and keep them occupied during the day when the
kids are away at school. For dogs, chew toys are a way for them to relieve
their anxiety, frustration and boredom. For cats, creating a play area where they
can be entertained even when you’re not home, can help ease the separation
anxiety. This can include having things like scratching posts or cat furniture
in your home.
4) Turn up the tunes and start with baby steps. Try leaving
some soothing music on at your home while everyone is out of the house. The
music will help drown out distracting noises that your cat and dog may mistakenly
associate with the kids coming home. Some animal shelters have even found that
playing calming music helps the pets in their facilities relax. My Mom and Dad often turn the TV on for Dakota and I, and when they return home they find us in the living room together, right in front of the TV! Additionally,
get your pets comfortable with noises that may indicate your departure. For
example, jingle your car keys occasionally and practice opening and closing the
door to get them accustomed to noises that could increase anxiety.
5) Spend time with your pet. It’s important to remember that
while you may have had a long day, your pet may have been sitting at home
feeling lonely waiting for you to come home. Spending some quality time with
your pet at the end of the day is critical to helping keep them active and
mentally sharp. It may be tough to fit into a busy work or school schedule, but be sure
to build some interactive time – whether it’s a walk or cuddle session – to
show your pets you care.
I sure hope that these tips help all of you kitties and woofies who might be feeling sad when the little humans head to school!
You can get more information by visiting www.petcentric.com.
Love, Cody
