Covid -19 Resources
Preventing Separation Anxiety and Behavioral Issues as We Return to Work
"As the state re-opens, Dr. Sarah Peakheart, an assistant clinical professor at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, has some advice for pet owners on easing into the routine of returning to work.
Remember that our pets are in this pandemic storm with us. They have been our companions and support during social isolation. While pets have benefited from the extra attention (after they got used to us being in the house ALL.THE.TIME.), they now have yet another schedule disruption to adjust to as we head back to work.
Change can be more stressful for some pets than for others. Puppies, kittens and newly adopted pets may be more prone to experience anxiety-related behavioral issues and illnesses. These pets don’t know there is a different “normal” than you being home all day to talk to them, have snacks, go for walks, have snacks, play games, have snacks and show them off at Zoom meetings. Senior pets and those with pre-existing anxiety disorders (e.g. separation anxiety, feline idiopathic cystitis) will also be less flexible with yet another disruption to their days.
Some signs of stress to watch for include changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns, increased activity or attention seeking, increased irritability, destructive behavior, house soiling or a new or recurring illness.
As we prepare to change back to a new normal, prepare your pets for your sudden absence to alleviate their stress:
Remember that our pets are in this pandemic storm with us. They have been our companions and support during social isolation. While pets have benefited from the extra attention (after they got used to us being in the house ALL.THE.TIME.), they now have yet another schedule disruption to adjust to as we head back to work.
Change can be more stressful for some pets than for others. Puppies, kittens and newly adopted pets may be more prone to experience anxiety-related behavioral issues and illnesses. These pets don’t know there is a different “normal” than you being home all day to talk to them, have snacks, go for walks, have snacks, play games, have snacks and show them off at Zoom meetings. Senior pets and those with pre-existing anxiety disorders (e.g. separation anxiety, feline idiopathic cystitis) will also be less flexible with yet another disruption to their days.
Some signs of stress to watch for include changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns, increased activity or attention seeking, increased irritability, destructive behavior, house soiling or a new or recurring illness.
As we prepare to change back to a new normal, prepare your pets for your sudden absence to alleviate their stress:
- Create their own special safe place: a crate, a room or a gated area. Cats will need a raised hiding/sleeping area, scratching posts and appropriate size (and number) of litter boxes.
- Rotate toys daily (puzzle treat toys are a great attention-getter for your pet).
- Use pheromones to create a calming atmosphere: Adaptil® for dogs and Feliway® for cats.
- Leave pets alone for short periods, slowly increasing the amount of time they spend alone.
- Set and stick to a routine for feeding, walking and bedtime. Set a schedule you can keep when you return to work.
- Spend time with them in the evenings as you would after returning to work.
- Leave the TV or radio on if they have become accustomed to background noise. Try iCalmPet™, Spotify or YouTube for pet-specific music.
- Talk to your veterinarian about nutritional and possibly pharmaceutical support.
For more tips on preventing separation anxiety, please see the document below.
| preventing-separation-anxiety.pdf |
Common Questions from Pet Owners About the New Coronavirus
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1. If animals (especially felines) can contract the virus, can they pass it back to people? Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that pets, livestock, or zoo animals can spread the COVID-19 virus to people. 2. Should we have our cats and dogs tested for COVID-19? No. Routine testing of domestic animals for COVID-19 is not being recommended by the AVMA, CDC, USDA, or the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). 3. What should the pet owner do if they think their pet has the virus? Reinforce the need to call the veterinary clinic with any questions about the pet’s health. Have the owner call ahead to ensure the veterinary clinic is prepared for the pet. Also, make sure to ask if the animal was exposed to a person sick with COVID-19 and if the pet is showing any signs of illness. If the veterinarian believes a patient should be tested, they will contact state animal health officials, who will work with public and animal health authorities to decide whether samples should be collected and tested. 4. Should pet owners stop interacting with their pets? If the owner is not ill with COVID-19, they can and should interact with their pets as usual—including feeding, playing, etc. Advise them to continue to practice good hygiene when interacting with pets (e.g., wash hands before and after interacting with the pet; keep bedding, toys, bowls, litter boxes clean; etc.) 5. There are not enough human COVID-19 tests, why are animals being tested? The tests differ between humans and animals. The test used to diagnose the Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo was performed in a veterinary school laboratory and is not the same test as is used for people. The species differ; human samples do not get sent to the veterinary laboratory, and animal tests do not get sent to the human laboratories.³ These are different situations and there is no competition for testing. These are stressful times. Everyone is anxious and has many questions. Remember to take each question as it comes. Listen and give fact-based answers in a calm and reassuring tone. People are scared. Be knowledgeable and positive and above all be kind. |
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