Dr. Maro: Prepare pets for autumn and the back

Aug 21, 2023

Pets, like people, are affected by changes in routines.

Humans can usually adapt to those changes, because they understand the why when routines change, and they can plan for variations in schedules.

Pets cannot, and they are often left anxious, confused, bored and lonely when they receive less interaction, fewer walks and more time alone as kids go back to school and fall schedules get busier.

Pet owners can help their four-legged friends adapt to back-to-school schedule changes and the shorter days by planning ahead and easing pets into the time when kids aren’t around to give them treats, hugs, extra walks and play-time.

Effective ways to decrease boredom and help your pet cope with time apart from the pack or pride:

New research shows that an effective treatment for anxiety is exercise. Exercise is a lot cheaper and healthier for both pets and owners and it helps prevent weight gain, boredom and anxiety. This applies to all animals, including humans. When days grow shorter and your family is away from pets more often, be sure to increase pets’ physical exercise time on a daily basis.

Exercise is even best if it occurs at the same time, includes bursts of running and vigorous exercise appropriate to your pet’s age and physical condition and includes mental challenges with a variety of activities. This translates to:

Dr. Cynthia Maro is a veterinarian at the Ellwood Animal Hospital in Ellwood City and the Chippewa Animal Hospital in Chippewa Township. She writes a biweekly column on pet care and health issues. If you have a topic you’d like to have addressed, email [email protected].