Nurturing My Furry Friend's Mental Health
Nurturing My Furry Friend's Mental Health
Pets are more than just companions; they are our family, and sources of boundless joy and unwavering loyalty. In return, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience the same levels of contentment and well-being that they bring into our lives. In this blog, we will delve deeper into the world of our canine companions, exploring how to not only recognize their emotional signs but also how to address their well-being during challenging situations, including the hours when we may be absent from their day-to-day lives.
Emotional Indicators in Dogs
Understanding your dog's emotional state is a critical part of being a responsible pet owner. Like us, dogs can use their body language, facial expressions, and different vocalizations to communicate their emotions to other dogs and to humans. For some pet parents, intuition of a dog's emotions comes quite naturally, but this isn't the case for every single pet parent, so we wish to provide some discussion here.
Negative emotional state in dogs can manifest physically in various ways, and it is essential to pay attention to changes in their behavior. Here are some key signs to watch out for and be prepared to determine the cause of:
Changes in facial expression: While every dog is different, and their facial structure and conformation may differ (such as having erect or floppy ears), there are common signs in their facial expressions that communicate their emotions to us. For example, a happy dog generally has relaxed tone to their facial muscles, their ears may be perked up (if structurally capable of doing so), they are comfortable making eye contact, and, when excited, they may cock their head to the side a little. In contrast, an unhappy dog may have the appearance of being tense, the whites of their eyes may even be visible, they typically hold their ears back or down, struggle to maintain eye contact and avoid looking directly at their person, and they may lick their lips on occasion.
Change in Behavior: Dogs are creatures of habit, and any sudden deviation from their usual behavior may be indicative of an underlying concern. If your furry friend begins to act out of character, such as showing lethargy, excessive whining, or aggression, it may be time to delve deeper into their health and emotional states. For example, this can be seen in an otherwise 'normal', healthy dog who has suffered trauma, such as loss of another pet in the household, loss of a pet parent, or relinquishment to a shelter, resulting in fear, anxiety and stress from the social isolation.
Loss of Appetite: A dog's love for food is nearly unrivaled, so when they exhibit a disinterest in eating, it should raise a red flag. If your beloved pup starts skipping meals, it is a significant concern that should be addressed promptly by consulting with your veterinarian.
Social Withdrawal: Dogs are naturally social animals and often thrive on interaction with family members and other pets. If your dog becomes disinterested in engaging with those around them, choosing isolation over companionship or even showing aggression, it is an alarming sign of altered health or mental state.
Excessive Sleeping: While dogs are known to be avid nappers, excessive sleeping can indicate a deeper issue. If your dog becomes increasingly inactive, it might be a sign of altered mental state or illness. Monitoring their activity and energy levels is essential for understanding their health and emotional states.
Ensuring Your Dog's Mental Well-being
The well-being of your dog is not only reliant on recognizing signs of altered emotions, but also on creating an environment that promotes their mental health. Here are some key strategies to ensure a healthy state of mind for your four-legged friend:
Regular Exercise: Physical activity is vital for maintaining your dog's mental health. Daily walks, playtime, and exercise not only keep them physically fit but also help reduce stress and anxiety. Changing up the type and location of activity can help enrich your dog's life with new sights, sounds, smells and experiences - though this may be overstimulating for reactive or otherwise emotionally challenged dogs.
Mental Stimulation: Mental exercises are just as important as physical ones. Puzzle toys, training, problem solving and interactive games keep your dog's mind engaged, fostering their cognitive and emotional well-being.
Routine and Consistency: Dogs thrive on routine, and a consistent schedule for feeding, walking, and playtime provides a sense of security and comfort, especially for dogs with mental or cognitive instability. While changing up the routine once in a while can provide happy surprises and prevent anticipatory-related issues in some dogs, it can cause stress or anxiety for others, so understanding your own dog's individual needs are essential to providing the structure type they thrive with.
Quality Time: Dogs are deeply social creatures, and they cherish the time spent with their human companions. Active engagement like play times and training are essential, but passive engagement like cuddles (if your dog is a contact-seeker) and quiet bonding moments are also vital for their emotional well-being.
Balanced Diet: Proper nutrition is essential for cognitive health. Consult your vet to determine the best diet that supports your dog's overall well-being, including their brain function. Vivus Pets' Calming Support Supplement is a natural supplement choice to consider to boost brain health - it contains essential nutrients like antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and medium-chain triglycerides, which can help support your dog's brain and mental health.
