By Dorothy Turner, B.A., C.H., N.H.P. Pet Naturals by ViDoma
Holidays can be stressful for everyone, but have you ever stopped for a moment to consider how your pets are feeling? The sights and sounds you enjoy might well disturb your pet. Even the calmest and friendliest of pets might not cope well with the transformation of your household into a house filled with people, especially strangers or rambunctious children.
Being an instinctive creature of habit, these changes can quickly become a stressful and upsetting time for small pets. The coming and going of strangers and relatives can be very intimidating. Your pet may react to the voices and body language of strangers and become emotionally charged when approached.
The increased activity in your household during the holidays could keep it illuminated up to 18 hours a day, thus disrupting your pet's routine schedule and sleep. The distinctive unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells of the holidays represent big changes to a small pet that never leaves his cage. Nocturnal animals may find it difficult to sleep with all the unusual daytime activity.
Pets that are stressed may show a variety of signs including:
· Eating less, or not at all
· Changes in the character or quantity of droppings
· Droopy ears, tails, more shedding than usual
· Impatience, uncharacteristic aggression
· A need for isolation, or an unwillingness to come out of hiding
· Biting/nipping, scratching
In order to ease this anxiety, it may be a good idea to place your pets in another area of the home, away from the hustle and bustle of holiday activity. Rather than a punishment, you might look on this as a way of protecting them from stressors they cannot understand. However, they are a part of the family, so:
· Maintain feeding and hygiene routines. A treat here and there should be just that. Do not make big changes in diet during the holidays.
· Provide your pet toys to pass the time and chew, especially if he is unable to exercise outside of his cage as much as usual.
· Limit your pet's exposure to strangers and activity. This may mean relocating the cage of a small pet, but this change may be less stressful than exposure to a roomful of loud party goers and interrupted sleep.
· If an accident does occur, remain calm. Your pet can sense your emotions. If you react strongly, your pet will too.
Spend quality time with your pet each day. This will provide reassurance, and also give you time to closely watch your pet for signs of stress.