op Tips to Help Your Pet Cope with Stress

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Top Tips to Help Your Pet Cope with Stress

 

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XBJ455fTxc

Stress of any kind impairs the body’s ability to heal and impacts their quality of life. Stress and anxiety can predispose to a number of health issues including infections, allergies, skin problems, bladder inflammation in cats and a number of other diseases. Here are some tips to help your pet c

  • Limit stress by getting to the root of the problem and avoiding stressful situations is ideal but sometimes this is impossible.

 

  • A vet check will help to identify underlying issues. Sometimes pain from a sore tooth or arthritis will make it more difficult for your pet to cope with stressful situations.

 

  • A balanced approach is important ensuring that your pet has enough exercise, rest and relaxation, playtime and optimal nutrition.

 

  • Nutrients such as B vitamins are well known for helping animals and humans deal with stress and reduce nervousness. Other nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids are helpful to moderate extreme behaviours and anti-oxidants can be incredibly useful to help an animal to “feel well in itself” and thereby cope better with stress.

 

  • Amino acids like Tryptophan and Theanine can be helpful to bring about the feeling of calmness and well-being

 

  • A “magic bullet” that many animal owners make use of for themselves and their animals is Flower Essences, the most well known being Rescue Remedy.

 

  • Homeopathic remedies may also be helpful. Calming herbs such as skullcap, valerian and lavender have a calming effect are useful. Other herbs such as ginseng and astragalus are adaptogenic and help animals to cope better with stress.

 

  • Commercially available pheromones, types of chemicals that animals use to communicate, which help dogs and cats to feel calm and relaxed available from vets.

 

  • A Christchurch company has developed the Canine Calm Coat helping to reduce anxiety by gentle compression with a comfortable coat.

 

  • A good animal behaviourist or trainer can be invaluable.

 

  • Sometimes anti-anxiety drugs can be a wonderful help for animals who are not well enough managed with the above, especially for situations like exposure to fireworks. Making sure that your pet has a safe place to hide, there is music, the TV or radio on to help mask the noise and that they get their medication before the stress starts is helpful to get them through smoothly.