Stress in pets is real and it can seriously affect how they are nourished. Chronic stress could lead to many negative outcomes with malnutrition and digestive disorders high on the list.

Background

All caring pet owners have noticed that their pets’ behaviour can change dramatically for the worse when they’re exposed to certain influences. Sometimes these originate from obvious sources but others can be more mysterious. A common example is your cat or dog’s fear response when confronted with a potential danger. This produces an immediate instinctive reaction that will probably pass as soon as the sensed risk diminishes. Recovery takes much longer when the animal is frequently exposed to the same fear stimulus. This type of behaviour modification could lead to profound character changes. A happy, friendly pooch could become aggressive and a moggy that was outgoing and affectionate could become withdrawn or anxious.

SOURCES OF STRESS

These are the main stress vectors and how they are introduced into your pet’s life.

• Physical –pain, accidents, trauma, over-exertion.
• Biological –viruses, bacteria, parasites, mould.
• Environmental –allergens, noise, other pollutants, heat or cold.
• Psychological – fear, depression, anxiety, trauma.
• Consumable – poorly formulated and highly processed foods, eating too much or too little, thirst.
• Chemical – toxic dusts and fumes, pesticides, herbicides, exposure to heavy metals.

UNDERSTANDING STRESS

Apart from the factors mentioned before, when a pet has to learn a new behaviour, such as dealing with unfamiliar surroundings, people, or animals, different parts of the brain are activated. The problem-solving part of the pet’s brain is the cerebral cortex. Also housed here is the limbic system which regulates a dog’s or cat’s emotional state. Particularly, when a dog is highly aroused, owners will often experience difficulties, such as it not obeying when being restrained. This is often interpreted as disobedience or a dominance display and may elicit an inappropriate response from the carer, thus adding to the problem.

STRESS AND THE HORMONAL SYSTEM

Under these conditions, cortisol, known as the stress hormone, is raised above the normal level and this increases adrenaline production. The consequences can be a weakened immune system which introduces risks of gastrointestinal and skin conditions while the blood pressure goes up, potentially contributing to heart and circulatory problems.

TACKLING STRESS

To help your pet manage stress there are a few steps you should follow to identify the source and deal with the effects. Take note of the circumstances when the pet appears stressed.

• Are there specific environmental factors involved e.g., loud noises or being kept in a small space?
• What physiological aspects play a role e.g., is the pet sick or suffering from some affliction or other?

Knowing what these triggers are will help you and your pet deal with stress when it happens and better still, avoid it as much as possible.

THE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON DIGESTION

Stress impacts on the brain and also the digestive tract due to the large number of nerves connecting them.

A stressed pet’s intestines will experience increased nerve activity. Blood may be withdrawn from the gastric functions toward the muscles, heart, eyes, and ears in preparation for either fight or flight.

This is all due to the urgent messages crisscrossing the sympathetic nervous system, which trigger these and other reactions:

• Pupils are dilated for better vision.
• Saliva is reduced.
• Bronchia in the lungs are opened up for better oxygen distribution.
• Heart rate goes up.
• Functions of the digestive system are restricted.
• The bladder relaxes.
• Cats could wail while dogs may whimper.

Depending on how powerful the external stimulus is, this confusion of signals can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite.

Much of your pet’s immune system originates in the intestinal tract. This means that when gastric problems arise because of stress, both their digestion and their body’s ability to ward off viruses and diseases becomes compromised.

Last thoughts

Not all stress is harmful. Good stress can include adventurous exercise, overcoming challenges, e.g., learning new tasks and skills, etc. Remember though that physiologically the same responses arise, so it’s advisable to be aware of how much your pet can comfortably manage.

Dogs’ ears are highly vulnerable to infections and pests.

The good old-fashioned advice that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure applies very much to this aspect of canine care. One of the primary sources of irritation and subsequent infections is Otodectes cynotis, the ear mite.

MITES

This critter is an almost invisibly small (less than 2 mm) parasite that inhabits the ear canals and the surrounding skin. Fortunately, they choose to live on the skin surface where they find their food and, unlike several other mite species, do not penetrate the skin. Nonetheless, they make their presence known by causing the poor pup endless misery from the itching and other irritations.

If you notice your dog pawing at his ears or shaking his head frequently, it may be an ear mite infestation that needs attention. Luckily, treatment is simple, safe, and easily obtained. Your local veterinarian or pet shop will have the necessary therapeutics in stock or will know where to get them.

The prevention of ear mite infections requires regular flea and tick prophylactics or an ear cleaning routine with one of the many specially formulated cleansers available in stores or online.

EAR INFECTIONS IN DOGS (OTITIS EXTERNA)

Mites are not the only problems that can affect dogs’ ears. Because they are furry and floppy and have an L-shaped canal that holds moisture, they are perfect traps for every kind of microbe, spore, and germ that cares to find its way in. Of course, dogs have evolved to survive these attacks but often will experience great discomfort. The typical infections are fungal, bacterial, and viral but some are also caused by physical injury to the ear canal or its surrounds. Your healthy mutt is an inveterate and indefatigable investigator, forever sticking its head into bushes and hummocks of grass, which is healthy behaviour. Unhappily, sharp objects ranging from sticks to spiky leaves and twigs can cause abrasions in the ears and these could get infected.

