Get them moving
With both dogs and cats, exercise is essential for staying physically and emotionally healthy. Taking your dog for a walk or having a game of fetch on a regular basis will help her burn extra energy. Cats can benefit from 5 to 10 minutes of play a couple of times a day, with a laser pointer or feather wand, and cat trees promote playfulness on their own. "Cats feel more comfortable if they can be at a high vantage point surveying the environment; vertical scratchers [with platforms] allow them to be in this space and work the muscles appropriate for climbing and scratching," says Lillian Ciardelli, associate certified applied animal behaviorist at Behave Atlanta.
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Keep them thinking
Just like people, pets need mental stimulation to stay sharp. "On your walks, allow your dog to sniff every few steps for a few seconds; it's really mentally stimulating for them and will allow them to be calmer at home," says Ciardelli. For cats, tap into their hunter-prey instincts by hiding treats around the house for them to seek out. Training exercises and puzzle toys are also a great way to encourage them to use their problem-solving skills to get rewards.
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Give them space
Instilling a sense of choice and autonomy in your pet is important for their ability to relax at home. Designate a quiet space in the house for them to retreat to, and provide them with "escape routes" to exit any social situation, especially while around children or guests. "When the dog or cat chooses to go to these places that are their sanctuary, that's usually a good indication they want to be alone, and that should be respected," saysDr. Campbell. For families that are spending more time at home than they used to, take into consideration that your pet may be more stimulated and isn't getting the off-duty time she needs. Reward your pup for choosing to leave your side while at home by putting a treat in her special spot, says Ciardelli.
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Spot the signs
When stressed, dogs may exhibit a few behaviors that first appear normal, like yawning, licking their lips, and shaking off their coat. Here, context is key: Is your dog being touched and hugged by strangers? Is she surrounded by other high-energy pets? These situations might suggest that her behaviors are stemming from discomfort. Other signs of stress might be excess panting, sweaty paw prints, and the "whale-eye"—when a dog's eyes go wide enough to see the whites.
Cats typically go even further to conceal their discomfort. They may hide more than usual, over-or under-groom, or stop using their litter box. A good indicator of a cat's mood is her tail; a tail that's low or sticking straight back could signify nervousness. "A comfortable cat has an upright, relaxed tail, in the shape of a question mark," says Ciardelli.
This article originally appeared in the March 2021 issue of Health Magazine. Click here to subscribe today!
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]]>RELATED: 4 Ways Pets Help Relieve Stress
Conditioning training
For separation anxiety, work on gradually increasing the amount of time you’re out of the house, leaving for a few seconds, then a few minutes, and then a few hours, until the animal seems calm during your departure, says Sara Ochoa, DVM, a small animal and exotic veterinarian in Texas. Keep the situation light by incorporating treats and play. For fear, try to desensitize your pup to trigger noises by playing movies with the sounds of thunderstorms or fireworks. The goal isn’t to scare your dog further; if she becomes distressed, take a break.
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Proper engagement
Since cats are considered low-maintenance pets, they don’t always receive the level of interaction needed to support their emotional and cognitive health. Play with your cat using interactive toys like laser pointers and feather wands. Dr. Long also suggests giving your cat access to an enclosed porch or patio so she can experience the natural sounds and stimulation of the outdoors while in a safe environment.
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Calming tools
There are some products that can help ease mild anxiety and can be used alongside training or medication. Calming pheromones—odorless and colorless chemical signals that are species-specific—mimic the pheromones that feline and canine mothers release when nursing; they can have a soothing, nurturing effect on your pet, says Dr. Long. The pheromones can be distributed through collars, scent diffusers, wipes, or sprays; just make sure to buy for the right species! Another option is a compression shirt, like the Thundershirt, which gives the animal a snug feeling of being wrapped in a security blanket, says Dr. Ochoa. These tools are best used preventively, so suit up your dog in a compression shirt before a big storm or spray pheromones on your cat’s bed if you’ll be away longer than usual.
