Pet Stress and Pet Behavior Problems

Dog Obesity, Dog Diet

Jack the dog is a little obese and his veterinarian is concerned about his weight. So Jack is on a veterinarian-approved dog diet and exercise program.

He eats two meals per day. For each meal he has two much smaller scoops of dry dog kibble, with an extra portion of vegetables and a little broth to make it tastier and more filling. He loves whatever he finds in his bowl.

However the dog treat reduction program was problematic. Jack knows he’s supposed to get three of them, and he’s good at counting so he kept waiting for his third biscuit. Now, instead, his treats are broken in half so he still gets three pieces, which seems to satisfy him.

He’s trying to get more exercise, which is challenging in New England in January. It’s tricky running on ice. When it’s really cold there aren’t any evil squirrels outside to chase and fetching balls has limited appeal.

And of course, there are those days when we’d all rather curl up in a soft warm bed.

Nonetheless, he’s already looking a little trimmer around the middle, and seems a little more energetic. While Jack may never have six-pack abs or a buff beach-ready body he will be much healthier and have a reduced risk for diabetes, cardiovascular problems and other obesity-related problems.

Read more about overweight pets at http://www.petstress.com/answers/articles/archive/1-2009/diet.asp and contact your vet if you’re concerned about the possibility that your pets are overweight.

Pets Need Exercise in the Winter – Part 2

Indoor Exercise for Bored Pets

Cat naps are always an option for bored pets and owners on foul weather days.

However, pets, especially indoor pets, need their owners to help them get enough indoor exercise and entertainment in the winter to prevent boredom and increase fitness, fun and frolicking. Even outdoor-loving pets and their owners prefer indoor fun in winter when the rain is torrential, or the ice is thick, the snow is blinding, or the temperatures outside too dangerously cold to venture out.  

Try some new toys to get your pets moving around. Rotate the toys frequently so your pets don't become bored. Extend the play value of existing toys by rolling them in catnip for the cats or stuffing a dog treat inside the ones designed for the dogs.

Hiding a few toys in different rooms of the house will keep the hunters busy. Some pets prefer toys they can play with by themselves, while some like toys that require owner participation. See what your pet prefers and stock up on those. 

There's a lot of commercially available exercise-inducing pet furniture with a wide range of price tags. Some of them, such as collapsible tunnels, can be stored flat. Some pet furniture, like tents and tunnels are easily assembled with plastic framing tubes and fabric sides and also can be disassembled for storage. Pet furniture that is more permanent and includes carpet-covered ramps, steps, climbing poles, towers and “apartments” is also available. You can try making your own, or just leave spaces open on some sturdy book shelves and wide window sills.

Or you can save money, be environmentally sensitive and keep your pets busy on a dreary day by getting creative with recycled shopping bags and cardboard boxes. Try setting up a few boxes as a maze and tossing a ball or catnip toy into one of them to entice your pet to go exploring.

Teaching new tricks and reviewing basic commands with pets are rewarding and entertaining on bad weather days.

So enjoy some cat naps with your pets, but spend some time having fun and getting them moving too. 

Pets Need Exercise in Winter – Part 1

It’s mid-January. Does the pup have cabin fever yet? Is the kitty taking as many cat naps as possible? Is the bird ready to fly the coop?

Exercise for pets is important regardless of where you live, but it can be a challenge to provide enough exercise opportunities for pets during the winter months across the northern states.

And there are plenty of rainy days even for pets who live at latitudes where it’s warm enough in the winter to swim at beaches, play on green grass and snooze on perennial-filled patios.

Pets and people can become bored and restless from the lack of exercise on inclement weather days. Providing enough exercise for pets requires owners to learn to seize the moment.

Even on the foulest weather days, keep your eyes open for that brief break in the weather when a downpour turns to a mist, the snow lets up, the wind dies down or there is a ray of sunshine. Seize those moments from Old Man Winter for a little fresh air and an exercise outing for the outdoor pets.

Try to do this every day and you’ll notice an improvement in your pet’s mood, sleep, health and appetite.

