Stress and our pets: why is it important to know your pet's behavior norm?

🐾 Every pet owner knows that not only people, but also animals can be stressed. On the Internet you can find a lot of advice on how to help your pet cope with the symptoms of stress, and even which medications should be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy. However, you should not blindly trust all the recommendations you find.

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To date, animal stress has not been given a universally accepted precise def- inition. The term stress is very general, and is used quite loosely by various scientists and in everyday speech by the layman. The divergent definitions are unfortunate, leading to confusion ("Animal stress and strain: Definition and measurements", M.K. Yousef).

Indeed, if you search, you can find many definitions of the word “stress.” Understanding all these concepts is quite difficult. Moreover, it becomes clear what consequences can result from paying attention to the advice of Internet experts about which medications should be given in which case. So we turned to a professional for help to find out what we mean by stress, and in what cases you can cope with the problem on your own, and when it’s time to go to a specialist.

Alexandra Multanovskaya (Instagram @akoteyko). Veterinarian with primary specialization in the treatment of birds, also treats exotic animals and a bit cats and dogs. Additionally she is engaged in zoopsychology. Graduated from SPSUVM, worked in Russia and Montenegro. Now she has moved to Portugal and is in the process of confirming her diploma.

Let's define what we mean by the definition of “stress”? Does it have “types”? If so, which ones?

— There are many definitions, but I like the following: this is the body’s response to any external or internal stimulus that requires adaptation or reaction. Stress can be divided into two types: negative (distress) and positive (eustress). These types, in turn, can be divided into different classifications. For example, by type of impact: physiological, psychological, behavioral, emotional, and so on. For example, training exercises for a dog can be either negative stress (when we overload the animal with tasks, demanding from it something that it does not yet know how to do), or positive stress, where the dog is trained correctly and is motivated to follow commands.

Could you give examples of correct and incorrect training of a dog using the example of one command?

— Let’s look at the example of the “Sit” command:

Proper training

Hold a treat in front of your dog's nose so that he pays attention to it.
Raise the treat above your dog's head. Usually, when following a treat, a dog will automatically sit up to see it better. Command and praise: As soon as the dog begins to sit, say clearly and confidently: “Sit.” As soon as your dog sits, immediately give them a treat and praise (verbally or with petting). Repetition and reinforcement: Repeat this process several times per session. Training should be short but frequent to maintain interest and not tire the dog.

Advantages of the correct method:

Positive reinforcement: Treats and praise create a positive association with following a command.
Stress-free: This approach minimizes the dog's stress and fear, making the learning process enjoyable for both dog and owner.
Effective: Repetition and positive reinforcement speed up the learning process and help reinforce skills.

Incorrect training

Examples of errors:

Use of physical force.

Forcing a dog to sit by pressing on its hindquarters can make the dog feel uncomfortable or afraid. Inconsistency:

If you use different words or gestures for the same command, the dog will be confused and slow to learn. Lack of praise:

Not providing rewards or praise for correctly following a command reduces the dog's motivation. Penalty for mistakes:

If a dog does not immediately follow a command or does something incorrectly, punishment only increases stress and impairs the learning process. Consequences of the wrong method:
Fear and Stress: Physical coercion and punishment can cause fear and stress, which can negatively impact a dog's learning and overall behavior.
Mistrust: The dog may begin to fear the owner, which will destroy the trusting relationship between them.
Slow learning: Inconsistency and lack of praise slow down the learning process and make it less effective.

In what situations are animals most likely to be stressed?

— First of all, an animal experiences stress when its species-typical needs are not met (species-typical behavior is the actions of an animal that are characteristic of its species, the behavior that it would demonstrate in life in the wild, that is absolutely normal for it, however on the part of the owner is often met with misunderstanding - approx.).

