Planning for less anxious pets in the new year
Happy New Year, Dallas Voice readers! Can you believe it is 2025 already? I remember that when I was younger, 2025 seemed so far in the future, but it is here now.A new year symbolically brings new opportunities and new challenges for all of us, but some of our issues from the past can still come with us into the new year, like anxiety.
Let’s see how anxiety affects our dogs and cats. We all hear — maybe even experience — the sad stories and situations of dogs trembling during thunderstorms, cats hiding when visitors come over and even pets who refuse to eat or play after their parents leave for work.
Believe it or not, pet anxiety is real, and it is more common than many people realize. The good news? With a little understanding and effort in identifying the root cause of the anxiety, we can help our kiddos feel safe, calm and happy.
Just like humans, our pets experience anxiety for various reasons. It is important to note that certain diseases, pain or discomfort can lead to anxiety, so it is important to have your veterinarian examine your kiddo and potentially perform wellness diagnostic tests to make sure that the potential anxiety observed is a behavioral issue and not secondary to disease or to pain/discomfort.
