On Tuesday’s post, I said that I would discuss ways to manage your pets stress, especially around the upcoming holidays. While some pets are naturally “Nervous Nellies” and will worry and fret over anything, most pets take each day in stride. However, with the added excitement, people, hustle and bustle, and possible visits from other four-legged-friends and fur-cousins, even the most solid dog can want to retreat into a corner. Can you blame them? I certainly can’t.
What are some of the “stress” signs that your dog may show? Here are a few of them:
- Diarrhea, or other digestive issues
- Loss of appetite
- Isolation
- Sleepy
- Aggression
Sound familiar? For any two-legged who has experienced stress, these symptoms should sound very familiar as they are very similar to how we react to stressful situations, unless we learn how to manage that stress level. Unfortunately, dogs don’t have access to books and shows that teach them how to handle these situations, so, we need to help support them in this.
Enzymes are really important for a healthy digestive system. We have an incredible product, called Enzyme Advantage, that has worked wonders for my dogs and cats, over the years. It helps keep their digestive tract under control and is something that I keep on hand, at all times. I give it to my EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) dog, on a daily basis, but add it to everyones food when I know stress levels might increase a bit.
Appetite issues can be a bit tricky as you cannot force a dog to eat. With that being said, if their digestive system is being taken care of, properly, you should see a lot less problems with refusal of food. I have a dog who I have struggled with, for years, to eat regularly. I have tried at least a dozen different foods, including homemade foods, and she simply wanted no part of any of it. It wasn’t until I started using Biome Medic, which has enzymes, probiotics, and pre-biotics, with her that she finally stopped turning away from what she was being given. She now eats all of her food, on a regular basis, with no problems. The key to this is the gut and making sure that there are no toxins hanging out in there to clog things up.
Isolation is a big thing and something that we have struggled with, for years, with our Addison’s Disease dog. Addison’s dogs are extra prone to stress and with her being a Border Collie, that certainly doesn’t help. However, since she is, naturally, such a high energy dog, it is fairly easy to know when she is feeling stressed. Her first reaction was to hide in our bedroom. What we discovered, was that a little extra attention, maybe throw an extra ball or two, sit and brush her, or take her for an adventurous walk or car ride, can make all the difference in the world. It’s all about showing a little extra attention; similar to our two-legged-kids, right?
Increased sleepiness kind of goes along with the isolation part; Payton would hide, in our room, and just sleep. This can usually be helped by following the above tips for isolation. You could also add things, like Organic Spirulina, to their diet, which can increase their energy levels, without making them a bouncing ball of crazy! Most, if not all, of the green superfoods, can aid in better digestion, energy, a stronger immune system.
Aggression is probably the scariest and worst stress indicator. It can make everybody on edge because a usually sweet natured pet can turn on anyone, in a heartbeat. Aggression can be extremely dangerous and unpredictable and can sometimes result in very bad endings. If you feel that you fur-baby may show any signs of aggression, might I recommend that you speak openly and calmly to your holiday visitors about the situation. Make it clear that your pet is not to be cornered or even approached. In fact, if at all possible, make a safe place for them, someplace far away from the festivities. Please don’t forget about them, though. Locking them in a room, for hours on end, without reassurance that “everything is okay”, could do the exact opposite of what a “safe place” is supposed to do. I know, that for a few of our dogs, we have to have an extra conversation with our grandkids when they come to visit. Some of our pets love the attention and love from our little two-legged visitors, and others will run for the hills. If you can identify individual needs, in advance, you, your visitors, and your four-legged’s will thank you for it.
Observation is key, in any situation. I suggest maybe keeping a journal of any unusual behaviors so that you can keep track of what is happening and what the circumstances are. It may come in handy for warding off stressful situations in the future.
Many blessings to you and your four-legged-loves ~ Tammy
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