Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Silvia Maldonado — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 11:59:32 GMT

Another cat's opinion

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Jennifer Whybrow — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 10:31:31 GMT

Just realised what happened here and thought worth sharing in case a factor affecting litter tray usage is related to scents or chemical usage in the home environment. Loo cleaner and other cleaning products (well there was a bit of panic buying in Romford after deaths started at hospital) meant bought a scented one. Pongs awfully and possibly accounts for some of bh changes as upset cats. The obvious can be hard to recognise sometimes. Male cat appears to have reduced sense of smell at mo, and no rhinitis or blocked noses been present. Good luck everyone.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Silvia Maldonado — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 20:59:28 GMT

Interesting article on the BBC today: Coronavirus lockdown, How are our pets coping with us?

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Jennifer Whybrow — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 09:40:11 GMT

How on earth did you get him/her to pose like that?

Are there any documented reports of carer fatigue in comfort cats (or ptsd in cats) that anyone knows of?

Is anyone currently investigating if felines are susceptible to sars-cov-2 infection and seroconversion?

Could dysuria be caused by decreased food and water as ad lib feeding of dry food is so common in a multicat household it might be missed if a cat is slightly inappetent, especially if owner themselves has shortness of breath and fatigue.

Jenny Bristol 87, Edinburgh 9?

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Silvia Maldonado — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 08:43:54 GMT

And this is what some cats must be thinking by now...

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Anthony Todd — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 12:10:32 GMT

[quote userid="17944" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29004/any-else-giving-advice-re-lots-of-stress-related-conditions-in-animals/221419"]OK I have 2 and one has shown signs of dehydration.[/quote]

Surely just lack of access to water? Can't get outside, [fish pond etc .]loo door shut, water source restricted: flower pots dry??

PS [forgot] too many changes to "fresh" chlorinated water versus old better tasting "stale" water!!

PSS frequent flushing of loo, giving 'orrible fresh chlorinated water [loo water is like wine, improves with age to a cat.....]

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Jennifer Whybrow — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 23:36:20 GMT

[quote userid="16901" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29004/any-else-giving-advice-re-lots-of-stress-related-conditions-in-animals/221428"]Seems to be with clients who are usually out at work all day but are now home all the time.[/quote]

Do you think we should be teaching people how to play appropriately with their cats and to respect their privacy too? Playing with the cat would decrease the owner stress which might impact the cat positively.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

michelle anderson — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 21:41:45 GMT

I think you're right about the upsurge in dysuric cats. Seems to be with clients who are usually out at work all day but are now home all the time.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Jennifer Whybrow — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:06:54 GMT

[quote userid="7811" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29004/any-else-giving-advice-re-lots-of-stress-related-conditions-in-animals/221379"]Another blocked cat today, lots of things "screaming in pain" that suddenly stop when we get them in here (away from their owners??). Colitis, off food, these poor animals seem to be stressed to hell! Also get the feeling bored owners looking for a bit of drama and excitement, which is making me a little cross. [/quote]

OK I have 2 and one has shown signs of dehydration. Have their owners been off colour or ill? Might be worth asking.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Jennifer Whybrow — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:04:20 GMT

[quote userid="12670" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29004/any-else-giving-advice-re-lots-of-stress-related-conditions-in-animals/221414"]Yes, your cat is probably wondering why are you spending so much time lately in his house.[/quote]

No not at all. He's not like that. Anyway he enjoyed the tuna and porridge and is a bit less dehydrated now. I liked your photo.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Silvia Maldonado — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:32:25 GMT

The cats are fed up we spend more time in their property, and the owners are bored. We spend more time with them as well as keeping more attention to any issue they may have (harder to miss how long nails are, how bad is his breath, that she is slower, that cough at night, etc)

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Silvia Maldonado — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:23:26 GMT

Yes, your cat is probably wondering why are you spending so much time lately in his house.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Jennifer Whybrow — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 19:01:33 GMT

I can only speak from my own personal experience that cats and horses seem to attune to people. A cat jumped on my bed curled up beside me and purred when I was in a hospitalwhere I had a very close shave. I moved and stroked it and I think it was possibly what saved my life. Please respect it is extremely hard for me to share this but I feel current circumstances warrant this. A cat connected where the humans couldn't. A horse also "worked" with me once. I've read about these things obviously but it's very different when it happens to you. Perhaps the animals sense their owners emotions and are getting stressed out by it. My cats certainly have wanted to try and get me out for a walk and don't understand wy I'm still inside. Making no apology for anthropomorphism it's like they, sorry one of them, is worried about me. 1 cat is a regular cat. Feel free to ask me questions but please be respectful. Jenny if sharing can help then that helps me make sense if my experiences too.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Paul Walden — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 17:33:39 GMT

Hi , We have seen alot more dysuric cats (stress cystitis)reported to us than we would normally see. I also thought that the cats particularly are getting stressed by their owners being around all the time!

