Give Thanks for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

Family fun, tasty food and football. Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving? Your cat or dog. That’s who! Thanksgiving is our chance to eat, relax and catch up with friends and family. But, your furry friend likely isn’t fond of Thanksgiving or any holiday for that matter.

Why not? Holidays typically involve a whirlwind of activity whether you’re travelling, cooking, shopping, decorating or hosting guests. All of that is in sharp contrast to your pet’s daily routine of eating, sleeping, playing and more of the same. As a result, holidays like Thanksgiving tend to conjure stress and anxiety in pets. We get stressed by the holiday season and so do our pets.

Pet stress reveals itself in a variety of ways. Luckily, many of the signs of stress are easy to identify in cats and dogs. Be on the lookout for unusual changes in behavior, including any of the following common signs of stress:

Signs and Symptoms of Pet Stress
• Destructive or aggressive behavior
• Reduced appetite
• Excessive barking or whining
• Excessive scratching or grooming
• Noise-aversion
• Digestive distress (i.e. diarrhea)

Now you’ve come to the realization that, yes, your pet is stressed. And, it’s not just on holidays, right? Car rides, vet visits, thunderstorms, boarding – these breaks in routine are all sources of stress for your pet. But, you don’t have to sit idly by and watch your fur ball endure anxiety or stress. Instead, you can take the following actions to mitigate stress-related behavior and save a Turkey Day disaster.

Quick Tips for Preventing Pet Stress
• Create a safe zone away from guests
• Reward good behavior with treats
• Use toys to prevent boredom
• Exercise to help expend excess energy
• Use calming supplements to help relieve stress

Calming supplements are another way that you can help prevent pet stress from gobbling up your good mood this Thanksgiving. Give your cat or dog a Calming™ chew to help support relaxation when your house fills up with guests or you hit the road. Keep in mind that Calming™ isn’t a sedative so it’s safe to double or triple the dosage before your family arrives and you sit down to dinner.

Be grateful for a stress-free Thanksgiving by following our advice and giving your pet a Calming chew to help alleviate stress. You’ll thank us later!