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10 warning signs of pet hoarding—and how to help Most pet hoarders fall into one of three categories—and everything else you always wanted to know about this mental illness.
Pet hoarding is now a bonafide mental illness. The bible for psychiatrists, DSM Manual (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), indeed lists hoarding and the sub-category of pet or animal hoarding as unique mental illnesses. The disorder is defined as keeping an unusual number of pets without possessing the ability to properly house or care for them, while simultaneously denying this inability. Interestingly, hoarding is not considered a symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder or obsessive compulsive personality disorder anymore — it is now ranked among compulsive spectrum disorders. Anyone can become a pet hoarder, but statistically, most are female, half are over age 60, and most live alone. But, do…
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Prozac for pets grows in popularity… How sad is that? One in seven dogs has an anxiety disorder that has been treated by a veterinarian.
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3 ways to ease your dog’s anxiety
Dogs are people too. And like people, they feel happiness, sorrow, and pain. Another thing that they constantly feel is anxiety. Despite their bouncy and resilient characters, dogs can easily get anxious and stressed when faced with certain situations. There are telltale signs that your pet is distressed, such as trembling, whimpering, yawning, tucking in their tail, or trying to make themselves look small. Dogs can also display destructive behavior when they get antsy or bored. If your dog does any of the things mentioned, know that they’re not reacting that way for no reason. To help ease their anxiety, you must first determine the source of it and provide…
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20 dog behaviors and what they really mean
Dogs are highly social animals and have a rich body language they use to great effect. We can eavesdrop on what a dog is really trying to tell us by knowing a little bit about how dogs behave when they are relaxed, happy, nervous, frustrated, angry, and so on. Want to know what your dog actually tells you? Then check out these 20 dog behaviors and what they really mean (and enjoy the cute pics!): 1. Barking And More Barking By their very nature, dogs bark to raise an alarm of possible danger. It also serves as a means of communication among canines. However, when dogs bark incessantly, it may…
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This is why your cat won’t stop knocking shit off the table It's not because they hate you. Well, not ONLY that.
I love my cats tremendously. They’re all adopted and all very special little snowflakes. I often wonder out loud how in the world anyone ever walked away from them at the shelter. Then one of them swats my chapstick off the table and watches it roll under the refrigerator with ZERO emotion, and I think “Oh, now I get it.” To say that cats enjoy knocking shit off of tables, bookshelves, and counter tops is a severe understatement. They absolutely LIVE for it. They’re addicted to it like Donald Trump is addicted to his fake hair. Once they spot something that isn’t nailed down, it’s like they turn into zombies–MUST.…
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Is your cat depressed? Cats can also get depressed, but it can be harder to spot because they already sleep a lot. Here's how to spot cat depression.
Can cats get depressed? Absolutely. Just like humans, cats can suffer from depression and for many of the same reasons: moving, changes in routine, boredom, excessive fighting by household members, and loss of another household pet or human. The most common cause of depression in cats is the loss of a companion. Depression in cats, however, can be less noticeable because they already are relatively subdued and sleep a lot. The primarily red flags are changes in normal behavior. Cat depression signs According to a feline experts including the Humane Society, the key signs of cat depression include: Hiding or avoiding humans & other pets Lack of grooming Lethargy Lack of appetite…
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5 simple ways to make your cat happier Some simple changes you can make that will help give kitty the stimulation she needs for a rich and happy life.
Feeling guilty because you haven’t done much for your cat in several months — or longer? There’s a common misconception that cats are self-reliant, that they don’t need anything special to be content. I’m here to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you take a little time to enrich your cat’s environment, I guarantee you’ll have a happier cat — and a less guilty conscience. There are some very simple changes you can make to your home and your daily routine that will help give kitty the stimulation she needs to keep her entertained while you’re away and promote bonding while you’re together. And you don’t have to spend a fortune to do…
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Prozac for pets grows in popularity… How sad is that? One in seven dogs has an anxiety disorder that has been treated by a veterinarian.
When my dog, Sanchez, was recovering from a slipped disc in his neck, for a short time he was on some of the same medication that my mother takes for her back pain — gabapentin and tramadol. Fortunately, his acupuncture treatment was very successful at relieving his pain, and he was off of drugs pretty quickly. In addition to pharmaceutical drugs, psychiatric drugs have also grown in popularity for the 4-legged population. An in depth article in Salon reported the results of a survey taken of insured Americans: “One in five adults is currently taking at least one psychiatric drug. Americans spent more than $16 billion on antipsychotics, $11 billion on antidepressants and $7 billion on…