If your dog enjoys swimming, the risk of fluid being trapped in the ear canal is high, and of course, this creates a perfect petri dish for many infection-causing pathogens. These can all result in a condition known as otitis externa, an infection that affects the outer ear canal.

SYMPTOMS

Otitis externa causes redness and swelling, with the ear being hot to the touch and it may be painful. As you’d expect, irritants that affect the ears can seriously discomfort your pet. This manifests in headshaking, pawing at the ears or side of the head, and general irritability. Additionally, there may be a nasty discharge from the ear canal.

MEDICATION

Thankfully, there are several remedies readily available ranging from disinfectants to anti-microbial and anti-fungal medications. But the best care starts with an inspection to determine the most likely cause. If the symptoms are extreme it’s only sensible to pay your veterinarian a visit immediately. But milder ones can be treated at home. If they haven’t cleared up within a day or three don’t delay the trip any longer. Ear infections may require antibiotics to rid your pet of the underlying causes.

PROGNOSIS

With as many as one in five dogs contracting some form of ear disease, these afflictions are not uncommon. Dealing with them is a routine medical procedure and, like taking care of dental health, doing so promptly and regularly helps avoid worse complications later.

Prevention is key

It’s a good idea to learn how to clean your dog’s ears safely. This involves knowing what to do and being confident about it. You will require a fluid e.g., a saline solution or a similar over-the-counter product. Ensuring that your pup can’t shake her way out of your grip, gently fill the ear canal with the solution and then massage the base of the ear. If there is internal buildup, it should start loosening and you may hear or feel the change in consistency. Using a piece of cotton wool, probe the ear to absorb the fluids and pick out the solids and then wipe the ear with a dog-friendly disinfectant. It’s advisable not to use a cotton bud or other rigid object because it could cause an injury if the dog reacts with a vigorous headshake.

Doing this consistently will prevent unhappy outcomes, as well as strengthen the bond between you and your beloved pet.

Any owner who has dealt with a pet’s sudden unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea will understand that this is a stressful experience for everyone involved.

The two main causes of such symptoms, poisoning and gastrointestinal (GI) illness are frightening and upsetting. In this article, we’ll discuss GI in more detail because it is the more common.

Our pets’ body plans, especially their digestive tracts, are highly similar to ours. Without going into detail on the purpose and function of the various organs, it’s sufficient to note that all must operate in perfect unison to ensure peak health.

COMMON TYPES OF GI DISEASES

Gastrointestinal diseases that can affect the stomach, intestines, and other organs are fairly common in pets, but they can be difficult to detect early. Usually, they are only noticed once they’ve caused a variety of symptoms from loss of appetite to diarrhoea and vomiting.

The GI diseases most common among pets are pancreatitis, gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), and inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease: This is an inflammation of the digestive tract that can induce dramatic weight loss following uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhoea.

Pancreatitis: When the pancreas becomes inflamed this condition can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and vomiting.

GDV: This causes severe pain and occurs when the stomach becomes twisted. The condition often requires urgent surgery.

REPORTING TO YOUR VETERINARIAN

As a caring pet parent, you’ll quickly notice changes in your pet’s appetite or normal gastrointestinal signs e.g., abdominal swelling or pain. In such cases, without being over-anxious, it’s wise to contact your veterinarian for an early diagnosis and initial treatment. In the event that an illness is found, this should mitigate damage to your pet’s digestive system and hasten recovery.

Once at the veterinarian, you’ll be asked about your pet’s symptoms. It’s important that you provide the required details as accurately as possible. In such situations, the owner’s description of the patient’s clinical signs can sometimes be misleading. To help the process along either the veterinarian or her technical assistant will follow a structured Q & A approach to reach the correct diagnosis.

DIAGNOSIS

The first step is usually obtaining comprehensive and accurate history to identify where in the digestive tract the disease is located since this is critical in developing the diagnostic plan.

Other questions will be more specific and relate to the signalment the owner has observed. One may be asked whether food has been jettisoned from the mouth before swallowing. This is known as dysphagia and is typical of mouth or gullet diseases. Or you may have noticed that the food has been swallowed but is regurgitated soon after without being digested.

Here are some of the other indicators you will be asked about:

• When the food is expelled, is it sudden?
• Are there usually heaving motions before regurgitation and gagging sounds afterwards?
• When did these episodes start, how many have there been, and when do they happen?
• Has the diet changed and if so, how?
• Has another veterinarian prescribed treatment and medications for this problem before and how did the pet respond to the medicine?
• Has there been weight loss while still eating well or weight loss associated with a poor appetite?

If the symptoms or their descriptions are not entirely clear, you may be asked to provide a video of what happens when your pet has an episode. This can be a tremendous aid in getting your cat or dog the urgent help it needs.

MAKING SURE THAT YOUR PET’S DIET IS OPTIMAL

In most cases, early diagnosis and treatment lead to happy outcomes. To promote your pet’s GI health your veterinarian could recommend a particular nutritional approach. This will always depend on factors like your dog or cat’s age, breed, size, activity profile, and whether its neutered or intact. Whatever you decide to do, ensure that you choose the eating plan that best suits your pet’s specific needs.