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Supplements & medications
Pets with mild to moderate anxiety may benefit from nutraceuticals—dietary supplements that also help with treating a variety of conditions—which can often be purchased over the counter or at a vet’s office. For incidental anxiety related to weather or an event (Fourth of July!), a sedative may be prescribed. Pets with more severe anxiety or highly destructive behavior, however, might need an antidepressant medication prescribed by a veterinarian. Prozac is a highly effective option that is typically well tolerated with minimal side effects, says Dr. Long.
This article originally appeared in the May 2020 issue of Health Magazine. Click here to subscribe today!
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]]>It’s tempting to smother your new pet with love and invite friends and family over to do the same. “Some affection is nice, but give them time to just get settled,” says Gary Richter, DVM, author of The Ultimate Pet Health Guide. Otherwise, you may overwhelm your pup and cause anxiety. Also smart: “Don’t let them access the whole house at first,” says Jeff Werber, DVM, president and chief veterinarian of the VCA Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles. Puppies feel safer when they have a small area that is theirs. Once they get used to their surroundings and are house-trained, you can start trusting them with access to larger areas.
7–12 weeks is the best age for a puppy to be adopted. Earlier than that, pups should really be with their mom and littermates.
12–24 months is when a puppy will reach its full size.
Set Up a Schedule
Following a routine can ease a new pet’s anxiety and help you determine natural patterns. Feed your dog at the same time each day, and adhere to a walk schedule. In the beginning, lots of short walks are needed—experts suggest six to eight times a day (plus, take your pet out after each meal). Another thing to understand: Accidents will happen, and how you react matters. Yelling or scolding can be confusing and harmful to a puppy’s development. “We think they understand that they’re being reprimanded for going to the bathroom in the house, but to them, they’re being reprimanded for just going, period,” says Dr. Werber. Instead, give treats when they go outside to reinforce good behavior and no treats when they have an accident.
Tone Down Trouble
You’ve likely done a bit of puppy-proofing—hiding electrical cords, gating off certain areas, that kind of thing. Watch your pup carefully for the first few days, and you’ll be able to identify what you may have missed. Maybe he is drawn to your houseplant or gnaws on the corner of the coffee table. Paying close attention will allow you to make adjustments and cater to specific troublemaking tendencies.
Visit the Vet
Bring your pup to your local veterinarian as soon as possible to confirm she’s in good health and up to date on vaccinations. “Depending on where they came from, it’s variable the kind of care they were getting,” says Dr. Richter. He recommends bringing any paperwork you have from the adoption source so you can make a plan with your vet. The four core vaccines are typically administered four weeks apart, starting at eight weeks.
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]]>RELATED: What's the Difference Between an Emotional Support Animal and a Service Dog?
Learn the Difference
“These are pets who have been deemed necessary to help support an individual’s quality of life,” says Fine. The individuals typically are struggling with mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress, and find comfort in a bond with their pets. Emotional support animals are different from both therapy dogs, who go to institutions to comfort others, and service dogs, who are trained to perform tasks specific to an owner’s disability. “Emotional support animals do not have to be trained to do anything. They simply act as a security blanket,” says Renee Payne, CPDT-KA, director of training at the Good Dog Foundation.
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Understand Your Rights
Unlike a service dog, emotional support animals aren’t allowed everywhere. For example, most restaurants and retailers will not allow your pet in—and they are not legally required to. However, you are legally allowed to fly with your ESA, thanks to the Air Carrier Access Act. Additionally, the Fair Housing Act ensures your ESA can always live with you. You cannot be charged extra, denied from application, or evicted because of your animal. These laws were put in place to make sure you are getting the emotional support needed. “For certain people, having an emotional support animal is critical for their well being,” says Fine.