In the next post, there will be ideas for keeping indoor pets fit and entertained throughout the winter months. Click on http://www.petstress.com/health/exercise.asp to read more about pets and exercise.

Winter Windows for Bored Pets

In the wild, animals and birds have busy lives. They hunt for food, avoid predators and interact with or occasionally fight with each other. They explore and mark large and varied territories.

Our pets, by contrast, have fewer activities and pets may become bored especially as winter sets in. Boredom can be stressful for pets and may cause undesirable pet behavior problems, such as furniture clawing, pacing, and excessive barking.

What can pet owners do to provide fun, exercise and enrich the lives of their bored pets, especially on those really foul weather days?

Windows are a great source of entertainment for bored pets. Hang bird cages by a window or provide window seats for dogs and cats so they can see outside. They will enjoy watching wild birds, squirrels, and other animals. Hang bird and squirrel feeders by windows to attract entertainment for your pets. 

You can try luring big game like wild turkeys or deer for bored suburban or rural pets to watch.

Windfall or old apples make a nice snack for deer. 

Bored pets in cities, towns and apartments will keep track of postal carriers, delivery workers, snowplows and whoever else is passing by.

The extra natural light coming through the windows will improve your pet’s mood over the winter months. Click on www.PetStress.com to read our January feature article about Seasonal Affective Disorder in Pets.

Cat's Destructive Furniture Scratching – Part 2

In the post yesterday, I wrote about why cats scratch furniture (because it’s fun, etc.) and what owners may do, unknowingly, to reward their cat’s scratching behavior. But what can you do about it?

Scratching and clawing objects is a normal cat behavior, so while it can’t be eliminated, it can be re-directed toward something more appropriate than your vintage settee or handmade hooked rug.

1. Determine your cat’s scratching preferences. Does he like vertical, horizontal or slanted surfaces? Does he prefer course textures like cane and sisal, or soft and carpeted ones?
2. Acquire scratching substitutes that are similar to what he likes and place them near the precious inappropriate objects he’s been using. My cat likes variety, so we needed a few different types, such as horizontal sisal mats and vertical carpeted posts. Make sure they are sturdy, won’t wobble or move around, and are large enough for the cat to really stretch.
3. Put the new cat scratching posts or mats close to the precious objects you’re trying to wean him from. Gradually, the appropriate ones can be moved to a better location.

Make the new cat scratching mats or posts more alluring to the cat by hanging toys from the top and by sprinkling catnip on them. When the cat starts using the posts or mats the catnip will fade and be replaced by the cat’s own special scent from the glands in his paws.

Make the inappropriate objects unreachable by moving them to an inaccessible location or closing the doors. You can pretend it’s a museum room.

Make inappropriate objects downright repulsive. Attach potpourri bags or cotton balls soaked in an aversive odor. I used Tiger Balm, which repelled my cat as well as most of my family members.

Make the inappropriate objects less appealing. Cover the furniture with double-sided contact paper or sticky tape. My kids' fears they would have to peel our cat off the contact paper were unfounded. The cat didn't like the sticky feel of the contact paper and avoided it, but the adhesive is  not strong enough to capture your cat like flypaper or wax anyone's legs. 

Reward your cat with petting, affection, kind words and kitty treats whenever he uses a scratching post.

Here's what to avoid:

Do not have your cat declawed. It renders the cat helpless if he is outside. It can cause the cat intense pain during the recovery from declawing. It will not change his natural desire to scratch, and will instead cause him to engage in other compensatory behaviors which may be far more intolerable than scratching.

Do not punish your cat. Punishment is not effective because scratching is instinctual for cats. Instead, punishment will make your cat fearful or aggressive and ruin your relationship.

Do not drag your cat’s claws on the scratching post or mat. This may be painful and frightening for the cat and will cause him to avoid it.

I had success with the combination of contact paper covered sofas, tiger balm, and new cat scratching objects. My family agreed the joys of cat companionship are well worth the temporary inconveniences of contact papered sofas and the mixed odors of Tiger Balm and catnip.  We welcome any additional suggestions you may have!