healthy pet Pavel Mihok, DVM
In addition to Rescue Remedy, phero- Pet Behavior During Seasonal Changes
in dogs and cats. Thunderstorms can cause anxiety – from their perception it could be the end of the world. They panic and try to hide. Some dogs might take shelter in a closet, or in a bathtub. Digestion could be affected as well – resulting in soft stool, excessive gas, and a noisy/colicky stomach. In cats there is an increased incidence of urinary tract infections and even blockages by mucous, crystals, or stones. This could end up needing emergency care.
H
ow does the change of seasons affect your pet? A change in baro- metric pressure can be quite stressful
What can we do to ease these symp- toms and alleviate the stress? One choice would be Rescue Remedy. When using Rescue Remedy, in addition to drops in the mouth, you might try applying it by holding the remedy two to three feet over the body and allowing the drops to fall towards the body, through the auric field. Do this over the neck area, mid back, and base of tail. You could also use a spray in this way, taking care to avoid the head and eyes. This method is particularly useful with pets that resist oral
applications.By traveling through the air over the body, the aura is cleansed, and a more powerful calming effect is achieved.
mones may be helpful. In dogs, an appeas- ing pheromone is produced by the bitch when she has puppies. This calms the pup- pies when she is around. These pheromones have been isolated and are available in different applications (collars, sprays, diffus- ers). Some individuals are very responsive to these pheromones in stressful situations such as storms, separation or travel anxiety, and visits to the vet. Another technique that can be help- ful for dogs is to apply deep pressure over the shoulders and major joints. This is like a calming hug. The same effect can be achieved by using commercially available thunder wraps or anxiety suits. Similar tech- niques are being used with great success for autistic children. Temple Grandin, PhD, is autistic herself and describes the use of these techniques for humans and animals in her book, “Animals in Translation.” Sudden behavioral changes in dogs – aggression, anxiety, seizures – could be linked to thyroid gland imbalances. Thyroid conditions can be triggered by food sen- sitivities or a reaction to a recent vaccine. To determine if this is the case, blood work should be done to assess the thyroid hor- mone levels, including thyroglobulin auto- antibodies. If this is indeed the issue, then thyroid medication and supplementation is required. Behavioral changes can also be linked to poor digestion. The same chemicals that calm the brain are involved in the smooth
30 Natural Nutmeg
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