How to prepare your pets for a family break

The Easter break is upon us (March 29 to April 1).

Whether you’re planning to bring your pets along for the holiday or entrusting them to a kennel, cattery or pet sitter while you’re away, Hill’s Pet Nutrition points out it is crucial to take steps to ensure their well-being and comfort during this potentially stressful time.

All these uncertainties such as new surroundings, a change in environment and possible house guests can cause your pets to become extremely anxious, cautions Marycke Ackhurst, pet behaviour expert from Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

“If you already know your pet is easily spooked, it’s important to be informed of what you can do to relieve the stress they may feel – even something as benign to us, such as rearranging furniture, can stress out an anxious pet.”

It’s also important to note that dogs’ and cats’ hearing is far sharper, and much more sensitive than ours so, even if there is loud noise quite a fair distance from your home, it could still trigger an anxious reaction.

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Ackhurst recommends that pet parents look out for the following signs of anxious behaviour:

• Dogs

Nose or lip-licking
Yawning
Excessive panting
Reduced appetite
Tail lowered or tucked
Ears pinned back
Cowering
Trembling or shaking
Increased vocalisations such as whining, howling, and barking
Excessive attention seeking

• Cats

Urinating in strange places
Scratching compulsively
Hiding away
Panicked meows or recurrent whining
Aggression
Sleeping more
Decreased appetite

To help your pets during this potentially stressful time, Ackhurst suggests the following:

• Keep familiar noises or sounds playing in the house such as the TV and some background music. The more it seems like an everyday, normal situation, the better.
• Create a comfortable, smaller, space in the house for your pet to retreat to when they’re feeling anxious. As a distraction from any loud noises, provide them with a tasty chew toy.
• Keep outside noises and bright lights at bay by closing the windows, doors and curtains at home.
• For outdoor cats who come and go as they please, rather place a litter tray inside and close the doors and the cat flap, so they can’t go outside that evening.
• If you can’t stay at home with your pets, make sure someone else they trust is there to calm and reassure them – the fewer changes during this time, the better.
• If you’re dropping your pet off at the kennel or cattery for the holidays, make sure they have little pieces of home with them such as their bed, favourite chew toy and blankie. This way the change of environment won’t be as dramatic and stressful for them. You could also consider using dog and cat-specific pheromone diffusers, collars and/or sprays to help them feel less anxious.
• Ask your veterinarian about specially formulated foods which help alleviate stress. For severe cases, they may recommend certain medications.

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