Many pets experience high levels of anxiety from time to time. These episodes can be exceptionally stressful for you and your pet. It is difficult and at times impossible to communicate to your pet that they are safe and sound. Anxiety can sometimes lead to injuries among cats and dogs. Help keep your pet safe with these tips, and be sure to have some Fauna Care injury spray on hand just in case!
Caring for Anxious Cats
Cats experience anxiety in a lot of different forms. Separation anxiety is the most common and the most difficult to help. In order to curb some of this anxiety, you will need to make sure your cat feels comfortable in a variety of different situations. A modification of environment or behavior may be able to help calm down your feline friends. Observe what conditions make your cat feel anxious, and try to eliminate them from your everyday routine. It can also be beneficial to hire a cat sitter if your cat is unable to be alone. It is important to closely monitor your cat to make sure they have not injured themselves while you were away. Especially when kept in crates, cats will sometimes injure themselves when they are experiencing anxiety.
Some cats become anxious in crates or when they are outside. You will need to slowly condition your cat until they become acclimated to the new environment. Do not reward erratic or anxious behavior, but rather let the cat adjust to the new environment. Though the first instinct may be to immediately comfort your cat, this is not always the best option. Your cat may misinterpret the comfort for a reward for their behavior, which will only lead to further anxiousness.
It is also of the utmost importance that you take your cat to the vet for regular check ups. Monitoring the blood pressure and heart rate of your cat will help in evaluating their anxiety. If your cat is especially anxious or erratic, this could affect their long term health. A vet check up will help you evaluate the next steps for your cat so they will be able overcome their anxiety.
Caring for Anxious Dogs
Dogs, much like cats, also need to be closely monitored if they have frequent anxious episodes. However, there are a variety of temporary remedies to help calm down your nervous dog. Make sure your dog has not accidentally injured themselves while you are away for any duration of time. There are many outside factors that contribute to a dog’s anxiety levels, such as loud noises and outside traffic that could happen while you are away. If your pet has injured themselves, keep your vet’s phone number and some Fauna Care easily on hand.
Exercise is a good way to distract and eventually calm down your dog. It is a temporary solution, but it can help to stop an anxious episode. Exercise for your pet will release calming serotonin and relieve pent up anxiety. If your pet loves to play, simply wearing them out is often effective in the short term. If your pet is already in need of some extra exercise, you’re in luck. You'll be able to keep your pet active and stress free!
In addition to exercise, mentally stimulating toys will also be beneficial for your dog’s stress levels. There are a variety of stress relieving toys and games for your dog to try out. These games help distract and remedy stressful situations. Just like cats, you should not use games or treats as a reward for anxious behavior. Rather, you should employ these tricks throughout training your dog so they will be familiar and comfortable with the game. Then, you will be able to help your pet with their favorite games during stressful times.
Use these tips to de stress your pet and help them cope with their anxieties. Patience with your pet is the key to their relaxation, so keep them close and listen to their signals of stress. You and your pet will be thankful for these stress relieving remedies!
