Helping your pet through back to school time

I look out the window and see all of the kids in the neighborhood walking together to the bus stop. Many of them stop to pat their four-legged friends goodbye before shutting the door. The looks from Kitty and Rover are not quite as happy go lucky as their human children as they watch the out the window chatting with friends about what the day will bring.

Did you know?

Research shows that dogs do in fact get depression, and separation anxiety can plague both dogs and cats.

What are the signs?

It is usually very apparent. Dogs will howl, scratch, chew things and escape the yard. Both dogs and cats often express their anxiety by urinating in the house.

My granddogs get sad when their mom & dad go to work each day.

Petcurean’s health and nutrition  specialist, Michele Dixon, has a few tips to help Fido and Fluffy adjust:

Keep calm

The biggest thing you can do for your pet is have a calm exit from the home. The frenetic energy of a family rushing out the door can often cause undue stress. Say goodbye well before walking out, and change up triggers – like putting up shoes and picking up keys – well before departing

Make change gradual

Prior to the start of school, get your pets adjusted to alone time with increasing intervals of time without the family

Give them a safe place

For dogs who have been crate trained, giving them access to their crate gives them a place of comfort to retreat to

Burn energy in the AM

If you exercise your pets in the morning, they will have less energy to focus on their anxiety. Some morning play time can help quell fears as well

Keep them occupied

Leave on the TV or radio if they are used to the background noise, fill at toy with peanut butter to give them a challenge, or leave interactive toys for them to engage with

Keep your return calm too

When you return home, wait until your pet calms down to greet them. Go about your business until they are calm, then give them some love

Just like humans our pets are what they eat. Clem enjoy’s Petcurean Now Fresh twice a day. It provides him healthy nutrition, and by all outward signs…it’s DELISH.

We give him SPIKE TREATS when he gets his eye drops (funny how he actually LIKES getting eye drops now).