Do you have to travel for work, or to see family?
There are so many things to consider before you leave your home for a holiday or a convention, or a night out, or...
... and, if you're leaving a four-legged companion behind, you have some extra considerations.
Imagine if you simply left your young children all alone with no word about where you were disappearing to, or when you'd be back, or who would care for them while you were gone.
No instructions on what to do - or not do - or how to contact you for help if they need it.
You just left, without being sure their needs, questions, and concerns were met.
Not good.
If you do that to your fur-family member, they could experience separation anxiety, triggering bad behavior, and poor health.
But separation anxiety in pets is manageable and avoidable if you take the right approach.
It doesn't even have to be a trip. It can be a change in your daily routine - like going to the office, then working from home for several weeks, then going back to the office.
Consider that switching up your routines without talking to your pet about it is just like changing your shift rotation and not telling your husband and kids!
Pets, like the human loved ones in your life, deserve to be 'kept in the loop'.
They're relying on you, and when you change your patterns and habits with no notice or proper provision for them, they must try to change along with you.
Unfortunately, their coping mechanisms can be more destructive than the ones your family might employ...
Preventing separation anxiety in pets takes thought and care
You are your dog's entire world... anxiety can affect them much more severely than other more independent minded pets.
And while cats try to sell themselves as aloof and disinterested unless you've filled the food dish or cleaned the litterbox, they care about your schedule, too.
You might think that boarding your horse at a farm across town is a better option than your small paddock because of the space to roam and company of other horses... but they've become accustomed to a certain daily pattern.
You are part of their herd. Time spent apart from you can be stressful if they don't know what's happening or why, or have questions or concerns.
I'm not suggesting that you can never switch things up in your routines, or leave your pet with a sitter or at a kennel... but they need to be told what's happening, and why.
Treat your pet like someone who deserves to know what you know
Separation anxiety in pets arises when your pet feels like they've been left in the dark. So, before you make any change to your schedule - permanent or temporary - be sure to give them the details.
That means, you have to tell them:
What to expect
When things will happen
Who's involved
What you need from them
How you want them to behave
How long you'll be gone or how long this change will last
Whether they'll be in a kennel or cared for in their home
When you're coming back
Giving your pet the courtesy of an explanation about how their environment or patterns are going to change will prevent separation anxiety... and the side effects.
Is your pet suffering from the stress of separation anxiety?
If you have a good rapport with your pet, they'll be settled and content as you prepare for the change in your routines.
But, if you haven't taken the time to communicate with them about your shared experiences, they'll exhibit some very clear signs that they're anticipating something bad to happen.
1. Panting, zoomies, peeing in all the wrong places.
Dogs will cool themselves after a good workout by panting. And the zoomies can be a sign that your pet is feeling happy and carefree.
But are they panting constantly, even though your home is a comfortable temperature?
Are they ricocheting off the walls and furniture... every time you come into the room?
Have they thrown up their food by the door, or chosen a new bathroom that isn't the litterbox or yard? Maybe your closet, your pillow, or behind the sofa?
Many of these behaviors can be signs of an underlying medical condition, like potential heart failure or an infection.
Of course, take them to a veterinarian if things like bladder control or vomiting are a problem.
But then take a big step back and evaluate what your pet might be trying to tell you if you're in the middle of a big life change.
2. Going full mannequin.
Resist the urge to think, "Wow, I can't believe the dog has been laying still for so long. It's great that they're so disciplined."
If you're trying to identify separation anxiety in pets, complete stillness isn't necessarily a sign of calm...
It could be that your pet has 'shut down' and is frozen because of their anxiety.
They're trying to reboot themselves. Their seemingly good posture and attentiveness can be a sign that they're feeling extremely scared. They aren't sure how to cope with their fear.
Like a deer in the headlights, they're trying to proc
Life turned on a dime one afternoon on highway 154, the pass between Santa Barbara, California and Santa Ynez. Diane Stevenett was traveling with her dog Jake. The car was fully packed with a lot of art painting stuff including a giant white paper roll, painting accessories, brushes, watercolors, equipment for music class, and Jake "the Great" took up the entire 2nd row of seats behind the driver, his usual spot.
As they came up on a traffic jam, her car was last in the row when suddenly a raised black monster pick-up appeared trying to "shoot the gap." The car in front of her dogged aside, and her car was exposed to the giant truck.
The collision was unavoidable. In a few seconds, the car was smashed, blood and glass all over Diane and Jake as he was thrown into the windshield. Both of them ended up thrown out of their car, onto the road. Jake and Diane survived this severe accident but Jake's internal injuries set into motion his early death later. The heartache of the whole matter was, for Diane, a major struggle.
