Stop your pet from feeling sad

Published on Saturday 10 January 2009 09:52

NOW the festive season is over for another year, we're all feeling a bit down in the dumps. But it's not just humans that suffer this time of year – our four-legged friends sometimes want to hide away or curl up in the corner.

Leading veterinary charity PDSA is warning pet owners that last year's poor summer, the darker nights, terrible weather and freezing temperatures could result in our pets suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), just like people do.

A PDSA survey shows that one in three dog owners see a considerable difference in their furry friend's temperament during the winter, noting that they seem to become subdued and less playful.

Pets can suffer from depression, and PDSA believes it might also be possible for them to show signs of the human disorder, SAD, which include fatigue, alterations in the hours slept and decreased levels of activity.

The survey of pet owners also revealed that owners felt that over half of dogs slept for longer and more often in the winter months, and around two in five dogs were less active, losing interest in walks.

And it's not just dogs that are affected by the season change; one in three cat owners also stated that their pet seemed "downbeat" and less playful during winter.

PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury, says: "The cause of SAD in people is thought to be linked to the levels of melatonin in the body.

"More melatonin is produced when it is dark, which is why it is also called 'the hormone of darkness'. When this hormone is released into the bloodstream it is thought to make us drowsy and a little down in the dumps.

"If this applies to pets too, the recent poor summers, together with the current dark nights, could certainly have an impact on their mood. So, owners need to kick-start their pet's winter health routine with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet."

Elaine adds: "Of course, the change in our pets' mood may be simply due to the cold weather and fewer opportunities to stretch their legs outside, but diet and exercise can play a big part in perking up your pet. Even if you can't go out, there are various indoor games that you can play together."

PDSA's tips to help you lift your pet's mood:

&#149 Hide and seek: Hide your pet's favourite toy and encourage them to sniff it out or make your dog work for some of their food by putting it in an activity toy.

&#149 Name calling: Using a group of friends, get them to call your dog individually and praise him when he goes to the correct "caller".

&#149 Chase games: Games that encourage chasing, stalking and pouncing are great for cats. Cat-safe balls and fishing rod-type toys are perfect.

&#149 Boxes of fun: Boxes can be used in many ways to provide entertainment for your cat, dog or rabbits. Why not create tunnels using lots of boxes for your pet to run in and out of?

PDSA Stuart McMorrow answers your questions

Q My 14-year-old cat seems to have lost a lot of weight lately. He is so thin that I can feel all of his bones, back, ribs and hips. He looks for food but doesn't seem to want to eat it all when he gets it. Is this normal for an elderly cat? Sharon

A Signs like these are quite common in older cats and there are a few different possible causes. These include an overactive thyroid gland, kidney disease and diabetes. Alternatively, your cat may have problems with his teeth – meaning that he has a good appetite, but eating is too painful so he's stopped trying.

You should take your cat to your vet so that they can investigate the likely cause. The vet will do a thorough examination and might suggest taking a blood sample to help make the diagnosis.

There are options for treating several of these conditions to help improve your cat's quality of life and your vet will be able to tell you what these options might be in your cat's case. Depending on his condition, he may never fully recover but the important thing is at least to allow him to be comfortable. If he's too unwell, and there are no treatment options, then your vet might suggest putting him to sleep as the kindest thing for him.

Q Our dog Bree has been drinking a lot recently and passing a lot of urine. She's also been sick a few times. Is this something I should be concerned about? Belinda

A The signs that you describe can be signs of lots of different possible medical conditions, some of which are more serious than others. These include conditions like diabetes, liver or kidney disease, cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) and pyometra (infection of the uterus).

A condition like cystitis can usually be treated with a course of antibiotics, whereas diabetes may require lifelong daily insulin injections and can lead to weight loss, vomiting and even blindness if left untreated. Pyometra is also serious and can quickly become life-threatening if left untreated.

I would therefore strongly recommend that you take your dog to visit your vet as soon as possible. They will do a full examination of her, and might suggest taking a blood and urine sample to help make the diagnosis.

Q My rabbit's top teeth have broken. Will they grow back? Hannah

A A rabbit's teeth, unlike human teeth, grow continuously throughout their life, so depending where the teeth have been damaged they should grow back.

A complication might occur if the damage causes the teeth to re-grow at an unusual angle.

You should therefore get your rabbit checked by your vet, to check that this isn't happening.