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]]>RELATED: Science Says Being a Cat Lady Is Good for Your Health
Brush Up at Home
You should be cleaning your animal’s teeth twice a week with a soft brush and pet toothpaste. Django Martel, DVM, a board certified veterinary dentist at NYC’s Animal Medical Center, suggests brushing with the animal’s mouth closed: Gently hold your pet’s snout and insert the brush between the lips to brush top and bottom teeth along the gum lines. If you’re a dog owner, know this: Smaller pups have more crowding in their mouth and are often genetically predisposed to periodontal disease, so diligence is even more important. Dental chews are a great way to get rid of tartar—especially in cats, who have smaller mouths. These taste like a treat and wipe gunk away as they are eaten. Another smart move is to steer clear of certain toys. “We see so many broken teeth from chewing on bones,” says Dr. Martel. Tennis balls, with their scratchy exterior, act like sandpaper against teeth, wearing them down over time. Need an alternative? “Any rubber or silicone-based toys that bend are wonderful,” says Dr. Rice.
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Keep an Eye Out
Even if you’re doing all of the above, a dental problem can arise, and knowing what to look for could save your pet. The most common sign of an issue is smelly breath (worse than normal). Red or bloody gums, extreme drooling, or sensitivity when you try to touch the mouth area are other clues. Since cats use their mouths for grooming, an unkempt kitty may be a sign something is up. If you notice any of these things, it’s time to make a vet appointment.
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]]>RELATED: How Many Treats to Give a Pet, According to Vets
Prep your pet
Visit the vet to be sure your animal is in good physical condition to travel, update any vaccinations, and get a certificate of health and vaccination records, which you’ll need for many airlines and when crossing state and country lines, says Gary Weitzman, DVM, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society. Make sure your pet has proper, updated ID, too.
You’ll likely need a crate or carrier for a safe (and perhaps required) way to house your animal during travel; it can also provide a cozy spot in a new environment. Is a crate new to your pet? Leave it open at home with treats or toys inside prior to your trip, says Dr. Weitzman.
Don’t forget to pack for Spot: Bring food, medications, treats, a leash, toys, and ideally, his bed.
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On the road or in the air
If you’re driving and your pet isn’t used to car trips, prepare by going on shorter drives together in the weeks leading up to your vacation. Do your best to plan your routes so you’ll know when and where you can stop for walks and “bathroom” breaks. When in unfamiliar environments, make sure to keep your pet on a leash with a secure harness or collar, says Judy Morgan, DVM, founder of Clayton and Churchtown Veterinary Associates in New Jersey.
If you’re flying, check with your airline for rules. Many restrict brachycephalic (short-nosed) dogs in cargo because they are more susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature. Pets that can comfortably fit in a carrier under your seat can typically go in the cabin with you, but larger animals will most likely go in the cargo hold. Cargo travel can be very stressful for animals and has its own risks; you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth bringing your pet along.
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Keep them calm
Have a nervous pet? Talk to your vet. Pheromone collars or sprays or a drop of lavender essential oil rubbed onto their coat can help, says Dr. Morgan. Something cozy and familiar, such as a blanket that smells like you, can also be therapeutic.
Once you’ve reached your destination, try to maintain your walk and feeding schedule—a sense of normalcy will make pets feel at ease in their home away from home.
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]]>RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Pet Fostering—and How to Get Started
Be careful with rewards
Training your puppy to sit? Want to teach your cat to come when called (it can be done!)? That’s all fine, but be mindful of how often you reward them with something tasty. “If your pets require several treats to reinforce positive behavior, then you may need to cut their food back to account for the extra calories from treats,” says Jonathan Block, DVM, a veterinarian at the Worth Street Veterinary Center in New York City. Another option: Reward them with nonfood items—like a game of fetch or a nice rubdown.
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Follow the 10% rule
Veterinary nutritionists recommend that no more than 10 percent of your pet’s daily calories come from treats, says Dr. Hohenhaus. For reference, a 10-pound dog should eat around 400 calories a day, so she should only be given 40 calories of treats. To help stay within range, cut treats in half or put the daily portion in a little baggie. “This way, you won’t exceed what’s allowed and everyone in the family will have a chance to give treats based on what’s left in the bag,” says Dr. Hohenhaus.