Daycare: Dog daycare can be an excellent option for those with concerns about their dog being alone for extended periods. For social, outgoing dogs, it provides an opportunity to interact and play with humans and/or other dogs and stay mentally stimulated in a daycare environment. This can be particularly beneficial for high-energy or social breeds, though each dog is an individual and this sort of high-energy environment is certainly not appropriate for everyone. Before choosing a daycare, be sure to visit and investigate their facilities and practices to make sure they are safe, high quality and fit with your dog's particular needs.
Balanced Approach: You can also find a balance between leaving your dog alone and utilizing care services. Consider sending your dog to daycare a few days a week while leaving them at home on other days. This hybrid approach can cater to their physical and emotional needs while also allowing for rest and relaxation in their quiet home environment, to balance their well-being and needs.
Regular Exercise: Physical activity is vital for maintaining your dog's mental health. Daily walks, playtime, and exercise not only keep them physically fit but also help reduce stress and anxiety. Changing up the type and location of activity can help enrich your dog's life with new sights, sounds, smells and experiences - though this may be overstimulating for reactive or otherwise emotionally challenged dogs.
Mental Stimulation: Mental exercises are just as important as physical ones. Puzzle toys, training, problem solving and interactive games keep your dog's mind engaged, fostering their cognitive and emotional well-being.
Routine and Consistency: Dogs thrive on routine, and a consistent schedule for feeding, walking, and playtime provides a sense of security and comfort, especially for dogs with mental or cognitive instability. While changing up the routine once in a while can provide happy surprises and prevent anticipatory-related issues in some dogs, it can cause stress or anxiety for others, so understanding your own dog's individual needs are essential to providing the structure type they thrive with.
Quality Time: Dogs are deeply social creatures, and they cherish the time spent with their human companions. Active engagement like play times and training are essential, but passive engagement like cuddles (if your dog is a contact-seeker) and quiet bonding moments are also vital for their emotional well-being.
Balanced Diet: Proper nutrition is essential for cognitive health. Consult your vet to determine the best diet that supports your dog's overall well-being, including their brain function. Vivus Pets' Calming Support Supplement is a natural supplement choice to consider to boost brain health - it contains essential nutrients like antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and medium-chain triglycerides, which can help support your dog's brain and mental health.
Should I leave my dog alone at home?
Balancing work, life and pet parenthood can be challenging, but it's a reality that many dog owners face. The question often arises: should you leave your dog at home alone, engage a pet sitter or place them in a daycare facility?
Home Alone: Many, though not all, dogs can handle being alone for several hours a day. However, it's crucial to ensure they have access to water and a safe, comfortable space. Especially for more sensitive dogs, you may consider hiring a dog sitter or walker to break up their day, providing companionship, interaction and a chance to stretch their legs.
Home Alone: Many, though not all, dogs can handle being alone for several hours a day. However, it's crucial to ensure they have access to water and a safe, comfortable space. Especially for more sensitive dogs, you may consider hiring a dog sitter or walker to break up their day, providing companionship, interaction and a chance to stretch their legs.
Daycare: Dog daycare can be an excellent option for those with concerns about their dog being alone for extended periods. For social, outgoing dogs, it provides an opportunity to interact and play with humans and/or other dogs and stay mentally stimulated in a daycare environment. This can be particularly beneficial for high-energy or social breeds, though each dog is an individual and this sort of high-energy environment is certainly not appropriate for everyone. Before choosing a daycare, be sure to visit and investigate their facilities and practices to make sure they are safe, high quality and fit with your dog's particular needs.
Balanced Approach: You can also find a balance between leaving your dog alone and utilizing care services. Consider sending your dog to daycare a few days a week while leaving them at home on other days. This hybrid approach can cater to their physical and emotional needs while also allowing for rest and relaxation in their quiet home environment, to balance their well-being and needs.
References:
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Bloom T, Friedman H (2013) Classifying dogs' (Canis familiaris) facial expressions from photographs. Behavioural Processes 96, doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2013.02.010
Clay L, Paterson M, Bennett P, Perry G, Phillips C (2019) Early recognition of behaviour problems in shelter dogs by monitoring them in their kennels after admission to a shelter. Animals 9(875), doi:10.3390/ani9110875
Pongrácz P, Molnár C, Miklósi A (2006) Acoustic parameters of dog barks carry emotional information for humans. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 100: 228-240
Fast R, Schütt T, Toft N, Møller A, Berendt M (2013) An observational study with long-term follow-up of canine cognitive dysfunction: clinical characteristics, survival and risk factors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 24: 822-829.