“Pessimistic pooch? Kitty with attitude? Newly adopted pets often come with baggage - Daily Oklahoman” plus 1 more |
| Pessimistic pooch? Kitty with attitude? Newly adopted pets often come with baggage - Daily Oklahoman Posted: 20 Nov 2010 08:46 PM PST Copyright ©2010. The Associated Press. Produced by NewsOK.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 
Does your dog have a "bowl-half-empty" personality? Is your kitty always yearning for greener pastures? Your pet could have a pessimistic personality, and with that comes higher risk of anxiety.  Dr. Bryan Ledger pets Princess, a pet at Pampered Pets in Edmond. Photo by Heather Warlick-Moore, The Oklahoman. <strong></strong> MultimediaIn fact, according to new research funded by Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, pets with pessimistic attitudes are more likely to act destructively, potty inside, scratch floors and doors, bark, chew, whine and yowl when left alone. Pessimistic pets also suffer from separation anxiety more often than optimistic pets, according to the study by the United Kingdom nonprofit. Unfortunately, this kind of anxiety can often come between a pet and its owner — especially in adoption circumstances. Haley Letton knows well how a seemingly perfect adoption can become troubling. Last summer, when her mother's cherished cat died, Letton and her mother went to a local shelter to find a new feline friend. They found a kitten who looked so much like their late pet, they knew they'd found their new cat. Izzy, as she came to be known, seemed calm and collected at the shelter and even for several days after the Lettons brought her home. But it soon became evident she wasn't too fond of sharing her new turf with another cat and dog. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy, because we'd adopted a dog a few years back, and the cats finally got used to it after about a year," Haley Letton said. "But the kitten would grab on to my cat and like dig her claws into her and wouldn't let go." Izzy became very aggressive and would pounce on the other family cat, starting fights. As much as she is against declawing cats, Letton said she felt she had no other choice. "I couldn't keep letting that happen. She was getting hurt," Letton said. She had Izzy's front paws declawed. Looking back, Letton realizes it was likely the anxiety of coming into a new home with new animals that caused Izzy to act out. Experts say that nearly 30 percent of family pets suffer from anxiety. "Some pets, especially when you rescue them, can be very anxious," said Brian Ledger, a veterinarian at Pampered Pets in Edmond. In fact, he said, animals likely experience most if not all the same feelings humans deal with in stressful situations. When you adopt a pet, you often have no way of knowing what circumstances the pet came from. Was it abused? Did its beloved master die? Has it always been a stray, prone to wandering? What brought that pet to the animal shelter can be a mystery, and that mystery can determine whether your new pet experiences a smooth transition into your family or a difficult one. And though some shelters offer a sort of "test run" during which you can bring your prospective new pet home to see whether it is a good match for your family, most times, you're on your own. "Pets go through grieving, they go through excitement, they go through depression," Ledger said. Mood disorders in animals often cause other problems such as gastrointestinal upset including diarrhea and vomiting. Dietary changes can also contribute to these problems. Not only do they experience their own emotions, they are empathetic to their masters' emotions. "They have a special bond with people, and they can sense when we're upset or depressed." So, trying to stay upbeat and positive is one way Ledger recommends people deal with a pessimistic pet. If your pet doesn't seem to be acclimating to your home, your other pets or your children, it may be time to get an animal behavior specialist involved. Mood disorders in pets that could require treatment include separation anxiety, storm phobias, post-traumatic trauma from abuse or fear of loud noises. If behavioral therapy doesn't work, you can consult your veterinarian about the possibility of trying antidepressant and anti-anxiety medicines. The most common drugs Ledger recommends are Amitriptylline, an antidepressant, and Acepromazine, a sedative. For better results Before you put your puppy on Prozac, here are some tips from Ledger to ease the anxiety your new pet may feel after being adopted into your home. Make sure you do research before choosing a new pet. For example, some dog breeds are much better around small children. Certain breeds of cats can be more aggressive or skittish than others. Plan your pet's homecoming carefully. Christmas Day is one of the worst days to bring a new pet into your home, Ledger said. All the hustle and bustle of a busy holiday can add to a pet's anxiety about its new surroundings. If you're planning a pet as a gift, it's wise to schedule its homecoming for several days before or after the holiday celebration. Plan when and how you will introduce your new pet to any other pets you have at home. Don't just assume they'll all get along right away. You should introduce pets one at a time in as neutral territory as possible. Make sure all your pets have their own food bowls and their own toys to help avoid disputes. And don't leave your pets alone together until you feel confident that they're at least not going to fight. Plan to bring your pet home when you'll have plenty of free time to bond with the animal. Much like bringing a newborn baby home, Ledger said, it's important to spend one-on-one time with your new pet to create closeness. Life Photo Galleriesview allThis entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Homeless people can bring pets to Red Cross warming center - Oregonian Posted: 20 Nov 2010 02:05 PM PST Published: Saturday, November 20, 2010, 12:43 PM Updated: Saturday, November 20, 2010, 2:06 PMThanks to a donation of animal crates to the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross, homeless people can warm up without abandoning their animals. Multnomah County Animal Services and the Humane Society of the United States partnered up to provide 40 crates for use at the Red Cross Emergency Warming Center at Imago Dei Community Church, 1302 SE Ankeny St. Many pet owners will not leave their pets even in severe weather conditions, so the goal is to save human as well as animal lives. The shelter has room for up to 150 people and up to 40 pets. It will be open in very cold weather conditions, usually when the mercury drops below 32 degrees. The Imago Dei shelter is the only emergency warming shelter in Portland that accepts pets. Find out more about warming centers by dialing 211 on any phone. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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