Jake and his health conditions forced Diane to think, she could have protected Jake from the accident if she has followed some safety measures... if not completely, then to a much greater measure.
According to a major automobile service company, over 80% of dog owners drive with their pets in the car. Over 84% who drive with their pet, do not restrain them in the car. In 2013, 172,000 children were in car crashes with injuries and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that of those crashes with children who were injured, over 80% had pets on board. Its not just about the pet...
Diane Stevenett, co-author of the new international award winning book, How To Save Your Pet From A Disaster was Jake' the Great's mother years ago and thinks back, "Had I known what I know today, I would have been more prepared and could have possibly lessened Jake's chance of being injured. My research to be better educated and prepared lead me to write this guidebook."
2 X Chicken Soup For The Soul Best Selling NY Times Author Raymond Aaron said after he saw the book How To Save Your Pet From A Disaster, THE essential emergency preparedness guide for feathered friends and fur babies, " If you are a pet owner, this book is a "Must Read" because you know how the care of pets pulls so forcefully on your heartstring. There is no other book, as complete and authoritative, on the essential subject in the pet industry. I highly recommend it! Gift one today!"
You love your pet and there are things you can do easily and have peace of mind knowing your treasured pet is more safe and ready for your next trip. Be "pet prepared." Remember, your pet may turn into your "therapy animal" in an emergency so think ahead and protect them like you would your child.
3 Tips For Travelling With Your Pet From How To Save Your Pet From A Disaster
1. Consider microchipping (Page 16): unrestrained pets may bolt from cars, making a bad situation much worse.
2. A harness around the chest of your pet for securing it to the seating will more evenly distribute the tension or stress on the body during an accident thereby reducing the potential for injury. If you only have the animal tied to its collar around the neck, the animal may be strangled or have its neck broken. (Page 20, 30)
3. Secure the pet to the seat's restraints. They are made to stay connected and fastened in an accident. (Page 33)
Old pets need special care and protection. They're reaction times are slower,
they are more fragile and they are emotionally more unstable.
There are literally hundreds of other tips and suggestions you have not thought of for a wide variety of situations besides car accidents. Being prepared suggests that you brainstorm as many as you can and begin implementing the tips that seem most important to you.
Today, there are a lot of smartphone manufacturers out there. Unfortunately, not all of them produce satisfying smartphones. Among all these manufacturers, one of the most popular ones is Xiaomi. As a matter of fact, it is one of the top smartphone manufacturers based in China. Their products are competing with top tech giants, such as Samsung, Apple, and Huawei. Despite the low price, their mobile phones are of high quality and reliable. Given below are some of the primary reasons why you should go for a Xiaomi smartphone.
1. Low Price but great specs
Price is probably one of the most important factors when purchasing a smartphone. After all, not everyone can buy an iPhone. Even if you want to buy the flagship Xiaomi Mi 5, you won't have to pay more than $400. The good news is that the low price does not compromise the specifications of the hardware. The specifications are quite impressive despite the low price.
2. Impressive Build Quality
Just because Xiaomi has set low prices for their mobile phones does not mean the quality is compromised. The build quality is great. Unlike other smartphones, Xiaomi smartphones are powered by a Snapdragon processor. These processors are considered the best processes in the world of mobile computing.
3. Great Camera
Xiaomi smartphones come with high-quality cameras. Even if you get a $100 Redmi 2, you won't be disappointed with the camera quality. The great thing is that this phone allows you to record videos at full HD resolution. Xiaomi Mi 5 comes with an Optical Image Stabilizer that can be found in high and mobile phones only.
4. The MIUI is more Customizable than Android
In the beginning, Xiaomi started its business as a software company. The company offered a custom version of MIUI and Android. With the passage of time, MIUI gained a lot of popularity and became part of tons of Smartphones out there. Partly, it is due to the features offered by MIUI that were not available on Android. In other words, the MIUI is much more customizable compared to Android OS.
5. Rooting
The beauty of the Xiaomi smartphones is that they can be rooted without the fear of voiding the warranty. Unlike other mobile phones, Xiaomi handsets come with an unlocked bootloader. Therefore, even if you break your handset by accident, you can get it fixed by their service center.
6. No Bloatware
With many smartphones, you have some third party applications pre-installed. These apps cannot be uninstalled as they occupy a lot of space and RAM. They are known as bloatware. The good news is that you don't have a lot of these pre-installed apps on Xiaomi handsets.
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