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Make healthy choices
Ideally, opt for treats that are made of unprocessed ingredients and preferably free of wheat, soy, and artificial flavoring. That said, they don’t have to come from a bag labeled “treats” to function that way. “You can present an option like carrots or apples as treats, too,” says Dr. Block.
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]]>After returning home, she began to feel pain in her right arm over a month later. She waited three days before deciding to go to urgent care, where medical professionals misdiagnosed her with carpal tunnel syndrome and sent her home with anti-inflammatory meds. A few days later, she checked into the hospital with symptoms including anxiety, shortness of breath, insomnia, and trouble swallowing. This time doctors misdiagnosed her with a panic attack.
The woman was given anxiety medication and hardly made it out of the parking lot before returning to the emergency room claiming shortness of breath and claustrophobia. She was reassured that it was a panic attack.
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The next day, continued pain in her arm and shoulder, shortness of breath, anxiety, and increasing paresthesia (think: pins and needles pain, numbness, and burning sensation of the skin) had the woman heading to a different hospital, this time by way of ambulance.
Lab work and exams were conducted, and the patient showed that she was losing control of her bodily functions. Blood wasn't flowing properly to her heart, and she had unusual chest pain, but a procedure that evaluates the heart for damage, muscle function, and blocked arteries didn't find anything abnormal.
The woman became more and more agitated and combative that evening and was reported to be gasping for air when she tried to drink water, leading the hospital staff to ask the woman's husband about possible animal exposure. He let the doctors know that she had been bitten by a dog on her overseas trip.
The following day—six days after her initial visit to urgent care—her health quickly deteriorated. She showed signs of severe brain inflammation and was placed on a ventilator. The woman was officially diagnosed with rabies and over the next 10 days, doctors aggressively tried to save her life. She was eventually put into a medically induced coma, and after those 10 days, the woman's family opted to stop treatment and she died.
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Sadly, there have been no reports that the woman took action to protect herself before her travels, nor did she ever receive a rabies vaccination in her lifetime. If you are planning a trip abroad, it's important to prepare yourself by undergoing a health screening and receiving the appropriate vaccinations for your international travels, which may include a rabies vaccine.
While rabies infections are quite rare in the U.S. (only 23 cases have been reported since 2008), they can still happen. Many people are under the impression that infections are the result of contact with a foaming-at-the-mouth wild animal, like a raccoon or bat, but transmission is most often linked to dogs and strays in foreign countries. Also note that it doesn't take a full bite, but rather the virus could be passed from a scratch or even a rabid animal's saliva getting into an open wound.
Once you've been exposed to rabies, symptoms can mimic those of the flu, including headache, fatigue, and generally feeling unwell, and as the virus invades the central nervous system and infects the brain, victims can experience anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, fear of water, insomnia, and can even die.
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If bitten by an unfamiliar animal, it's important to remain calm. “It’s not like a poison that would paralyze you instantly within 10 minutes,” Aaron Glatt, MD, chairman of medicine and a hospital epidemiologist at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, New York, previously told Health. “You really need to get this addressed, but it is an infection that takes some time to spread in your body.”
Make sure to clean the bite thoroughly with soap and water, and then seek expert assistance. A doctor will administer a first dose of the post-exposure rabies vaccine, which can help prevent the virus from getting into the central nervous system, according to the World Health Organization. You’ll receive three more doses, spaced out over a 14-day period. You may also be treated with human rabies immune globulin, according to Dr. Glatt, which provides antibodies collected from people who have had rabies.
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]]>Katherine Stavropoulos, an assistant professor of special education at the University of California, Riverside, also wondered why we experience cute aggression. So she conducted a study to help better understand the phenomenon. The results were recently published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.
