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Serta Newsletter Copy September – Pet Comfort 17SER2254 5.5.20
MODULE 1: Feature Story
5 Ways to Help Pets Sleep Peacefully Is your pooch pooped? Does your cat need a nap? Is your ferret fatigued? Could be they aren’t getting enough “quality” sleep at night. Just like you and me, animals that don’t sleep well can be cranky and, well, just not themselves all day. And the root cause of the whole problem can be very similar to what keeps us up at night... restlessness, anxiety, tossing, turning... all of the above. Now, you and I can always cut back on the coffee at night, but how do our furry friends calm themselves down before bed? And is there anything we can do to help them? Well stop chasing your tail because here are few tips that could help your pet sleep more soundly through the night. (Unless your pet happens to be an owl. We can’t help you there). Tip 1. Exercise: Get your pet moving. One of the best ways to make sure your pet is dog-tired when bedtime rolls around is to keep them active during the day. The more exercise she gets during the day, the more bushed she’ll be at night. If your pet just lies around all day, his body is just not going to need the type of recharge a good night’s sleep provides. Instead, he’ll drift in and out of sleep — and it won’t be that deep, restorative kind of sleep either. Then, you guessed it, he will be even more lethargic the next day. In addition to some good exercise throughout the day, a consistent, reliable routine before bed will help your ankle biter know when it’s time to settle down. For example, a nice, long walk, a nice bowl of water and a brisk brushing before bed lets your pet know it's time to hit the hay. Tip 2. Prepare Spot’s Spot Make sure where your pet sleeps is an area that’s conducive to sleepy time. A quick way to check is this: if it looks and feels like an environment you’d like to sleep in — it’s probably a good environment for your pet, too. Be aware of things like the temperature in the room, the noise level, etc. And check to see if there are there any bright glaring lights streaking in from outside or if it’s a high traffic
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Serta Newsletter Copy September – Pet Comfort 17SER2254 5.5.20
area? Now, if you wouldn’t want to sleep there, you can bet your pet probably won’t either. If you decide the space is less than ideal, try creating a more mellow mood somewhere else. Something as simple as a ticking clock or a fan in a secluded room could help create the peaceful white noise your setter needs to settle in. If you happen to have a pet that is naturally “hyper” or just a poor sleeper, you can resort to what you probably did when he was small — the old training crate. Crates seem to give animals a sense of security and they do a terrific job of calming high-strung hounds and jittery kitties. Leave a bowl of water, one of his favorite toys and maybe a treat or two in there and your pet will know this is HIS area. He can use it to get away from us hectic humans and be alone with his thoughts (“...treats...treats...treats...SQUIRREL!”). Make it his own little oasis, his comfort zone, his sanctuary. Now, if do all that and your pet still seems restless, well brace yourself, you may have a few more pets in the house than you realized. Watch to see if he stops occasionally to paw at something “invisible” under the floor or in the wall. If so, stand on a chair, scream and call your local exterminator. You probably have some uninvited critters holed up in there (but mice are so cute, right?). Tip 3. Decompress the Stress Most happy, healthy pets sleep well through the night — most. If you have a pet that is easily stressed, then sleep is often an elusive luxury. To help your little stress ball unwind, first ask yourself if anything around the house has changed. Did you move recently? Did you add on or have do any renovations to the house? Was there an “addition” of another kind to the family (if so, congratulations!). Animals can be quite sensitive to changes like these. They pick up quickly on changes to their environment. If it’s something that upsets your pet’s routine or interferes with his normal activities, those types of disruptions could be keeping your pet up at night. So be aware of your surroundings and sensitive to how even small changes around the house could be affecting your pet. Try to keep up her regular play times, walks, and play time. This will help her know that, yeah some things are different, but it's all OK. They look to you for that reassurance and a little extra attention might be all it takes to soothe those frayed nerves. Tip 4: Find the pain point
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Serta Newsletter Copy September – Pet Comfort 17SER2254 5.5.20
Unless your pet is a piglet named Babe, it’s going to be hard for her to tell you she’s in pain. So it’s up to you to pay close attention to your pet’s sleep patterns, eating patterns, and energy levels. Could there be an injury or ailment that is keeping them from getting comfortable and sleeping soundly? Also, if they’re getting a little long in the tooth (remember dogs and cats age at about a 7:1 ratio to humans), they may have contracted arthritis, joint pain or some other condition that impacts their ability to settle down at night. Your veterinarian can quickly diagnose these conditions so don’t wait too long if you suspect achy joints, soreness or see any other symptoms of pain. If your pet is already on medications, ask your vet if that could be part of sleep problem conundrum. He may adjust or switch the medication to a less troublesome tonic. 5. Get a Better Bed Maybe the answer to your pet’s sleep problems is as simple as what they sleep on. You can pick up an overstuffed pet pillow or sleeping mat for less than $10. Or you can go all out and get your special friend his own deluxe orthopedic comfort couch for upwards of $200 (now who’s having trouble sleeping). But rest assured, that money is well spent. Orthopedic beds are designed to support your pet's head, neck, spine, hips, and legs. This can be especially beneficial for older or larger animals. SOURCE: http://petslady.com/articles/best-orthopedic-dog-beds
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Serta Newsletter Copy September – Pet Comfort 17SER2254 5.5.20
MODULE 2: Related Story
Is your bed any place for a pet? (You might be surprised) If you forbid your four-legged friend from sharing your slumber... You might want to reconsider. A new study from the Mayo Clinic says that sleeping with pets may actually help you sleep better because it provides a sense of security. And contrary to what sleep gurus have said over the years, pets don’t really interrupt our sleep or decrease our restorative rest. Participants in the study answered a sleep survey that asked various questions about where pets sleep. Only about 20 percent of the 150 folks in the group said they felt their pets disturbed their golden slumbers. A full 41 percent of people said sleeping with their pet actually helped them better sleep. Others said sleeping with their pet makes them feel warm and fuzzy. One person described her cat sleeping next to her all night was reassuring. Now we know what you’re saying, this all seems to fly in the face of what we’ve heard our whole lives — Keep the pets out of the bedroom. And there is some
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Serta Newsletter Copy September – Pet Comfort 17SER2254 5.5.20
truth to that. The study revealed that most of those who had complaints about pets disrupting them were people who had multiple pets. So where does that leave us. Well, some sleep experts say you should never let pets sleep in your bed, and others will tell you it depends on you and your pet. If your pet makes you feel all relaxed and cozy, then go for it. Now if your human bed partner is more disruptive than your pet, well now that’s a whole other kettle of fish. SOURCE: https://www.today.com/health/should-your-pets-sleep-bed-you-newstudys-surprising-answers-t61266