How to Recognize the Signs of Stress/Pain in Your Pet

You may find it hard to believe that your over-indulged fur baby gets stressed out, but animals also suffer from stress just like human. Stress is more common in dogs/cats than you may think. It is important to keep in mind that animal stressors are very different from human stressors.

There are evidences that suggests that the stress of living with a fear or anxiety disorder can have negative effects on the health and lifespan in animals.

No pet parents want an unhappy fur baby. This is why it is important to take notice and learn what causes stress in them in order to avoid it. The more you know about what triggers your fur babies’ stress, how they behave when they feel stressed, and what stress can do to their health, the better equipped you will be to identify the signs of stress and take actions to minimize or eliminate it.

Here are 12 common signs/indicators of stress in your fur babies:

• Diarrhea, constipation, or other digestive issues
• Decrease in appetite
• Shaking or shivering
• Abnormal shedding
• Whining and barking
• Tucked tail
• Ears pulled or pinned back
• Tense muscles
• Excessive Drooling, licking, and yawning
• Showing gums, showing the whites of their eyes
• Cowering/crouched body posture or hiding/isolating
• Changes in body

But why do they get stressed?

Here are the common reasons:

• Novelty (exposure to new items, new people, new animals)
• Changes in housing (moving to a new home, boarding, etc.)
• Changes in household members (new baby, new pet, loss of pet or human, house-guests, etc.)
• Changes in household routine (walk time, chow time, etc.)
• Loud noises (thunderstorms, fireworks, etc.)
• Boredom (lack of mental stimulation, exercising, etc.)
• Separation anxiety (isolation distress)
• Pet parent (your mood, especially agitation, can affect your loving companion)
• Invasion of personal space (disruption when resting, forcibly restraining, etc.)
• Poor relationships with other household members (pets or humans)
• Former trauma (traumatic past, PTSD from natural disasters, car accidents, etc.)

There are many ways which can help prevent your fur baby from getting stressed and even when they do get stressed, you can help them calm down. The most important thing to remember is to try to avoid any stressful situations and to not force your fur baby when they are unwilling. Always make sure your fur baby gets plenty of exercise, as physical activity will help then feel more relaxed.

If your fur baby becomes consistently stressed, see your veterinarian. After ensuring that your fur baby’s behavior does not have a medical basis, the veterinarian may refer you to a trainer or veterinary behaviorist to evaluate stress-related issues. It is the pet parent’s responsibility to make sure their pet is healthy, so pay attention and make sure your fur baby is living a happy life.

Next week’s blog is going to be about July 4^th! Statistics show that more pets are lost over the 4^th of July holiday than any other time of the year. The noise associated with July 4^th celebrations can cause your pet to become frantic and run away.

We have some products to keep your fur babies safe on the 4^th of July.

Check it out {HERE} to get it in time!!