Separation anxiety isn’t a fun experience for you or your pet. If your pet suffers from separation anxiety, it is likely that you frequently return home to chaos and damaged belongings. These behaviors can even lead to your pet injuring themselves due to their anxiety. Fortunately, there are many potential ways that you can help your pet with separation anxiety. To help your pet with separation anxiety, it is important to understand the symptoms and the best steps to take to help them with these emotions.

Symptoms of Separation Anxiety

There are several signs that indicate separation anxiety in your pet. It is important to note that these behaviors happen consistently, not just once. These behaviors won’t occur in the owner’s presence and can even lead to self-injury, which is why it is important to try to help your pet with separation anxiety. Some symptoms of separation anxiety include destructive behavior, indoor accidents, intense pacing, attempts to escape, and excessive barking. Some of these behaviors can be caused by medical conditions, so it is important to have these ruled out when attempting to diagnose separation anxiety. For example, certain medications can cause urinary incontinence, so accidents in the home may not be the result of separation anxiety.

What Causes Separation Anxiety?

There is no one specific cause for separation anxiety, but there are many factors that often result in separation anxiety or increase the likelihood of anxiety developing. For one thing, dogs that have been in a shelter are more likely to have separation anxiety. This is often because they have experienced feelings of abandonment and losing a loved one. Some breeds are more susceptible to separation anxiety than others. Life changes, such as a new house or change in routine, can lead to the development of separation anxiety. New pets may also have difficulty adjusting to the home, so it is useful to take the steps to help them in their adjustment to your home.

Tips for Helping your Pet with Separation Anxiety

If you suspect that your pet has separation anxiety, you should take the steps to try to ease their symptoms. Here are a few tips for helping your pet with separation anxiety.

Counter-conditioning

When a pet has separation anxiety, it is likely that they are conditioned to react anxiously and destructively whenever you leave. This reaction can be minimized when you take the steps to counter this conditioning and create a more positive reaction. Ultimately, the point of this is to teach your pet that separation has its rewards. Try to leave their favorite treats around the house for the pet to find when you have left. You may also want to use puzzle toys to keep them occupied for the first little while that you’re away.

Exercise

Ensure that you exercise your dog regularly, especially if they have separation anxiety. If you don’t have the time to take them for extremely long walks, you may want to add a weighted dog backpack to help them work out their excess energy. A tired, content dog is more likely to settle down after you leave, rather than engage in destructive behaviors.

Medication

In severe cases, medication may become necessary to calm your dog when you are gone. Consult with us to determine if this is the best recourse for your pet.

Natural Supplements

Natural supplements are also available to invoke feelings of calm in your pet. These supplements may also be implemented to help a pet that experiences significant amounts of stress when left alone.

Don’t Make a Big Deal Out of Absence

If you make a big deal every time that you leave, your pet will similarly assume that it is a big deal. This can simply exacerbate their feelings of anxiety whenever you leave. If you feel like you have to say goodbye before you leave, ensure that you do it a set period of time before you leave so that they don’t associate it with your leaving. In addition, you shouldn’t make a big deal about coming home. Greet your pet and refrain from giving them too much attention until after they have calmed down. Your behavior is likely to have a significant impact on the behavior of your pets.

Take Separation in Steps

If your pet experiences significant amounts of separation anxiety, you should complete the therapeutic process in steps. First, try leaving your pet alone for 5 minutes at a time. Gradually increase the time until they can successfully be alone for about an hour before showing any signs of distress. Most of the destructive behavior occurs during this time frame, so a pet that can be alone for around an hour will likely be just fine for longer periods of time.

Refrain From Punishment

Punishment won’t help with separation anxiety. Separation anxiety isn’t caused by disobedience, but is a result of extreme stress. Punishing your pet for experiencing this stress is likely to only exacerbate their negative emotions. Primarily use positive reinforcement and other techniques to prevent the condition from escalating. Never punish your pet for becoming stressed and overwhelmed when you leave.

Severe Cases

In severe situations, it may become necessary to use a combination of approaches to help your pet with separation anxiety. Often, the most effective course of action is to combine conditioning with medication. You may also want to consult a professional animal behaviorist to help you with the conditioning and easing the symptoms of your pet’s separation anxiety. In extreme situations, you should consult with an expert to ensure that treatment can be completed as effectively as possible.

Here at Borrett Animal Hospital, we strive to ensure that your pet maintains the best possible health, both physical and mental. Separation anxiety can significantly detract from their quality of life, especially when they have to be left alone regularly. If you think your pet may require medication or more intensive treatment to help with their separation anxiety, bring them in to see us at Borrett Animal Hospital.

 

 

Many studies have shown that the majority of pets are overweight. In fact, approximately 55% of dogs and cats are overweight. The weight of your pet has a significant impact on their health and can even shorten their lifespan. Taking the appropriate steps can help to keep your pet at a healthy weight.

What Causes a Pet to Become Overweight?

In general, most pets become overweight due to a combination of overfeeding and a lack of exercise. This is very similar to how humans gain weight. However, some medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, can also cause a pet to gain weight. It is important to pay attention to your pet’s weight to ensure that you aren’t overfeeding them.

Health Issues Caused by Excess Weight

There are multiple ways in which excess weight can impact your pet’s health. It is vital to ensure that they remain at a healthy weight in order to prevent these health issues from occurring.