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Stavropoulos measured how neurons in the brain fire in response to external stimuli, like photos of super cute (and less cute) animals and babies. If you’re wondering how she designated some as cuter than others, she chose photos of young animals (very cute) and adult animals (less cute). For the babies, she digitally enlarged some of their facial features, like their eyes, cheeks, and foreheads, to make them appear cuter.
She then recruited 54 participants aged 18 to 40 and had them wear caps lined with electrodes. While wearing the caps, participants looked at four blocks of photographs divided into different categories: cute (enhanced) human babies, less cute (non-enhanced) human babies, cute (baby) animals, and cute (adult) animals.
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After looking at each block of photos on a computer screen, the participants were shown a set of statements and asked to rate how much they agreed with them. The statements were designed to assess how cute participants found each block of photos (which the study calls "appraisal") and how much cute aggression they felt in response. They also rated how overwhelmed they felt and whether they had a desire to take care of the animals and babies in the photos.
As you might have guessed, participants self-reported stronger feelings of appraisal, cute aggression, being overwhelmed, and caretaking toward cute (baby) animals than toward less-cute (adult) animals. But surprisingly, the same pattern didn’t hold true for the photos of human babies. No significant differences were observed between how participants rated the cute (enhanced) and less cute (non-enhanced) human babies.
Using electrophysiology, Stavropoulos also measured participant’s brain activity before, during, and after viewing the photos. She found cute aggression to be related to neural mechanisms of emotional salience and reward processing, which means both the brain’s emotion system and reward system are at work when you feel the need to hold an adorable puppy up to your mouth and swallow him whole.
“Cute aggression appears to be a complex and multi-faceted emotional response that likely serves to mediate strong emotional responses and allow caretaking to occur,” the study states.
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These results are thought to be the first to confirm a neural basis for cute aggression. “There was an especially strong correlation between ratings of cute aggression experienced toward cute animals and the reward response in the brain toward cute animals,” Stavropoulos told UC Riverside News. “This is an exciting finding, as it confirms our original hypothesis that the reward system is involved in people’s experiences of cute aggression.”
Another interesting finding: There also seems to be a direct relationship between how much cute aggression someone experiences and how overwhelmed the person is feeling.
“Essentially, for people who tend to experience the feeling of ‘not being able to take how cute something is,’ cute aggression happens,” Stavropoulos said. “Our study seems to underscore the idea that cute aggression is the brain’s way of ‘bringing us back down’ by mediating our feelings of being overwhelmed.”
She said that mediation may have been an evolutionary adaptation ensuring that people take care of young creatures they found particularly cute.
“For example, if you find yourself incapacitated by how cute a baby is—so much so that you simply can’t take care of it—that baby is going to starve,” Stavropoulos said. “Cute aggression may serve as a tempering mechanism that allows us to function and actually take care of something we might first perceive as overwhelmingly cute.”
So next time you look at one of your pets (or your baby) and feel the urge to squeeze them as tight as you can and press your face into their fur or skin, find some comfort in the fact that there’s actually a purpose behind what you're feeling. No, you don’t actually want to squeeze your puppy until he pops. Somewhere deep in your brain, nature is making sure you take care of him as best you can.
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]]>Initially, the humans who became ill were either employees or recent customers of Petland stores in Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, or Wisconsin—or they had recently visited a home with a puppy sold through the chain. But the CDC has since found five other pet store companies tied to the outbreak, and the new report says 29 of the 118 people who fell ill were employees.
We know what you’re thinking. It’s bad enough to hear about bacterial outbreaks traced back to the food we eat or the water we swim in. Now we have to worry about cuddling with cute baby animals, too?
To learn more about the outbreak—and the basics of dog-to-human illness transmission in general—Health spoke with Craig Altier, DVM, PhD, professor of population medicine and diagnostic science at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Here’s what he wants everyone to know.
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Campylobacter infections are unpleasant for people
Most people who become ill with campylobacteriosis get diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within two to five days of being exposed to the bacteria, according to the CDC. (Some lucky people don’t have any symptoms at all.) Nausea and vomiting can also occur, and the illness usually lasts about a week.
