Avoid Back to School Blues for Your Pets
How is your pet handling the daily separation from your children while they are at school? If your pet has started exhibiting strange behavior or acting out, it may need an intervention.
Symptoms of Pet Separation Anxiety
There are multiple disorders that can affect pets to create the appearance of anxiety or stress. Please visit us here, at Forsyth Veterinary Hospital, for an accurate diagnosis and treatment for any pet behavior that concerns you.
If your normally well-behaved pet starts to exhibit pacing, destructive chewing or digging, excessive vocalization, escape attempts, or even indoor or out-of-the-litterbox "accidents", it may need treatment or medication for pet separation anxiety.
Treatment for Mild Pet Separation Anxiety
- Provide Mental Stimulation - It has been proven that your cat's brain processes information faster than an iPad. Likewise, your dog's brain is almost as large as a human's and provides almost as much processing power. Your pets will need activities and treat to keep them from getting bored at home alone on long school days.
- Train and Counter condition - Training on simple commands provides stimulation and interaction for dogs and cats. Counterconditioning teaches pets to associate being at home alone with a positive reward, like treats or yummy food. This can also be used for mental stimulation if the treatment is placed in a pet kong that requires the pet to work to get it out. Just put down a kong before leaving for the day and pick it back up when you get home.
- Utilize Sitters or Walkers - Hours whiled away at a doggie/kittie daycare or with a dog walker or a cat sitter can help take its mind off of missing you.
Help for Moderate to Severe Pet Separation Anxiety Cases at Your Local Animal Hospital
Some require medication to get past extreme cases of anxiety. At Forsyth Veterinary Hospital, our veterinarian treats each animal with holistic and contemporary practices to meet the animal's individual needs.
Looking for a Veterinarian near Winston-Salem? Contact Us today!
Bring your pet for separation anxiety treatment, or acupuncture, spinal decompression, and adjustments. As one of the oldest vets near Winston-Salem, we serve a broad range of clients with an established reputation.
Visit us online or in person. We are located at 2556 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103. You may also call at (336)765-1225 for directions or with questions before setting the appointment.