If You're Stressed Out, So Are Your Pets

By Ruth Klein
In this high-stress world, your pets can be stressed-out, too. Take care of your pets with these seven easy steps.

1. Don't let your stress become contagious: Because stress is infectious, and your precious pal will reflect your stress. It's important to calm yourself down if you feel stressed or angry before you approach your pet, so either take a few deep breaths or go for a walk to become more calm.

2. Pay Attention: Pay attention to your pet's behavior or symptoms to recognize when your pet is feeling stressed. During your pet's next checkup, ask your veterinarian what to look for, and follow your vet's recommendations. Ignoring stress symptoms can lead to expensive ailments down the road. Be proactive.

3. Be Loving: Even in today's fast-paced, over-worked society, even a few minutes spent loving and paying attention to your pet can be so rewarding. Just as stress is contagious, so is affection. You'll have a less-stressed pet and a less stressed you. So, use some extra time each day to show him how you care for him.

4. Play: Unwind from your stressful day with a few minutes spent just playing with your pet. Combine your need to exercise with caring for your dog by taking your dog for short walks before and after work, or before and after taking your children to school or other activities.

5. Integrate: Don't think of your pet as just one more in a dozen of multi-tasking chores you face each day. Make attending one-on-one with your pet part of your schedule every day. While you are preparing a healthy meal for you and your family or friends, prepare nutritious pet food and replace your pet's water dish with fresh water. Your pet is your friend, not an obligation.

6. Delegate: Arrange for a trusted friend, family member or even pet sitter to care for your pet on days when you work late, have multiple activities or have to be away on a trip. Write down precise instructions that include emergency numbers for your veterinarian or a local pet care clinic with 24-hour availability. Anticipate stress events by preparing a to-do list if your pet becomes ill, becomes stressed or suffers from separation anxiety. Keep this data where you can get to it easily and find it easy to review and stick with.

7. Relax: Nobody's perfect and that includes pet owners. Don't aim to do everything; just strive to do your best. It's important to be forgiving if you haven't paid enough attention to your pet on a certain day due to your own restraints. Forgiving yourself out loud, in fact, is a wonderful stress reducer. Once you become more harmonious, that will shadow forth in your pet, and then you'll feel even better, and he will too...It's a round robin.