Most cases of camplyobateriosis aren’t life-threatening—but they can be very serious for people with compromised immune systems, children under 5, adults 65 and older, and pregnant women. Rarely the disease can lead to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder that can cause paralysis.
The recent outbreak hit individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly, and 63% were female. No deaths were reported, but 24% of the people reported ill were hospitalized.
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It can be transmitted through dog poop
The most common way people get sick from campylobacter is by eating contaminated food, says Dr. Altier. “It often comes from eating undercooked chicken, because chickens can carry this bacteria in their gut but not get sick from it,” he says.
Dogs can carry campylobacter as well, he adds, especially puppies. And while it’s a much less frequent way of transmission, it is possible for people to “catch” the infection by handling dog feces (or something contaminated with dog poop) and then touching your mouth or face.
“Fecal matter is all over an animal and its environment, so you can certainly get [the infection] even if you’re not directly handling animal waste,” says Dr. Altier. “And the more bacteria being produced by the gut, the more risk there is handling and being around the animal.”
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Symptoms in dogs can be mild
Most dogs infected with campylobacter do show some symptoms, says Dr. Altier. “They might get a little diarrhea, but the illness is usually mild,” he says. “It can be hard to spot, because puppies can get diarrhea from all kinds of things, like stress or a change in diet.”
When looking for a dog to buy or adopt, the CDC recommends choosing one that is bright, alert, and playful, with shiny, soft fur that is free of poop. Once you’ve got your pet home, says Dr. Altier, call the vet anytime he or she has unexplained diarrhea. “It may be something that can’t be transmitted to humans, like an intestinal parasite, but it could also be this,” he says.
Pet-store animals may be at higher risk
All puppies, no matter where they’re from, can carry campylobacter. But living in a pet-store environment likely increases a young dog’s chance of contracting the infection, says Dr. Altier. “It’s a perfect storm for infectious disease,” he says: “You have young animals in stressful conditions—like being moved from kennel to pet store—and often they’re being mingled together in close quarters.”
Scientists found that bacteria samples isolated from the stool of puppies sold through a Petland store in Florida were closely related to bacteria from the stool of a sick person in Ohio. Bacteria samples were also resistant to antibiotics often used to treat campylobacter infections, possibly because healthy puppies were given antibiotics, according to the new report.
In a 2017 statement, Petland said it was fully cooperating with the investigation, and that “the CDC has not identified any failures of Petland’s operating system that would lead to any campylobacter infection.” Petland “takes the health and welfare of our pets, our customers and staff very seriously,” the statement added.
Humans can get other illnesses from pets, too
Campylobacter isn’t the only bacteria that can be passed from dogs to humans, although “there’s only a small list of organisms that are,” says Dr. Altier. Salmonella is another pathogen that can live in an animal’s gut and can be transmitted through contact with fecal material. Fortunately, these cases are also fairly uncommon.
Dogs can also catch the flu, although they get different strains of the virus than humans do. Infectious disease experts worry that canine flu could one day mutate and become contagious for humans—the way bird flu and swine flu have in the past. But this hasn’t happened yet.
As for the other way around, experts say it’s extremely rare for humans to pass illnesses to dogs. So even though it’s a good idea to avoid close contact with other people when you come down with a cold or flu, experts say it’s still safe to snuggle with your canine companion.
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If you play with puppies, wash your hands ASAP
Anyone who handles dogs in pet stores—whether they’re working there, shopping for a potential pet, or just getting a much-needed dose of puppy love—should wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately afterward, says Dr. Altier. “That’s a really good practice anytime you’re around animals, whether it’s a pet store in the mall or a petting zoo,” he says.
To protect your own pet, Dr. Altier recommends feeding dogs a healthy diet, getting them plenty of exercise, and avoiding stressful environments whenever possible. “They’re going to be less susceptible to infection if they are otherwise healthy and happy,” he says.
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