For example, it is not species typical for dogs to defecate in the house. To do this they must go outside. Dogs should also sniff a lot during a walk, as this is their species-typical behavior. But some dog owners believe that absorbent pee pads can completely replace a walk, and a constantly taut short leash during a walk protects the dog from sniffing something “harmful.” Let's look at another example. For birds, like parrots, the main need is to be with their relatives. Most people buy parrots to teach them to talk. But imitation of human speech is precisely a consequence of an unfulfilled need to communicate with one’s own kind. In second place, we can consider other stresses, such as a sudden move, a trip to the veterinarian, etc. These are one-time shocks. And unmet needs last for years and turn into chronic stress with the ensuing complications. Most often, this leads to aggression, excessive vocalization, the inability to stay at home alone, health problems such as gastritis or cystitis, and pathological neophobia (fear of everything new).

What are the symptoms of stress in animals?

— To distinguish the symptoms of stress, we must know the norm for a particular type of animal. That is, how this or that animal species normally behaves. Often people have difficulty even understanding the norms of behavior of dogs and cats, let alone more exotic species of animals. But I will try to write general ones that can arise in any species:

Physical symptoms

Changes in appetite: loss of appetite or, conversely, overeating.
Digestive problems: diarrhea, vomiting or constipation.
Weight change: weight loss or gain for no apparent reason.
Changes in coat/fur and skin: excessive shedding, bald patches, skin irritations.
Frequent urination or defecation: urinating or defecating in inappropriate places.
Tremors or shaking: body tremors, shaking or convulsions.

Behavioral symptoms

Change in activity level: excessive activity or, conversely, apathy and decreased activity.
Aggressive behavior: increased aggression towards people or other animals.
Isolation and avoidance of contact: moving to secluded places, avoiding contact with people or other animals.
Changes in vocalization: excessive barking, meowing or other sounds that are not typical for the animal.
Compulsive behavior: frequent licking, chewing or other repetitive behavior.
Destructive behavior: destruction of furniture, things or territory.

Social symptoms

Changes in social interaction: aggression or avoidance of other animals or people.
Changes in gaming activity: refusal to play or, conversely, an obsessive desire to play.

Physiological symptoms

Changes in breathing and heartbeat: rapid breathing, tachycardia.
Decreased immunity: increased susceptibility to infections and diseases.

Psychological symptoms

Anxiety and fear, signs of restlessness, panic, nervousness.

Depressive symptoms

Lack of interest in the outside world, apathy, loss of interest in previously favorite activities.

In any of these cases, you should consult a veterinarian to rule out health problems and not worsen the animal’s condition.

In what cases can you help yourself and how?

— It's a difficult question. To begin with, to see if you can help on your own, it is important to research information about your animal's normal behavior. If you have cats or dogs, this is not so hard. With exotic pets things are more difficult. But if you look at it as a whole, you won’t find a single pet with normal behavior at home. Let's look at the example of parrots. Often people put them in a cage, give them some grain, water and a couple of toys. But parrots are not domesticated. They are close to a human for a very short period of time. In the wild, they are constantly in search of food, fly and move a lot. Grain is a seasonal food. They mainly eat greens, branches, leaves, fruits, vegetables, berries, roots, and insects. Parrots are also in constant contact with their relatives. Ideally, you should not have parrots at all, since these birds are not for home. But if you still decide, then you need to understand what you have to do: the constant creation of a varied habitat, conditions for free flight, training, give the opportunity to search and distribute branches, provide a varied diet, plus there must be at least two birds and so on. If the owners do not let the parrot out of the cage, such detention turns into a prison. It is clear that the bird gets stressed in such conditions. It is also necessary to establish the cause of stress. Some problems can drag on for years (for example, separation anxiety, when the animal cannot be left alone), and some resolve after the source of stress is removed (for example, if the animal is afraid of a specific object). In the second case, you can help your pet yourself. In order to relieve an animal of stress, there are certain exercises and techniques. In theory, you can find and study them yourself or by contacting specialists. There are a lot of techniques, and most often they are used individually, adjusted to the situation and the animal.

Could you give an example?

