We are headed into autumn, a season of busier schedules, beautiful leaves and cooler temperatures. Have you noticed a change in your pet’s behavior? Does your pet give you an overly excited greeting when you return home at the end of the day? Does your dog start pacing at the site of briefcases and backpacks in the hallway every morning?
When you are gone does your cat use any spot except his litter box? Do you see a pile of feathers in your bird’s cage when you get home from work? These and other seemingly unexplainable behaviors can be signs that your pet is feeling stress from loneliness, boredom, and insufficient exercise.
In autumn adults are away from home more, working and volunteering, driving children, getting a head start on holiday preparations, and catching up with fall house and garden chores. Children have resumed full fall schedules with school, sports teams and extracurricular activities. But pets at home may be feeling lonely and bored, and may not be getting as much exercise as they were in the summer when family members were around more and the weather was warmer. This causes stress which manifests in problematic pet behaviors.
A great way to reduce your pet’s stress-related behaviors andimprove overall health is to make sure he gets adequate exercise every day. Keep in mind it is unnatural for any animal to be confined alone for too many hours at a time, so making sure your pet is getting exercise is as important as feeding him. Exercise will reduce your pet’s stress and improve his sleep, appetite and immune system. Best of all, exercise is fun for your pet, satisfying and easy for you and a good way to spend time together.
Here are some creative ways to
provide exercise for your specific pet:
Many stress-related problems can be reduced or eliminated when your pet starts getting enough exercise. All pets, like human beings, need exercise on a daily basis. A sedentary animal is more likely to suffer from stress as well as physical problems such as obesity and poor cardiovascular health.
It is not natural for any animal to be confined in a house or small cage all day. An exercise period, outdoors for outdoor dogs and cats, and indoors for birds and indoor cats is mandatory for their good health. Exercise can dramatically reduce stress levels by increasing the levels of endorphins and other relaxing hormones in your pet’s bloodstream. Taking your dog for a walk, throwing a stick or a ball, playing with your cat indoors with a feather play toy, and letting your bird out of a cage are all great ways to provide exercise opportunities for your pets.
Besides reducing stress, exercise improves your pet’s cardiovascular, immune, and digestive systems as well as his appetite and sleep habits. Providing regular exercise is the most beneficial thing you can for your pet.
You can learn more about exercise for your type of pet in the appropriate sections of this web site.
