Back to School
What “Back to School” Means for Your Animal Friends It’s not only kids and teachers who are affected by the annual return to academia. It gets truly busy during National Back to School Sales Month! (You might remember that I declared August to be exactly that in my last blog, and I’m sticking to it.) There are seemingly endless supplies to buy. Notebooks. Pens and pencils. Maybe electronic equipment. Clothes, clothes, and more clothes. Plus backpacks, markers, sticky notes, gym outfits, padlocks… And these days, there are probably apps to download, academic accounts to sign up for and/or bring up to speed, health forms to fill out, maybe immunizations to update… And then there’s the actual day of reckoning, when the lunches are packed, the backpacks are stuffed, and the buses stop outside with a loud burst of sound courtesy of the airbrakes. Whew! That’s a lot….Did I forget anything? Well, yes…. Our animal friends. When you stop to think about it, it’s probably no surprise that the big RETURN TO SCHOOL frenzy is tough on our pets. How so? Well, separation anxiety is a big stressor. Think about it. The kids and/or teachers have been home for about two months, which translates into more love and playtime for their pets. But suddenly, that ends—the humans are inexplicably gone, and the house is eerily quiet. “What happened to our friends?” they would certainly ask if they spoke our language. As a result, you might find that your doggie is experiencing mood swings. For example, he’s constantly whining. Or barking…a lot. Maybe she’s howling. Or she’s forgotten her potty training. And your cat? He’s hiding like there are kidnappers in the house, or is trying to bolt from the premises. And you might notice that he’s not eating. But that’s not all. Another thing that bothers your animal friends is the change in their exercise routine. They’ve likely been burning a ton of energy playing with the family members who are home during those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. But that changes, too, as quickly as the school bus pulls away. This can throw your pets off balance as well. Luckily, there are things we can do to prepare our pets before the big day comes…and ends the world as they know it. To begin with, help your furry friends ease into the transition. Start a week or two before School Day 1 and leave the puppy home alone in ever-increasing increments. If you notice destructive behaviors are occurring during that time—or if the potty habits are altered in an “I-gotta-clean-THIS-up-now?” sort of way—it might be time to phase in some crate training. New toys can also help, as can setting up a special resting zone in front of a window so your buddy can watch what’s going on outside. For pets who prefer a life of solitude, a comfortable spot can be made manifest in a favorite room. As to the exercise? Well, make a commitment to prioritize your playtime together with your animal companions when you get home (just don’t forget to do your homework). This will go a long way toward helping them to adjust to this “new normal”…until school lets out again in a mere ten months. The tips above will help most pets make peace with their new schedule. But there are some who won’t be able to adjust so smoothly. If that’s the case with yours, don’t worry. Get in touch with us, because there are some medical steps we can take to help make this time of transition as easy as possible for everyone concerned. Oh, and I just remembered—glue sticks! Don’t forget the glue sticks. DID YOU KNOW….? September 26-30, 2023, is National Deaf Dog Awareness Week! That’s correct. According to www.nationaltoday.com, the week is meant to “Celebrate these special dogs and learn more about adoption and training.” During the week, the hope is that folks will:
1. Consider adopting a deaf dog…
2. Go to the dog park, chat with other pet owners, and make them aware…
3. Make a donation to a local shelter. It’s also an ideal time to become familiar with the signs that your doggie may be experiencing hearing loss.
These include:
1. He doesn’t seem to react to loud noises…
2. She may try to bite you if you surprise her…
3. He barks a lot, which may mean he can’t hear himself…
4. She suffers from ear pain and/or ear infections a lot…
5. He’s of a breed prone to deafness (like Dalmatians, for example). If you think your dog might be losing her hearing, get in touch with us. We’ll check her out and discuss options with you so that she can live her best life. Animal Hospital Of Sullivan County Dr Barbara J Bodolosky 667 Harris Rd Ferndale NY 12734 (845) 292-6711 www.ahofsc.co