Summer holidays can be fun for the family, our pets included. It’s the perfect season to make the most of the great outdoors, head out on adventures, or host a BBQ at home.
As much as family fun can be had, it’s important to be mindful that the sudden shift in routine might stress out your pet. PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing shares her top tips for stress-free summer holidays.
How to spot stress in dogs
“In their own way, our dogs give us lots of signals to try to tell us how they’re feeling. Unfortunately, us humans aren’t always good at picking them up or knowing what they mean.
“Signs of stress in dogs include stiff, hunched or tense bodies, turning away when approached or withdrawing from company. They can yawn when they’re not tired or pant when they’re not hot. They may hold their ears back close against their head or try to look away, have a fixed gaze or ‘whale eye’- where they are turning away but looking open eyed at what’s worrying them, showing the whites of their eyes. Some may eat less and have seemingly low energy.
“If your dog is showing any of these signs, they might be feeling stressed so it’s important to take steps to help them. Read the signals they’re showing and change what is happening at that time. If your dog is feeling overcrowded, back away and give them space to relax or allow them to move to a safe space where they feel more comfortable. If they are somewhere that makes them feel worried, take them outside or into a different room. If you don’t act, your dog’s stress could lead them to show more severe signs of stress, including growling or aggression.
Spotting stress in cats
“Cats don’t communicate with each other, or people, in the same way as dogs so it can sometimes be difficult to tell if your cat is stressed or anxious, but they do try to communicate with us using their body language.
“Signs of stress in cats include hiding, stiff or tense bodies, wide eyes with dilated pupils, standing with an arched back or they can be flattened to the ground, so they look as small as possible, a puffed tail or a twitching or swishing tail from side to side, eating less or not eating and either peeing outside of the litter tray or uncharacteristically peeing inside the house.
“If these milder signs are ignored your cat could become even more stressed and may then start hissing, swiping or pouncing.
“Left without help, cats can become stressed, anxious and unhappy, which can even lead to health conditions such as stress cystitis. If you think your cat is nervous or stressed, it’s really important to get advice from your vet to try to help them feel calmer and more comfortable. There are things that you can do at home to help them, such as making sure they have enough resources, so they don’t need to share space or facilities with other pets. Make sure they have a place to hide away too – they usually like a safe ledge high up.
Small pet stress
“Our small pets can feel stressed just as much as cats and dogs, but the signs they show can be even more difficult to detect. As many small pets are prey animals, they will hide signs of illness or stress, so it’s important that we try and remove the stresses that worry them as best we can.
“Wash your hands before handling your small pets, especially if you’ve just been stroking your other pets as the scent will worry them. Make sure they live in an environment where they can display natural behaviours and that they have companions if they are social animals. Signs like low energy, eating less and hiding can be related to stress, which shouldn’t be underestimated as stress can cause physical ill health, so we would recommend that you have them checked by your vet if displaying these signs.”
Top tips for stress-free summer holidays
- Time alone – it’s important all pets have a comfortable ‘safe space’ to retreat to where they will be undisturbed should they need to. Pets also need to get plenty of sleep during the day, so they need a space where they can do this in peace, away from the hustle and bustle of the household.
- Keep to your normal routines – making sure your sleep schedule, as well as your pets feeding, and exercise routines don’t vary too much day to day.
- Spend quality time with them – As we get busier, it can be easy to forget to prioritise spending time focused on our pets no matter how much we love them. When you are home, try to give your pet your full attention for a while.
- Car travel can be stressful for pets, especially if they haven’t been used to travelling as much before the holidays. Be sure to take a few shorter car trips to check your pet is happy in the car, before setting off on a long trip.
More information can be found on PDSA’s website: pdsa.org.uk
