As I prepare to return to being back in the building to see patients next week, I worry about my two little high energy terriers. They have LOVED this time when they were out in the country, running over acres, digging holes, and eating rodents and rabbits (yes Chuck eats rabbits now). I am anticipating some destructive chewing up the backyard, or the house if I keep them inside on a hot day.
https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2020-05/as-people-return-to-work-those-who-adopted-a-dog-during-the-pandemic-could-be-in-for-a-rude-surprise/
Many of the owners I have talked with in the last two months have described good quality time with their pets since many are home more. Many of the behavior issue clients describe are better, except the thunderstorm phobias.
Veterinary behaviorists are predicting an increase in problems as many of us go “back to work” outside the home. I read a great article, which I will share rather than write my own. The bottom line is we need to train our pets to be OK home alone. Here is the link.
https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2020-05/as-people-return-to-work-those-who-adopted-a-dog-during-the-pandemic-could-be-in-for-a-rude-surprise/
“People are preparing to go back to work, but their new pets most likely won’t be going with them. And those who adopted a pet during lockdown could be in for a rude surprise once they get home.
While the number of pandemic-inspired pet adoptions may be less than media reports suggest, there are still a lot of new pet owners out there whose pets have never known anything but 24/7 attention from their owners.
And those new best friends who kept their owners from going crazy during lockdown are going to be faced with a lot of unfamiliar alone time.
That could mean problems.
“I think we’re being a little naive to think we can spend 24/7 for [several months] with these guys and then abruptly leave,” says Leslie Sinn, DVM, DACVB, CPDT-KA, a certified veterinary behaviorist and owner of Behavior Solutions for Pets, a consulting firm in Hamilton, Virginia.
Does that mean Sinn is expecting a huge wave of unpleasantly surprised pet owners? “Truthfully, yes,” she says.
Sinn told NEWStat that the primary issue is going to be separation anxiety. “With these dogs being used to having that social support and that social contact, and now being left basically alone under house arrest, I think that’s going to be rough for some of them.”
Sinn doesn’t blame this plethora of new pet owners for not expecting anxiety issues when the time comes to go back to work. “I don’t know that people are aware of [separation anxiety] as a problem in dogs and cats. So there’s been no reason for them to anticipate it [or] to take any particular steps.”
But Sinn says there are steps veterinarians can take to help their new patients and clients prepare for it.
“Hopefully, veterinarians have been having conversations with new owners about appropriate socialization in general,” Sinn says. That includes “encouraging independence and encouraging exposure to as many different people, places, and things as has been physically possible during the pandemic.” She acknowledges that introducing pets to the wider world can be difficult, given the CDC’s recent recommendations on social distancing pets, but stresses its importance.
The most important thing, she says, is “accustoming the pet to some period of time alone.”
For example: “In the past, if I had to run an errand, I’d take my dog with me when I left the house because it was a chance to spend more time with him,” Sinn says. But that’s the opposite of what you want to be doing during lockdown. “Now, when I go out for my [semimonthly] grocery run, I make a point of leaving the dog behind.” This allows for some much-needed separation between owner and pet, and gives the pet a chance to practice being alone.
Owners should avoid taking their dogs with them every single place they go, Sinn says. That way, it’s not such a shock when they have to leave for work.
Sinn says veterinarians can make these basic recommendations to owners to practice the healthy separation behaviors we want dogs to acquire while there’s still time: “The ability to be alone, the ability to be independent, the ability to settle without us having to encourage them to settle,” Sinn says. “Those are all things a new pet owner should be doing on a regular basis.”
Sinn adds that veterinarians who haven’t had this conversation with their clients yet should have it sooner rather than later.
“[Because] one way or another they will be having the conversation,” Sinn says. And if they’re having it later, then “it’s going to be a disaster-mitigation conversation versus a preventive conversation.”
