“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: 21 Nov 2010 09:27 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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 |
| Posted: 22 Nov 2010 06:17 AM PST CHICAGO – At its rare best, "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" recalls Looney Tunes productions with their brilliant blend of slapstick humor, wordplay, and breakneck pace. And the odd collection of TV-caliber guest stars including Fred Armisen ("Saturday Night Live"), Jack McBrayer ("30 Rock"), and Chris O'Donnell ("NCIS: Los Angeles") along with a truly weird group of vocal performances that include Bette Midler and Nick Nolte of all people make for a film that sometimes resembles "Looney Tunes: Back in Action." Sadly, resembling a funny movie does not make a comedy and this half-assed attempt at family entertainment should be sent to the pound. When I come down hard on family movies, I'm often accused of being cynical and not appreciating the target audience but I think I'm actually more critical of films like this because we are so clearly in the prime of children's movie entertainment overall. In other words, when there are movies like "Toy Story 3," "How to Train Your Dragon," and even lesser-but-entertaining family movies like "Ramona and Beezus" on the market, why subject your kid to something this lazy? Even most television is smarter. Go watch "Phineas and Ferb." James Marsden voices Diggs, a German Shepherd police dog who starts by partnering with Chris O'Donnell but ends up sucked into a 007-esque world of espionage only with Bond replaced by a pooch and Blofeld replaced by a cat. The enemy of the piece is the titular Kitty Galore (Bette Midler), a now-hairless feline who used to work for the good guys but now wants to take down all dogs and make the world her scratching post. Other voice talent involved includes Katt Williams, Christina Applegate, Neil Patrick Harris, and Joe Pantoliano. Like similarly-lazy "Marmaduke," "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" is one of those lackluster productions that feels like it's doing the bare minimum to reach a brief running time (82 minutes) and steal parents' hard-earned money. Kids can be easy sells and maybe I am more critical when it feels like their movie innocence is being exploited for a buck. They may find the creepy-looking Kitty Galore funny or laugh hysterically when Diggs bites a clown in the ass but just as we watch what kids eat we should watch what qualifies as their entertainment as well. This is the worst fast food for little ones — it may fill them up but it's not nutritious in any way. The best thing about the Blu-ray release of "The Revenge of Kitty Galore" is that it comes with an all-new Looney Tunes short called "Coyote Falls" featuring Wile E. and Road Runner. Just watch that fifteen times instead of the movie. And the less said about a "Yogi Bear" sneak peek the better. Official Synopsis: Special Features: 'Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore' stars Christina Applegate, Michael Clarke Duncan, Neil Patrick Harris, Sean Hayes, James Marsden, Bette Midler, Nick Nolte, Joe Pantoliano, Katt Williams, Chris O'Donnell, Jack McBrayer, Fred Armisen, and Paul Rodriguez. It was written by Ron J. Friedman & Steve Bencich and directed by Brad Peyton. It is rated PG and runs 82 minutes. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 16th, 2010. 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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