Stress-Free Pets: Tips from an Integrative Veterianarian

PAWSITIVELY
Holistic WITH KITTY CORRESPONDENT, K J McGlinn

Originally Published in the Holistic Living Magazine

We are in a time of improved understanding on how emotional and mental stress impact our own well-being. Many of us are being very intentional about caring for our emotional health, which makes it a great time to think about how we can help our pets do the same. Reducing stress for pets is an important aspect of their overall well-being and quality of life. In my recent interview on “The Cat Conversation” podcast, I welcomed Dr. Natalie Olden-Stahl, a leading integrative veterinarian, to discuss some key factors that contribute to stress in pets and how you can help them. When I asked Olden-Stahl what is the most common stressor for pets, the answer was surprising.
“It is just when we leave the home every day,” Olden-Stahl says. “I don’t think we think about that. Sometimes I think we think we have kitties that are maybe a little bit more like a house plant – that we can go for the weekend, we can leave out some dry food – but for the kitties, that could be a huge change for them.” Now, we can’t just stay home all of the time to lower our pet’s stress, although that might lower our stress too. So how do we think holistically about our pets when it comes to stress?

Here are some proactive steps we discussed, to create a calming and supportive environment for your pets:

1. Get routine checkups. If your pet seems stressed, it’s important to address or rule out medical causes. We know pain and discomfort are stressful for us. They are stressful for your pet too, but they can’t say “Hey, please help me. I’m hurting.” They will show this through their behavior.

So why is the routine checkup so important? “One of the things about going to the vet regularly is that they have a baseline,” Olden-Stahl says. “They have baseline weight and they have maybe baseline blood work and urinalysis – something that can give you a good indicator of when they were fine.” Knowing what your pet’s results are when they are healthy allows your vet to help you more accurately identify when something is off. Keeping our pets physically healthy is key to reducing stress. Cats in particular are misunderstood when it comes to their stress indicators. Going outside of the box is actually as stressful for you as it is for your cat. I can’t stress enough – no pun intended – the importance of having your cat checked for medical issues if there are litter-box problems. This is your cat’s way of communicating to you, their trusted caretaker, that something is wrong and they need your help.

2. Use stress-relieving pheromones.
Simply plug in and let the calm begin. There are stress-relieving pheromones for both cats and dogs that simply plug into your outlet. You don’t smell anything but your pet receives a dose of the calming pheromones to help them feel safe in their environment.

3. Use enrichment toys and food puzzles.
Your pets NEED to play! Often, unwanted behaviors come from the natural energy your pet would need in the wild but still has as your domesticated family member. Food puzzles help stimulate your pet and slow down those fast eaters, helping them digest. Technology has come a long way with motion-activated, interactive toys to keep your pets playing and active even when you’re not around. And of course, there is no better way to bond and help your pet feel safe than to have a good play session with them. Helping them meet this natural need together will reduce stress on both you and your pet.

4. Provide enough resources.
Many pet owners don’t realize that pets get stressed over their food and water bowls – and for cats, the number and location of litter boxes. Provide adequate access for your pet to all of these resources. It’s an easy way to ensure that if there is any subtle resource guarding going on, or if there is simply an area of the house that doesn’t feel safe, your pet has other options.

5. Implement sound therapy. Sound therapy can be especially beneficial for pets who are prone to anxiety from loud noises
such as thunderstorms. Sound therapy can help new pets feel safe and secure in their new surroundings. “Because [pets] are individual creatures just like we are, definitely test any of these things with the safety of your presence,” Olden-Stahl says. I discovered the magic of singing bowls for cats through YouTube, and it’s now part of our daily routine. I actually did a “Pet Pals TV” story on one of the leading experts in cat sound baths. The great thing about these suggestions? They are simple and affordable. “If we have a diffuser running and we’ve determined
that one of those sound therapies is something that they like, those are things that I would say are not expensive, and we didn’t have to rearrange our house,” Olden- Stahl says. By incorporating calming resources and creating stress-free environments for your pets, you can significantly reduce stress levels, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being and quality of life – and reducing stress for the whole family!