Veterinarian warns of behavioral changes in pets with anxiety
the term anxiety it is present in our life every day. Actually, not just the word, but anxiety itself, an emotional reaction that can be triggered by different situations. In us humans, this disorder can cause various damages to our health, well-being and quality of life. But, what about ours Pets? Do they also suffer from these feelings of restlessness, anguish and stress?
Before answering these questions, it is worth mentioning some interesting data. Second Pet Institute Brazilwhich promoted a “pet census” in 2019, in Brazil there are 139.3 million pets, including birds, fish, reptiles and small mammals, in addition to the most common in Brazilian homes: dogs AND cats. According to the survey, there are more than 54 million dogs and nearly 24 million cats.
It is important to contextualize the period following the above research: the pandemic. Covid-19 has put us in an unprecedented isolation, making this situation even one of the factors that further fuel anxiety. However, one of the solutions found to lighten this phase was the adoption of pets. In 2021 the Stadium showed that 54% of Brazilians have adopted pets during the pandemic, with 19% of these people having never had a dog or cat before.
Just like us, pets suffer from anxiety too. Therefore, the purpose of this text is to warn about the causes, signs and treatments of this ailment in relation to dogs and cats.
What can cause anxiety in pets?
Giovana Bermudez, a veterinary doctor, underlines the sudden changes in the animal’s daily life. “Sudden changes in your routine. For example: separation from guardians, change of home or environment, new members in the house (animal or human), among other causes”.
Furthermore, according to her, even animals living in overpopulation can become anxious and stressed.
How to identify: signs and symptoms
The professional explains that you need to pay attention to the behavior of small animals. “To identify that our pet is anxious, in the case of cats and dogs, we will notice some changes in behavior, such as excessive vocalization and salivation,” she pointed out.
She added that excessive licking, especially on the paws, is also a sign, in addition to eating disorders. In some cases, the animal also pulls out its hair and mutilates itself.
Is there a difference between anxiety in dogs and anxiety in cats?
As for cats, the doctor pointed out that they are more sensitive than dogs. “Cats are more sensitive when it comes to stress and anxiety. They can have urinary disorders (urinating or defecation in places they are not used to, or even not urinating), food and behavioral disorders in general,” he explained, warning of the possibility occurrence of secondary diseases.
Speaking of dogs, Giovana points out that they show more. “For example, self-mutilation, whether or not they can urinate and defecate in places they’re not used to, among others,” she said.
The expert points out that anxiety levels vary depending on the signs presentedfrom the lightest – those that the tutor ends up not noticing – to the most serious – which generate secondary illnesses.
Treatment
The vet says that the ideal is always to choose lighter and quieter treatments with the use of herbal medicine, pheromone, homeopathy and floral. “I really like using cannabidiol for animals, because there are some that end up having so much anxiety, that they have seizures, and that’s not what we want. Sometimes, cannabidiol makes the patient more relaxed and calm. Some people they recommend acupuncture, which can also help,” she reveals.
He adds that amitriptyline is widely used to treat anxiety in cats, when the patient is very recurring. “It’s used a lot, because very stressed and nervous animals end up having urinary problems, which cause lesions in the urinary tract.”
However, Giovana strengthens the option for less heavy treatments. “In particular, we have to think about avoiding the use of strong drugs for these animals as much as possible,” she concludes.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
