Alternatively Speaking: Pets Have Anxiety Too

Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA

What a time of uncertainty we are too. Granted, most dogs are enjoying the all living in these days. Everything about quality of family time and exercise that life has changed and continues to change comes with more of us homebound. The all the time. Even if COVID hasn’t created verdict is still out for some cats, clients tell worries about our health and finances, me they feel like a relative who has out- the inability to create a “new normal” to stayed their welcome when they intrude have predictability and stability is stress- on their cat’s ‘alone time’ in the middle ful for many. Humans are not the only of the workday. But even if this change ones feeling stress and anxiety; pets can has been a positive for many pets, when struggle with those issues too. Stress can it is time to return to work that transition cause behavioral issues, trigger new fears, may be hard for dogs with anxiety, or for and even impact their health. So in this new pets that haven’t experienced being article, we will talk about how to recognize left home alone yet. It is safe to say any how your pet is doing emotionally, how pet will miss our company as we are away to help them, and in doing so maybe even more in the future. help yourself navigate these difficult times. Another new stress for our pets is going

It may not be obvious how current cir- to the veterinarian. Car-side appointments cumstances impact our pets, but they do and pet-only entry into hospitals is the pick up on our emotions so they often new norm for most veterinary practices share our emotional state, and changes in since social distancing between staff and our work schedule impact their schedules pet owners is not possible in small exam Fall 2020

rooms. Our practice was lucky to be able to divide a dedicated space for people so they can video conference with the Doctor for their pet’s visit, but that still means watching exams from another room apart from your pet. With all the extra toys and treats veterinary staff is using to ensure a fun visit, most pets will do fine especially if they were socialized, or are just confident in general. But for timid pets unfamiliar with the veterinary experience, not having their people there for reassurance may pose a challenge.

So how can we address these potential stresses for our pets? The first thing to do is to assess how much they are at risk for anxiety. Are they timid in general, easily startled or afraid of noises? Do they need to be with you all the time, even as you move from room to room in the house? Are they fearful of new situations, or meeting new people, and have trouble relaxing even with time? Pets with these personality traits are prone to anxiety and stress. As they age, they build upon their basic impressions of what is frightening or unpleasant and try to avoid those experiences with more gusto. So a young dog that wants to be with you all the time may later develop separation anxiety behaviors, that escalate so it is impossible to safely leave them. Or the dog that pants and is nervous during storms start to notice other noises, like cars, fireworks, or falling snow, and can become increasingly terrified.

The key to preventing these unhappy escalations is to recognize the potential for anxiety and intervene early. For some, intervention may include Chinese herbs, food supplements, nutraceuticals, or medications for anxiety. Personality is one part of the overall constitution of your pet, and in addressing their root imbalances to help with physical symptoms, behavior issues can also be impacted quite successfully. But for many pets, all they need is some structure and life skills to feel more secure and less anxious.

Here’s a silver lining - being at home during COVID may actually provide opportunities to help anxious pets!

The first place to start is to provide structure by keeping some stable routines even as other things change. Identify one or two things that can be reliably the same every day and stick to those as best you can. It may be mealtimes, walks, grooming, or just that few minutes of belly rub or treat time – anything that can stay predictable instills a feeling of security and that does help with anxiety.

The second tool to instill security is training. Learning a new trick or game provides security in the predictable responses to certain actions – sit and you get rewarded. Puzzling out how to get the reward can be as tiring as exercise, and tired dogs have less nervous energy for Fall 2020 worries. Learning also builds communication skills and therefore the feeling that you have each other to rely upon for support. Plus, there are snacks or some fun rewards, and fun always helps with stress! Even better, these games can teach your pet valuable life skills. Learning to jump on a mat and be quiet and calm inside or outside, in all kinds of places, creates a security blanket dogs can take to feel safe in new situations. Using that blanket to teach your dog to wait while you are out of sight can acclimate to separation. Special treats in or near the car on their blanket, or chasing a ball thrown through Continued Next Page

the car open doors, help dogs learn to like cars. Teaching your pet to let you place a yummy treat in their mouth, or letting them lick baby food from a jar while you handle ears, mouth or toes gets your pet used to veterinary exams and taking pills. Bringing their blanket to veterinary visits and practicing the same games you do at home will help them feel at ease – the

more familiarity you can bring with you the more secure they will feel. For very nervous pets, ask your vet if you can do some socially distanced exercises car-side to help prepare them for future visits. There are also many natural and prescription products to help lower anxiety and help new experiences be positive ones, wherever needed. Check with your vet for options, and online for Dr. Sophia Yin’s training videos and resources to use at home.

Lastly, I would like to share an exercise we learned from a holistic veterinary colleague who treats pets with cancer. Take a moment every day to do something your pet really loves - groom, snuggle, throw a ball – and really be there in that moment. Feel how happy they are, and feel how happy that makes you. This is an awesome stress-buster for both you and your pets. So if you have more home time imposed upon you than you’d like, or if you are an essential worker dealing with the stress of putting yourself at risk, take some time to be with your pets. Engage in some constructive learning so they can be better prepared as life goes back to normal, or just exchange some unconditional love. Use this time to be ready to hit the ground running better and stronger than ever to face whatever the future holds.

Dr. Anne Carroll is the owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she and her associates practice conventional medicine and surgery as well as several alternative modalities including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www.chelseaanimalhospital.com . Fall 2020