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While many of us find it difficult to be mostly confined to our home due to the precautions associated with COVID-19, there are those among us for whom the constant presence of family members under our feet is their idea of heaven. We are, of course, talking about our dogs and cats.
As more and more cities and states reopen, many people will return to work and study outside the home, and it will be a painful makeover for our four-legged friends.
Dogs and cats, like humans, are creatures of habit, and drastic changes in their routines can be extremely stressful. This can manifest in many ways, including depression, separation anxiety, and even physical illness. If your “new standard” is to spend less time with your companion animals, take some time to help them adjust to the change.
- Help your dog or cat get used to your absence by gradually increasing the amount of time you spend outside. Start with the check-out procedure by grabbing your keys and wallet and heading to the door without actually leaving. Then go outside for a few minutes several times during the day so that the other person gets used to your departure and understands that you are returning. After you try to get away for several hours in a row, your four-legged friend will realize that this is part of a new routine.
- Make sure your pets get plenty of exercise and stimulation. Get in the habit of taking your dog out for a morning walk. This may mean you need to get up early or skip a pre-work soy latte run or workout at the gym, but this is the main event of your dog’s day – don’t miss it. Also, spend at least 30 minutes a day playing with your cat. Getting plenty of exercise early in the day can help the animals relax, so they spend more time sleeping and less time thinking about where their family has gone.
- Engage active animals’ minds and bodies by providing interactive toys (such as a hollow hard rubber toy filled with peanut butter or dog treats dispenser and scratching posts, stick toys, laser pointers, catnip items, and winding cat tunnels) … Treating your dog or cat with a treat as you walk out the door can also help relieve separation anxiety by linking your care to something positive and rewarding.
- Can’t come home at lunchtime to release your dog? Arrange for a trusted friend, relative, or dog owner to do this. If your dog loves the company of other dogs, consider having a dog kindergarten thoroughly checked a few days a week. (You might also consider adopting a second pet as a companion.) Better yet, ask your employer about implementing a dog-friendly policy.
- Cats may appear indifferent to the outside observer, but they can also experience separation anxiety. Watch for stress-related behaviors such as excessive grooming, lack of appetite, or urination outside the toilet. It can also be a warning sign of a serious illness, so a health certificate should always be obtained from your veterinarian first. Cats and dogs can benefit from soothing natural pheromone supplements and diffusers, as well as radio tuned to classical or other relaxing music to keep them in a serene state of mind.
- Whatever you do never crate your dog, especially when you are at work. A cage is not a “den” – it is a cage that prevents dogs from doing anything more than getting up and turning around if they are. Aside from the painful sensations in the muscles and joints that result from being forced to immobilize for several hours, long hours alone in a cage will only make your dog more anxious, frustrated, and depressed.
- When you get home, don’t forget to have a good time with your companion animals. Watch out for their cleaning. Look Danger! together on the couch, play a game with a laser pointer. Visit the dog park to indulge in the canine camaraderie. Take a long leisurely walk and let them stop and smell the roses, not to mention the fire hydrants, as much as they want.
And hey, if you enjoy working from home as much as your furry family members – consider making it a permanent part of your post-pandemic program. Tell your boss that a very close family member needs you at home.
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