Can Stress Affect Your Pet’s Health?

Does your dog get stressed whenever you leave the house?  Are you unsure of what you’ll walk into after having left your home?

Having a new pet is an enjoyable experience, but when your pet experiences anxiety when you leave, it may causes stressful behavior for both you and your pet.

Stress and anxiety can be just as harmful to your pet’s health as it is to human health.  Animal behavior problems are common and one of the biggest reasons that people give up their animals.

By treating behavior problems you can enhance the relationship between you and your pet and prevent any adverse damage to your home or you pet’s health.

The best way to keep your pet healthy is to help him adjust to your leaving the house.

One way is to give your pet a lot of attention, but also get him used to being alone, even when you’re at home.  Getting him used to your absence should be done gradually so it doesn’t create a traumatic experience.

Leave your pet in a separate room several times every day when you are home.  Next, leave your home for five minutes, then fifteen, and progressively longer until he is comfortable enough to be left alone for several hours.

Positive association is another way to prevent anxiety when you leave home.  This can be done by providing him with different toys when you are home so he doesn’t associate the toys with you going out and leaving him.

Another strategy is to give him a favorite snack or bone he can occupy himself with.  These are two pleasant activities your dog will associate with your leaving that will relieve him of feelings of fear and anxiety.

Another way of easing your dog’s distress is by giving him enough exercise, especially before you leave the house.  Taking him out for a run or brisk walk will relax and tire him.  When you get home, he’ll be ready to take a long nap while you are gone.