As I transition back to the office, I\u2019m lucky because I don\u2019t have to worry too<\/em> much about my pets. My partner is working from home indefinitely so our cat and dog have him for comfort and some semblance of normalcy<\/a>.<\/p>\n But that doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t affected. Upon returning home from my first day back to the office, my partner said that my dog didn\u2019t move from the bed all day \u2013 not eating or looking out the window and only getting up when my partner took her out to go the bathroom. Of course, this was concerning to me so I did some research on how to help my pets feel more at ease when I\u2019m gone for the day.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the only one worried about how her pets will fare when she returns to the office. To help my fellow pet owners, I\u2019ve compiled some of my research on how to make the transition easier for your pet.<\/p>\n Believe it or not, just like humans, your pet can suffer from depression and anxiety. In fact, some pets can develop depression or separation anxiety when they\u2019re alone for too long. To make sure your pet is as healthy as possible, you might want to monitor your pets for these signs and symptoms.<\/p>\n Signs of Depression<\/strong><\/p>\n The signs of animal depression are similar to those found in cases of human depression, although they manifest slightly differently for each species.<\/p>\n Symptoms for dogs<\/a> include:<\/p>\n Cat depression<\/a> can show up in the same ways as dog depression but can also manifest as:<\/p>\n According to The Spruce Pets<\/a>, bird depression symptoms include:<\/p>\n Signs of Separation Anxiety<\/strong><\/p>\n The Humane Society<\/a> says that separation anxiety appears in dogs as:<\/p>\n For cats, signs of separation anxiety<\/a> include the same as above and:<\/p>\n Separation anxiety in birds<\/a> shows up as:<\/p>\n If your pet is none of the above species, be sure to research how depression and anxiety can manifest themselves in your pet. And remember, consult a veterinarian if you have any serious concerns about your pet’s behavior or health.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Additionally, considering the unpredictability of health issues, it may be worth exploring pet insurance<\/a> options to help cover potential veterinary expenses associated with your pet’s well-being.<\/p>\n Now that we know some signs of depression and anxiety in pets, here are a few tips for reducing your pet\u2019s uneasy feelings that are associated with your absence.<\/p>\n Slowly get them used to being home alone.<\/strong><\/p>\n Start with leaving the house for an hour or two. Slowly increase the amount of time you leave them by themselves until you work up to the time of your normal work shift. For an in-depth instruction on the best way of doing this, check out this ASPCA article<\/a>.<\/p>\n Be sure to exercise your pet.<\/strong><\/p>\n Exercising your pet<\/a> will help them be less destructive while you’re gone. They may even sleep for most of the time \u2013 meaning less time to be anxious!<\/p>\n Have a trusted friend or neighbor check in on them.<\/strong><\/p>\n Having someone pop in to see your pet<\/a> can break up the monotony in your pet\u2019s day and help them feel less alone. However, be careful who you choose. Having a (relative) stranger enter the house when their owners aren\u2019t home can upset some pets. Therefore, I\u2019d recommend against having a new dog walker or pet sitter stop by without you home.<\/p>\n Try CBD treats and other relaxation medicines.<\/strong><\/p>\n My cat gets anxious on car rides and usually ends up vomiting. If we pop him a CBD treat about an hour before we get in the car, he\u2019s good to go! CBD can also work for separation anxiety<\/a> by calming your pet.<\/p>\n Leave clothes that smell like you.<\/strong><\/p>\n Pets\u2019 sniffers are usually more sensitive than ours, and your worn clothes can provide comfort to your pet<\/a>. The worse the separation anxiety, the stinkier the clothes can be.<\/p>\n Saying goodbye \u2013 even if we know we\u2019ll be back in a few hours \u2013 is never easy. While these tips are a good starting point, there are countless sources online that can give you different and\/or more specific solutions \u2013 be sure to check those out! And please, reach out to a veterinarian if you\u2019re ever unsure how to best treat your pet.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s to returning to the office and feeling (a little) less guilty about leaving our pets.<\/p>\n For more reads on RTO, check out these blogs on speaking to your employees in the “new normal”<\/a> and professional social interactions post-COVID<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As businesses begin to return to in-person work, many of us are faced with the tragic truth of having to leave our furry, feathered, scaled, or hairless friends at home. Regardless of whether you\u2019ve recently adopted a quarantine kitten or have had the same tortoise for 10 years, after 16 homebound months, parting ways \u2013 even for just nine hours \u2013 may present challenges for your pet. As I transition back to the office, I\u2019m lucky because I don\u2019t have to worry too much about my pets. My partner is working from home indefinitely so our cat and dog have him for comfort and some semblance of normalcy. But that doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t affected. Upon returning home from my first day back to the office, my partner said that my dog didn\u2019t move from the bed all day \u2013 not eating or looking out the window and only getting up when my partner took her out to go the bathroom. Of course, this was concerning to me so I did some research on how to help my pets feel more at ease when I\u2019m gone for the day. I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the only one worried about how her pets will fare when she returns to the office. To help my fellow pet owners, I\u2019ve compiled some of my research on how to make the transition easier for your pet. Your Pet\u2019s Mental Health Believe it or not, just like humans, your pet can suffer from depression and anxiety. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":5070,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156,75],"tags":[415,241,385,614,521,210],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/pets1-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\nYour Pet\u2019s Mental Health<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nTaking Action<\/h2>\n
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