— For example, counterconditioning in animal training. It is a training method that is used to change an animal's negative response to a positive one by associating an undesirable stimulus with a positive experience. This method is often used to reduce fear, aggression or anxiety in animals. For example, a dog experiences fear or aggression at the sight of its other relatives. First you need to define the trigger. In our case, these are other dogs. The second step is to create a positive association: every time the dog sees another dog, it should be offered a treat or play them favorite game. It is important that the positive stimulus is truly desired by the pet. Then you can move on to gradually approaching the trigger (that is, to relatives): starting from a distance at which the dog is not yet showing aggression or fear (for example, the sight of another dog at a distance of 20 meters). You need to gradually reduce the distance to the other dog, while continuing to give treats and praise. There is no need to rush so as not to stress the dog. If the dog begins to react negatively, you need to retreat to a safer distance and continue training. Over time, your dog will begin to associate the sight of other dogs with receiving treats and praise, which will reduce their fear or aggression. Training should be continued until the dog begins to calmly react to other dogs even at close range.

In what cases is it necessary to immediately contact a veterinary clinic?

— As soon as you notice deviations from the norm in your pet’s behavior, you should make an appointment in any case, since illness and poor health are also stressful. If the veterinarian does not find the reason for the change in behavior, then you need to go to a zoopsychologist. But if you have an exotic pet, you will have to look for such a specialist - there is practically no choice. For owners of cats and dogs, finding a zoopsychologist is not a problem. You can also seek help from a behavioral medicine veterinarian.

Is it possible to give your pet any medications on your own without consulting a doctor?

— In no case. It is better to consult a doctor, at least to find the right dosage for your pet. There are meds that are sold freely in veterinary pharmacies. For example Feliway for cats. But this medicine has very conflicting reviews. There are a lot of meds with unproven effectiveness on the market for sedatives for animals (and for people too). I think that first of all you need to find the problem and solve it, and not relieve symptoms with dubious medications.

If you have had experience taking some medicine before, is it possible in a similar situation to prescribe your pet to take the medicine again on your own?

— Yes, sure. But most of these medications are prescription drugs, so you'll still have to visit your veterinarian to get a prescription.

Is stress transmitted from the owner to the pet?

— An understandable and controlled environment is very important for animals. Often, under the influence of stress, a pet owner begins to behave differently, thereby changing them usual way of life. Accordingly, the pet, seeing this, may also begin to experience stress due to the fact that it does not understand what is happening to the human.

Could you recommend types of prevention to prevent stress in a pet?

— I will also give general recommendations on this issue.

Ensuring proper conditions of detention

Comfortable housing: Make sure the pet has a comfortable and safe place to rest and sleep.
Cleanliness and hygiene: Clean the animal's environment regularly to maintain hygiene and prevent disease.

Proper nutrition

Balanced diet: Provide the pet with a high-quality diet appropriate for its age, species and health.
Regular feeding: Maintain a stable feeding schedule to prevent the animal from becoming hungry or overeating.

Physical activity

Daily walks: Regular walks and physical activity are important for dogs. For cats, you can organize play areas with toys.
Games and entertainment: Provide your pet with a variety of toys and games for mental and physical stimulation.

Social interaction

Time with the owner: Spend time with the pet, play and communicate with them. Social interactions are important for maintaining psychological health.
Socialization with other animals: If it is safe and acceptable for a particular animal, provide it with the opportunity to interact with other animals.

Creating a safe environment

Eliminate stressors: Minimize exposure to stressors, such as loud noises, unfamiliar people, or changes in environment.
Quiet place: Make sure the pet has a quiet and calm place where it can go when stressed.

Regular visits to the veterinarian

Preventive examinations: Visit your veterinarian regularly for preventive examinations and vaccinations.
Timely treatment: At the first sign of illness or stress, seek help from a veterinarian.

Education and training

Positive reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement techniques in training and training to avoid stress and create positive associations. Do not use aversive training methods or use dominance theory.
Gradual habituation: introduce new elements into the pet's life gradually so that it can adapt without unnecessary stress.

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