A Closing Era for Happy Pets

by Xan Jordan

During the pandemic, pets have enjoyed the companionship of their owners and families 24/7, with constant attention and love. However, as the pandemic slows in the USA and more people return to a normal life, pets now after over a year of heaven must return to normal. Now, as we integrate back into the more normal cycle of things, the home life of pets is now changing.

As people transition back to work and school, pets who have grown accustomed to constant company are now alone. For many pets with separation anxiety, this will be a hard transition, and for new pets, it will be an even harder one. Separation anxiety can be seen in many kinds of animals, and behavior like destroying things or self-destructive behavior can cause problems. The VCA (Vets Centers of America) notes that pets are more likely to have developed separation anxiety due to COVID-19 isolation. The VCA also indicates how to identify signs of separation anxiety. Identifying certain body language cues can help owners see if their pets may be suffering from separation anxiety. “Signs such as pacing, refusing to eat, dilated pupils, flattened ears and Unable to be below the threshold.” The threshold is described as how your pets react to something and how long. Moving away from your pet and seeing how long it takes for them to react and show signs of distress is a way to test the threshold. When pets react and show signs of distress quickly, this can be an indication of separation anxiety.

This prompts the concern over effectively transitioning to a more normal routine for pets. One way to help pets transition is to make sure your pet can be home alone. Usually, to help puppies, it is recommended to gradually leaving them alone longer and longer to help them be alone. This can be extended to other kinds of pets as well. Another common recommendation is to make sure your pets have a safe and healthy environment to be in while they are home alone. Making sure they are in a temperature safe area, with no dangerous objects and have a place to relax is also important to establish comfort. For some people, crate training or keeping their pets in a certain location with toys and treats is effective. In fact, making sure your pet has something to do is a great way to keep them entertained while they are home alone. The VCA also recommends making sure your pets are healthy. Making sure your pets are eating well and getting exercise are all important to both their health and stress levels.

Ensuring your pets develop healthy habits and making sure you also enforce and shape them are all ways to help pets deal with separation anxiety. By establishing a good diet, boundaries, and habits, you can help prevent your pet from engaging in bad habits. This is also a great way to encourage better behavior and create more long-term positive behavior.