Month: May 2020
158 Grief is Hard, Grief Hurts
I thought I knew everything about grief. I have had to say goodbye to numerous family pets, my grandparents, my father, a miscarriage, and a marriage. I give advice on grieving to my clients and have written blog posts on it. But the unexpected death of my little Sheltie, Sarge, had been much tougher. Perhaps it is because it was mostly unexpected. I haven’t done my “pre-grieving for Sarge like I had my other losses. Or maybe because of this social distancing thing I do not have the same community to cope.
So, I did more research on types of grief. Most experts start with 6 basic types, and then some add even more.
Anticipatory grief is what we go through when a pet or person is chronically ill, and we know the end is coming. It still hurts.
Absent grief is when someone does not acknowledge the loss and shows no signs of grief. This can be the result of complete shock or denial of the death. It’s important to note that in some instances, just because you can’t see the signs of grief, it doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is not grieving.
Chronic grief can be experienced in many ways: through feelings of hopelessness, a sense of disbelief that the loss is real, avoidance of any situation that may remind someone of the loss, or loss of meaning and value in a belief system. If left untreated, chronic grief can develop into severe clinical depression, suicidal or self-harming thoughts, and even substance abuse.
Delayed grief is when reactions and emotions in response to a death are postponed until a later time.
Inhibited grief is when someone doesn’t outwardly show any typical signs of grief.
Unauthorized grief (disenfranchised grief) can be felt when someone experiences a loss, but others do not acknowledge the importance of the loss in the person’s life. Others may not understand the importance of the loss or they may minimize the significance of the loss. It is common with the death of a pet since some well-meaning people say, “it was just a dog”.
Common symptoms of grief include depression, decreased appetite, altered sleep patterns, physical pain, and disinterest in previous hobbies and activities. I also learned that grief increases inflammation and batters the immune system. Those are not good in this time of Covid-19. As if the emotional pain isn’t enough, the physical pain can cause headaches, chest pain (“broken heart syndrome”), stomach aches, and fatigue.
My coping mechanisms are mostly the same as depression. I have been trying to stay on a schedule, get regular exercise and plenty of sunlight. I have been eating small sensible meals and avoiding excess alcohol (I did not say ANY alcohol). Writing these blogs help. I have been also reviewing photos (to build a tribute scrapbook page), tending the grave site (I am planting flowers and propagating some Rosemary), and playing with my other dogs. The two terriers are a source of joy just watching them run, play, and hunt rodents.
Some owners would like a way to memorialize their companion animal. The following are some ways that others have found helpful:
• Conduct a memorial service• Keep your pet’s tags, toys, collars, bedding, etc.
• Keep your pet’s hair
• Save condolence cards or e-mails from friends and family
• Create a picture collage, scrapbook, story, or poem about your pet
• If you chose cremation, you may keep the ashes in an urn or locket, or you may choose to scatter them in a place that was special to your pet
• Journal your pet’s story; how, when, and where you met, unique personality traits, nicknames, what you love the most, and what you’ll miss the most
• Donate time, money, or talent in your pet’s honor
https://www.faithfulfriendspetcemetery.com/grief-support/
https://elizz.com/caregiver-resources/types-of-grief-and-loss/
https://edge.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/18.13_Types_of_Grief.pdf
https://exploringyourmind.com/6-types-grief/
https://www.webmd.com/special-reports/grief-stages/20190711/how-grief-affects-your-body-and-mind
157 Eulogy for Sarge
This is a really hard blog post to write.
We lost our 13-year-old beloved Sheltie, Sarge, last week to a farm accident. He was deaf and visually impaired, and as such was at risk for such things, but we were not ready to say goodbye yet.
He was my constant devoted companion. I told lots of stories about him over the years, especially about his agility classes, thunderstorm phobias, and farm escapades.
He loved the cold and snowy weather. His coat was made for breaking a trail in the powder. It was also incredible as a sticker magnet. He loved backing up to anyone to get his rump scratched.
He had definitely slowed down the last year or two. Like many shelties, he had arthritis that was managed. He could not jump up on furniture easily or get into cars on his own at the end. The saddest symptom was the dementia. He was starting to get lost, which was a problem out here in the country. I had him on a CBD product which helped.
I miss my buddy. I miss tripping over him. I miss his fuzzy rump.