Shortens Lives

Overweight pets have much shorter lives than pets that maintain a healthy weight. When you help them lose weight and maintain a healthier weight, they will live longer and be happier.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a common health concern with overweight people. The same thing applies to animals that are overweight. The more an animal weighs, the more likely they will be to develop diabetes.

Heart Disease

The risk of heart disease increases exponentially for overweight pets. Taking the steps to maintain a healthy weight can prevent heart disease from impacting your pet’s health.

Arthritis and Joint Injury

Essentially when a pet is overweight, its body is handling more weight than it is intended to. This puts excessive amounts of pressure on the joints, which can lead to an increased risk of developing arthritis and injury of the joints.

Exacerbate Existing Issues

Health issues are often exacerbated when a pet gains excessive amounts of weight. It is always important to maintain a healthy weight for pets, but it is even more important to carefully monitor the weight of pets that already have health issues.

Greater Risk of Heatstroke

Pets that are overweight have a difficult time cooling themselves down. Their bodies retain heat more thoroughly, which puts them at an added risk of sustaining heatstroke.

Is your Pet Overweight?

There are many signs that may indicate that your pet is overweight. Learning these signs can help you to determine if your pet is overweight before the problem escalates to extreme proportions.

Feel for Ribs

It is easy to feel the ribs on a pet that is at a healthy weight. You can lay your hand along the ribs and press down gently. This should be ample pressure to feel their ribs. If you have to press harder than this or feel a layer of fat rather than the ribs, it is possible that your pet is overweight.

Examine Figure

A pet should have a distinct figure. When this figure starts to blur, it is possible that they are overweight. In general, a pet’s chest should be wider than their abdomen. An overweight pet may not maintain any distinction between their chest and their stomach.

Different Behaviors

An overweight pet will often exhibit different behaviors than they did when they were at a healthy weight. They will likely pant when they are walking and may even walk more slowly than they did previously. Overweight pets also tend to nap more often than pets that are at a healthy weight.

Consult Veterinarian

If you are unsure whether your pet is at a healthy weight, you should consult your veterinarian. We have the tools and experience necessary to provide you with information regarding what weight is healthy for your pet, as well as advising you regarding techniques to help them lose weight. We are also able to provide prescription diets to aid with obesity, along with many other health issues.

How to Help an Overweight Pet

Due to the many health concerns that are associated with a pet being overweight, it is extremely important to provide the necessary care and steps to ensure that your pet is at a healthy weight. If you have determined that your pet is overweight, it is important to implement these steps to help them lose weight.

Preventative Care and Annual Checkups

Preventative care can help to prevent your pet from becoming overweight in the first place. It is additionally important to have annual checkups to ensure that any issues are caught in the early stages. Visiting your veterinarian can go a long way toward reducing the issues consistent with a pet that’s overweight.

Regular Exercise

Get moving! In order for a pet to lose weight, they will need to increase their amount of exercise. Spend more time playing with your pet or taking them for walks to help them burn more calories.

Scheduled Portioned Feedings

Overeating is often an issue that causes a pet to be overweight. You should never leave food lying around when you are trying to get your pet to lose weight. Provide them with food on a consistent schedule and carefully measure their food.

Have a Team Plan

It is vital to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to your pet losing weight. If one person is still giving the pet table scraps or extra treats, it will significantly impact your success.

Track Progress

Just like with regular weight loss, it is important to track the weight loss of your pet. This will help you to determine the effectiveness of your weight loss strategies and how to keep your pet at a healthy weight.

Don’t Feel Guilty

Many people feel like they show their love for their pet by giving them treats to make them happy. Don’t feel guilty when you have to put your foot down and help your pet lose weight. Substitute extra treats and table scraps with playtime and attention.

An overweight pet will likely have a plethora of health concerns. It is vital to ensure that your pet maintains a healthy weight to prevent these issues from occurring. Ensure that you know what foods are dangerous for your pet and never feed them these foods. To learn more about keeping your pet at a healthy weight, contact us at Borrett Animal Hospital today!

It is difficult for both you and your pet when the veterinarian recommends an overnight stay. Your veterinarian knows best and if they think that an overnight stay is necessary, it is important to listen to them. Being separated from your pet, especially during the stress of a medical emergency, will likely increase the anxiety of both you and your pet.

1. Ask Questions

It is important to ask any questions you may have regarding the procedure and the overnight stay. Gathering information will help ease your stress and help you prepare your pet. Ask if someone will be in the facility around the clock to supervise your pet. Ensure that you know if the pet must be fasted prior to the procedure and learn about any necessary post-procedure care.

2. Bring Some of Your Pet’s Regular Food

If your pet will be staying long enough to require food, you should consider bringing some of your pet’s regular food with you. A dramatic change in diet can upset the pet’s stomach. Additionally, the regular food will be familiar to the pet.

3. Bring Home to Them

Check with your veterinarian before you bring along any of your pet’s personal belongings. If the procedure has a high-risk of infection or other complications, you may have to refrain from bringing anything. Otherwise, you can bring your pet’s favorite toy, blanket, or bed to help make them much more comfortable in the unfamiliar surroundings. Keep in mind that accidents are common when pets are in such stressful situations, so the item may be returned soiled.

Medical emergencies are the dark side of pet ownership. It can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. Learning as much as you can prior to the procedure can help you make life as simple for your pet as possible. If you are concerned about your pet’s necessary overnight stay, contact us at Borrett Animal Hospital today!