| Pet Wellness embraces many areas of a healthy | | | | stressed, anxious, or depressed, it is highly likely |
| happy pet so in appreciation of Stress Awareness | | | | that your dog or cat will be as well. |
| Month learn how you can identify and eliminate | | | | But there are other factors that can cause your |
| pet stress to give him a longer, happier, healthier | | | | dog or cat pet stress. |
| life. | | | | 1. Pet wellness requires pet owners to identify if |
| April is Stress Awareness Month and this applies | | | | their pet is stressed and take the necessary |
| to all living things, big, small, human or not - | | | | actions to improve the situation. Consider first |
| particularly our pets. Are you surprised to read | | | | yourself. Are you stressed more than the norm? |
| that animals have stress? Stress affects our dogs | | | | Are you depressed, sad or feeling anxious and |
| and cats and various type pets across the board. | | | | nervous? Remember that just like your kids, your |
| Pet stress just like people stress causes health | | | | pet will pick up on your stress and if it's having a |
| problems, decreases the quality of life, causes | | | | direct hit on your behavior, state of mind, actions |
| depression, and shortens life span. For these | | | | and personality, it is certainly affecting your pet |
| reasons, amongst others, it is necessary for pet | | | | as well. |
| owners to practice another part of pet wellness | | | | 2. If your pet is sick and is not getting better this |
| which is finding out if their pet is stressed, | | | | can cause him stress and unhappiness just as it |
| identifying the stress factors, and using the | | | | would you. So keep an eye on your pet and be |
| necessary techniques to eliminate the stress and | | | | sure to take action on any out of the norm |
| increase the quality of their pet's life. | | | | situations that may arise. Do not delay because |
| Pet Stress Signs | | | | you don't know what the situation might be and it |
| Many pet stress signs can also be signs of other | | | | could be time sensitive, making all the difference |
| problems so do not just assume it is stress. It's | | | | between recovery or death. For pets that already |
| important to look into all the avenues in order to | | | | have an illness or health issue stress can delay |
| efficiently help your pet and save yourself and | | | | healing, and even cause the problem to become |
| your pet future health problems and chunky vet | | | | chronic if your pet is dealing with unrelenting |
| bills. | | | | stress. |
| 1. Itching | | | | 3. Constant television, flashing lights, lack of visual |
| Itching is a sign of several things such as fleas, | | | | stimuli, smoke or polluted living environments all |
| ticks, lice, or skin allergy but it can also be a sign | | | | can cause dog stress through his eyes. Consider |
| of stress if your dog or cat is itching himself | | | | turning off your television for some time during |
| more than normal. Eliminate the possibility of fleas, | | | | the day, easy lights in the evenings, toys and a |
| ticks, lice and allergy first, and then consider that | | | | stimulating, clean air environment. |
| it could be your pet is stressed. Natural health | | | | 4. Once again, just like with our kids the television |
| care for pets treatments offers effective allergy | | | | can become a problem if not managed in the |
| itching remedies that can be administered at | | | | household. A constant, loud television can add |
| home. Treating itching and discomfort from | | | | stress through your dog's ears. Loud noises, other |
| allergies and eliminating the allergy source will also | | | | dogs constantly barking, people arguing, children |
| keep your pet from suffering from stressed | | | | screaming, sirens, video games, thunder storms |
| caused by discomfort - from ongoing itchiness. | | | | and slamming doors that are consistent in a pets |
| 2. Excessive shedding | | | | environment are other stresses through sound |
| The more pet stress there is the more shedding | | | | can affect your dog. Consider classical music for |
| there will be. Shedding however is also common | | | | your dog or cat when you leave him home alone |
| with poor quality dog food, poor diet, and can also | | | | as opposed to television or the radio. Classical |
| be genetics, as well as a dog that is not getting | | | | music is quiet, slow and relaxing and proven to be |
| enough sun light. Another condition of excessive | | | | favored amongst dogs and cats. There is loads of |
| shedding is when the pores of the dog's skin do | | | | pet music CD's available these days that have |
| not close all the way allowing hair to fall constantly. | | | | clinically proven types of music most suitable and |
| This usually requires a vitamin such as Biotin to | | | | enjoyed by dogs and cats. An antistatic cape can |
| help. Or, your pet could be too stressed out. | | | | be used for help with dog that suffer from |
| 3. Lethargy | | | | thunderstorm stress. Consider the noise level in |
| A lethargic pet is always a sign that something is | | | | your home and make changes for a calmer, |
| not right and needs to be looked into urgently. | | | | quieter atmosphere if necessary. |
| Lethargy can stem from depression, poor health, | | | | 5. Perfumes, excessive or irritating essential oils, |
| not enough exercise and unhappiness. Or, your | | | | hair spray, air fresheners, deodorants, and smoke |
| pet's stress is on fire. Usually a vet will request a | | | | are also stress culprits that cause anxiety or |
| stool sample in order to get to the root of this | | | | agitation through the dog's nose. For health |
| problem. | | | | reasons and global warming signs it is preferred |
| 4. Aggression | | | | that people not use air fresheners in their homes |
| A sick, injured or pet in pain may be aggressive if | | | | or vehicles. Instead get to the root of the odor |
