8 minute read
Please Don’t Go: How Separation Anxiety Affects Our Pets
Please Don’t Go: How
Separation Anxiety Affects Our Pets
BY TRACY WRIGHT
Pets are more than animals to us — they are family. And in 2020, we experienced a whole lot of quality family time, which included more time with our furry friends. Pets got used to having their family around…all the time! Now with many people already returning or preparing to return back to the office and school — even in a limited capacity — our pets will need to get used to us being gone after a long period of time at home. This separation can cause a great deal of distress and anxiety for pets.
“During the COVID quarantine, pets generally fared better since they like having their ‘people’ around,” said Terry Tomlin, DVM, veterinarian at Town and Country Animal Hospital. “Dogs and cats crave routine, and once that routine abruptly changes, there is absolutely an increase in related anxiety.”
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, the signs of pet anxiety can manifest itself in pacing, jumping, vocalizing, increased drooling, having potty related accidents indoors, chewing their paws or other part of their body, not eating, or worse, destruction of property or trying to escape. Many pets begin getting anxious when they see that their owner is preparing to leave the house.
“Our Boston terrier, Sammie, starts shivering if she thinks we are leaving and won’t make eye contact if she thinks it’s time to go in the crate. She is so used to me being home,” said Katie West, local Gainesville resident. If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be time to talk to your veterinarian. Before prescribing something strong like medication, they may recommend ensuring that your pet is maintaining a regular routine, getting a proper amount of exercise, having proper socialization with family members and getting adequate rest time.
“Dogs especially need to get out and have a lot of physical activity. They need to sniff and smell other dogs, be around them if their behavior allows it,” Dr. Tomlin said. “Dog parks are a great way to meet that need and help with related anxiety and stress.”
VCA Animal Hospitals also advises that pet owners try to disassociate activities connected with leaving the house (putting on shoes, picking up keys, getting your purse). Do this by wearing shoes while staying home, picking up keys from time to time etc. Don’t make a big fuss “saying goodbye” when leaving the house so that the pets do not connect these behaviors with anxiety, VCA recommends.
If these behaviors don’t make that much of a difference, medications may be a solution. Before turning to strong pharmaceuticals, Dr. Tomlin suggests using natural products like pheromones before trying something stronger. Pheromones are chemicals that communicate to animals like dogs or cats. A study published in the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Medicine found that the use of dog-appeasing pheromone was shown to reduce separation induced anxiety and distress. These are sold commonly as sprays or diffusers that can be filtered through air similar to air freshener plug-ins and can be found in pet stores and websites or on Amazon.
Stronger medications that can be prescribed are fluoxetine (Prozac) or alprazolam (Xanax) specifically formulated for animals. Pet owners should carefully talk about these options with their veterinarians weighing both risks and benefits for their pet.
KNOW THE SIGNS
Pacing
Jumping
Vocalizing
Increased drooling
Having potty related accidents indoors
Chewing their paws or other part of their body
Not eating
Destruction of property
Trying to escape
Breeding Success One Show at a Time
PHOTOS BY TANYA CONSAUL PHOTOGRAPHY AND KIM LANGEVIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Kelly Potter has always had a love of animals and owned dogs, but it wasn’t until she welcomed her Frenchies into her life that she finally knew she found her favorite breed. She has grown her love of Frenchies into a family passion and shares how she balances it all with her four legged family members always by her side.
Can you share the story of how and when you became involved with breeding and showing dogs?
I have had a lifetime filled with animals; the love of horses was in my DNA. My father volunteered at the trail riding facilities in Griffith Park, Los Angeles and was a stunt rider in ever growing Hollywood in the early 60’s. After graduating with my degree in Equine Science, I was then hired in Idaho at a large breeding facility. After decades of breeding Appaloosa horses, it was only natural to take that knowledge and education and apply it to my favorite breed, French bulldogs (aka Frenchies).
What drew you to the Frenchies?
We have owned so many different dog breeds. As we started showing more as a family, we found that we wanted dogs that could travel well and had a trustworthy personality to have with us at horse shows. But we didn’t want anything yappy or overly excitable. We owned everything from shepherds and hound dogs to Boston terriers. They were all great, but they were all just pets… our Frenchies, they are actually family!
What is the most rewarding part of showing and breeding your Frenchies?
The most rewarding part of breeding is when you see the puppy that you nurtured from birth go to their forever families. It is the hardest part and I absolutely cry every time a pup leaves. But they are happy tears. Fortunately, on any given day, I get text messages or am tagged on Facebook or Instagram photos of the pups growing up and their special moments. It makes me smile.
KELLY'S FAVORITE QUOTE:
A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
- JOSH BILLINGS
For me, showing the dogs is a very important part of our breeding program. I believe if you are breeding a dog they need to not only be genetic and health tested, but they also need to “prove” themselves. Everything is about “form to function.” In my eyes, a breeding dog needs to have earned a title in one or more than one of the major recognized registries. It is my way of knowing that my program is on track. All my dogs are double registered American Kennel Club (AKC) and American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC).
Can you share a bit of your dogs and their personalities and what they love to do?
All of our dogs have amazing personalities. When I want to sit on the couch or sleep in, they are happy to snuggle all day long. But if I want to play ball and be active, they are ready to go.
Chanel loves to go outside and “ZOOM” around the property. If I ask her if she wants to go run, she will start leaping up in the air, all four feet off the ground and start talking and barking at me. It is so cute. She does the same thing during the Fast Cat Competition. She gets so excited and the more excited she gets the faster she runs. She absolutely loves it!
Chanel is our fastest “runner”. Currently she is unofficially rated the second in the Country for AKC French Bulldog Fast Cat Competitions for 2021. The Fast Cat Competitions are the human equivalent to the 100-yard dash. Essentially my dogs are considered sprinters. Some
Kobe and Chanel at the AKC French Bulldog Fast Cat Competitions
dogs have a natural desire to chase an object and some do not. You cannot make a dog chase something they don’t want to. French bulldogs weren’t even considered able to do this event up till several years ago, but we have continued to educate and encourage people to breed with health in mind so these dogs have nice open nares, little longer noses so they breath better. This not only gives them the ability to run, but it also increases their overall quality of life.
PDR Mamba Mentality aka “Kobe” has both his AKC B-Cat Title but also his Championship Title from ABKC in Conformation. Which means he has gone up in front of numerous judges, won several majors and best of awards. Currently all of our dogs hold their AKC “B-CAT” Performance Title in Fast Cat events and many are close to their next title. Our goal is to be someday invited to the AKC Invitational put on by ESPN.
How do you live #360life and balance it all?
My mom always jokes that I would not function properly without having a bunch of different things going on at the same time. She says I thrive on chaos. Truth be told, I am just a great multi-tasker. I think that when you have a hobby that you love and that you can nurture, it can also be fulfilling. Spending time with my dogs, researching pedigrees and show results, going to events, watching my boys care for pups or spending the afternoon at a dog show with my husband is a true gift. Even at my job, I am known for my animals. My fellow Realtors and clients all know my passion for my dogs. They always ask to visit with them and love it when a pup comes to one of our meetings.
