StressReliefforYourPet-DumbFriendsLeague.pdfVIP

STRESS RELIEF FOR YOUR PET What stresses your pet? A trip to the veterinarian? Overnight guests? Thunder and firecrackers? Leaving him alone? Clipping his toenails? Stress and anxiety often cause behavior problems in our pets. Stressed-out cats may have litter-box problems or begin fighting with other pets. Anxious dogs may be destructive, escape, urine mark, or simply pant and pace. If your pet suffers from anxiety, you should first consult with your veterinarian. Once you’ve ruled out any physical problems, you can discuss behavior modification techniques and, if necessary, prescription anti-anxiety medication. If your pet’sproblems aren’tsevere enough to call for prescription medication, there are some over- the-counter products you can try to help him feel more calm and collected. PheromoneProducts Pheromones are used in a variety of applications to influence animal emotions and behaviors. Comfort Zone makes a pheromone product that can help cats feel less anxious. Also called Feliway, the product comes in two versions. The spray version may be used inside your cat’scarrier, for example, or on a towel that you can wrap around him when clipping toenails. The plug-in diffuser version can be used in your home.The diffuser covers a 500--650 square-foot area and is useful for more prolonged exposure to stressful situations. You may find it useful if you are introducing a new person or animal to your household or when guests disrupt your cat’snormal routine. The active ingredient in Feliway is a synthetic version of the pheromone cats leave behind when they use their cheeks to mark objects. Cheek marking is an activity that indicates a cat is happy and comfortable in his environment. ® A similar product for dogs, Comfort Zone with D.A.P. , contains a substance called “dog appeasing pheromone.” It may be used to help dogs with noise phobia, mild separation a