| approached or stroked, outside of this your pets | | | | problem and try a natural freshener such as |
| aggression could be stress related. | | | | boiling are cooking a cinnamon stick. Don't use |
| 5. Lack of or no appetite | | | | perfumes, deodorants, hair sprays or smoke |
| Pets that are stressed, sick, or depressed will | | | | around your pet. Instead keep use of these items |
| often eat less or lose their appetite all together. | | | | to one room to keep the rest of the house clean. |
| This is another area, obviously that needs to be | | | | 6. For anxiety and fear, pet owners will often |
| immediately addressed if noticed by pet owners. | | | | consider a product called Dog Appeasing |
| 6. Lack of interest | | | | Pheromone. However, before you go that route |
| A dog or cat that suddenly shows lack of interest | | | | consider Lavender aromatherapy, which has |
| in things he was always excited to do or enjoyed | | | | shown success in reducing stress, sadness and |
| doing is a sign of a sick, sad, or depressed pet. | | | | restlessness in dogs housed in shelters and dog |
| Check for sickness first then consider stress as a | | | | pounds. |
| reason. | | | | 7. The mouth and digestive system of a dog also |
| 7. Passive behavior | | | | play a part in stress. A poor diet, unhealthy teeth |
| The opposite of aggression, some pets will | | | | and gums not getting enough water, or having to |
| become passive when stressed. | | | | compete for food are all sources of pet stress. |
| 8. Negative behavior | | | | Make sure your dog is getting regular dental |
| Often pets who are bored will dig, chew, or bark | | | | checkups and regular cleaning. A safe and trusted |
| constantly. A stressed or sad dog will be | | | | eating environment, fresh clean water daily, a |
| destructive, this is also a common behavior of | | | | balanced healthy diet |
| intelligent breeds who are not left alone for long | | | | 8. Temperature and climate are also sources of |
| periods of time or not exercised physically and | | | | stress. A pet in uncomfortable, painful or isolated |
| mentally enough for their breed. | | | | living conditions will have high stress levels. |
| 9. Change is bathroom habits | | | | 9. Excessive exercise, poor training techniques, |
| A dog that is house trained or a cat that is litter | | | | and injuries gone untreated can cause arthritis and |
| box trained who suddenly forgets this and goes in | | | | joint disease. Poor training can also cause fear and |
| the house, could be stressed or sad. Consider the | | | | lack of trust, all of which bring on stress. Exercise |
| age of your pet and for how long he has been | | | | should be breed and age appropriate, fun and |
| trained because accidents do happen and | | | | stimulating and moderate. Training should be age |
| especially during the puppy stages or learning | | | | and breed appropriate and never on a hard core, |
| stages. | | | | cruel basis. To protect against injuries, joint |
| 10. Sounds | | | | disease and arthritis, ensure your dog or cat |
| Funny as it may be cats will often purr when | | | | receives body-benefiting treatments such as pet |
| they are stressed, sad or even dying - as | | | | massage, cold or hot heating pads and swimming |
| opposed to a dog that will growl when unhappy or | | | | in the pool if possible. Make sure your dog is |
| agitated. | | | | comfortable with water first and that you are |
| 11. Body Language | | | | with him when he is taking a dip. Like a child, |
| Many pets, particularly dogs and cats will have a | | | | never leave your pet alone in or near water. |
| change in body language such as slouching while | | | | Massages do not have to be expensive you can |
| they walk, hanging their head low, walking more | | | | learn to do it at home, as well as many other |
| slowly than usual, and laying down all the time. | | | | natural health care for pets practices |
| This could be a sign your dog or cat is not well, | | | | In the spirit of stress awareness month |
| has an injury, is depressed, or experiencing pet | | | | remember that being a responsible and |
| stress. | | | | conscientious pet owner requires you put pet |
| Happy Pet Signs | | | | wellness into practice and keep abreast of any |
| 1. Curious | | | | changes in your pet, just as you do yourself your |
| 2. Playful | | | | children. Be aware of changes in behavior of any |
| 3. Shows recognition of people he knows | | | | kind to be addressed and sourced to the root of |
| 4. Normal stools and bathroom habits that are | | | | the problem. Stress is the not the cause for all |
| rarely disturbed | | | | problems your pet may encounter but it should |
| 5. Over all happy appearance and behavior | | | | certainly never be ruled out. Give your pet the |
| 6. A healthy appetite | | | | quality of life he deserves by ensuring his meals, |
| Just like people dogs and cats have different | | | | treats, exercise, training, lifestyle, treatments and |
| personalities and owners, with different lifestyles | | | | environment are healthy ones and appropriate for |
| and different environments. Dogs and cats will | | | | his breed and age. Giving your pet a wholesome |
| handle their stress in different ways - some are | | | | pet natural diet, vegetable enhanced and free |
| more wound up and edgy while others go with | | | | from poor quality food ingredients, unhealthy |
| the flow and may not be too bothered by things. | | | | additives will maintain your pet's inner and outer |
| When a pet owner is stressed or depressed it | | | | beauty as well as protect him from disease. |
| can affect their pets, particularly a dog or cat, as | | | | Maintain his health further by doing your level best |
| these animals are very open to the feelings, spirit, | | | | to eliminate pet stress and enhance the length |
| and environment of their owners. If you are | | | | and quality of your pet's life. |