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Jennifer Whybrow — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 16:30:45 GMT

[quote userid="5904" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29004/any-else-giving-advice-re-lots-of-stress-related-conditions-in-animals/221348"]I tried before to suggest increasing Derby horses' protein intake with Kit E Kat but without success yet feeding cats only on cereal is now the norm.[/quote]

Ha ha

Me and my cat had porridge and tuna fish for breakfast today. We were both off our food. It tasted OK. He's looking a bit brighter now, even groomed. I have yet to do so but ssh don't tell. Seriously though have suspicion if I did have atypical covid 2 weeks ago then both cats have shown mild (ish) symptoms since. The one that didn't have loose feces is the one being treated to fish at the moment. Off his food and looking a tad dehydrated. No testing so impossible to tell but putting it out there in case so others can be aware.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Stumpy — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 15:47:51 GMT

My dogs behaviour is changed since I have been at home every day. He doesn't seem to be able to relax, constant staring and restlessness waiting for something to happen so we probably are disturbing their routine.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Julie Innes — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 11:42:22 GMT

Another blocked cat today, lots of things "screaming in pain" that suddenly stop when we get them in here (away from their owners??). Colitis, off food, these poor animals seem to be stressed to hell! Also get the feeling bored owners looking for a bit of drama and excitement, which is making me a little cross.

Can't be doing with drama! Having just read a book about Syrian refugees and the things they endured, I have little patience with people whining like toddlers about not being allowed to do exactly what they want and sit on their sofa!

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Anthony Todd — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:37:10 GMT

"10 blocked bladders in the last week"

Probably limited access to water via children torment, noise, or just no access to outdoor sources, [or the loo bowl...] leading to urine concentration and crystal pptation.

Of course it's simple physical chemistry, nothing whatsoever to do with stress, per-se, except the link between diet and/or water intake and thereby urine SG.....

But "stress" is so "now" and fashionable. Far more than just the obvious unnatural diet aided by basic, or better, A level physical chemistry.

The vested interests have smothered any logical investigation and "stress", is so so acceptable.............

I tried before to suggest increasing Derby horses' protein intake with Kit E Kat but without success yet feeding cats only on cereal is now the norm.

Happy to tangent, Arlo, as this diet change, and the money behind it, is worthy of NETFLIX!!

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Virginia Campbell — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 12:08:46 GMT

I'm gonna brush up on my separation anxiety knowledge before everyone goes back to work.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 11:24:49 GMT

[quote userid="3094" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/29004/any-else-giving-advice-re-lots-of-stress-related-conditions-in-animals/221305"]Where is the primary stress occurring here? In the pets or in the owners?[/quote]

Both. I've been dealing with a case the last month where the owner has been keeping an 'observation diary' noting every single thing that the dog does and she is convinced there is something seriously wrong with him. Every time the dog comes in he is so happy and bouncy, and all investigations so far have been normal. Trying to have to explain to the owner that she needs to relax has been difficult!

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Julian Earl — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 10:17:27 GMT

Where is the primary stress occurring here? In the pets or in the owners?

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Joyce Whitehead — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 16:24:33 GMT

I’m sure with cats that the constant presence of small children not going to school may be significant in some houses. Lots more noise and disturbance.

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Julie Innes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:33:53 GMT

I think there is an element of pet owners being more observant and having more time, but a lot of these seem like new/ recent behaviours, which makes me think that David's "cats hate their owners" statement is very possibly true. (made me laugh!) You would have thought dogs would have more pleased to have us all home though! Or even to be dragged out 4 walks a day.

My outdoor-going cats are living their best life right now, sashaying out and in and out and in as it pleases them, almost as if to rub it in..

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:30:29 GMT

Could it be that owners are being generally more observant of their pets ..... Noticing symptoms and behaviours that they usually wouldn't in their busy lives?

RE: Any else giving advice re lots of stress related conditions in animals?

Anthony Todd — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:18:41 GMT

I thought blocked bladders had been totally eliminated by feeding the totally unnatural cereal diet and acidifiers etc.???

Wot? No diabetics??