More and more, we connect with and consider our companion pets as one more member of the family; and beyond being unconditional companions, it's been shown that these furry friends give us excellent benefits for our physical and mental health, adding a positive effect of fun and companionship to our daily lives that ends up increasing our quality of life and, therefore, generating a greater sense of well-being, confidence and security, making us more sociable people with better social interaction skills.
Despite so many benefits, in some circumstances we run into difficulties living with our furry friends, which is directly related to their emotional management — since their physical and emotional well-being doesn't just depend on feeding them, walking them and meeting their basic needs, it's essential and just as important to attend to their emotional needs, since, just like people, animals also suffer and show stress, fear, anxiety, depression, aggression, over-attachment, hyperactivity, trauma, and many other mental or emotional issues that, if not attended to or managed properly, will end up making our companions physically sick and creating an unharmonious coexistence. That's why at Siu we understand that, unlike people, our pets can't ask for help or tell us in our own language how they're feeling emotionally, which is why we want to share these recommendations so you can give them emotional support and so you can both enjoy the relationship to the fullest and maintain a healthy, harmonious coexistence with your furry friend(s):
- We should always assess the setting or environment where our furry friend lives, which should be a safe and comfortable space where they can rest and shelter from the weather.
This aspect is essential for their well-being and security — sudden changes in our pets' environment can cause them serious emotional harm; ideally it should be a space free of loud noises or overly stimulating conditions — the calmer it is, the more comfort it will provide your furry friend. If this situation is hard to control, you can use earplugs or high-vibration relaxing music to help reduce their stress.
Likewise, keep in mind that situations like moving house, home renovations, or the arrival of a new family member are also reasons that can cause your furry friend emotional upset — remember to support them through each process, try to turn these changes into a positive association, make the changes slowly or gradually as much as possible, and depending on the situation, support them with flower essences that favor their adaptation and reduce resistance to change, such as the Walnut and Elm flower blend.
Likewise, aromatherapy, music therapy and tryptophan-based nutraceuticals will naturally benefit your furry companion's emotional health, since they lower stress levels and make circumstances of emotional intensity more tolerable or manageable for our furry friends. - Provide time outdoors and with nature: enjoying a calm walk in the mountains, the park, the river or the beach will always be very relaxing activities, especially for our dogs — it's also a good space to encourage socialization and social interaction with other pets or people, which is key for the emotional well-being of our little furry friends. However, just as with people, some animals find social interaction easier than others, so it's important to respect their limits and avoid forcing them to socialize or interact.
- Another determining factor is regular exercise, since, as we know, it helps release endorphins and reduce stress — it's very important to provide them with enough physical activity, according to their life stage, so they can stay healthy and happy. And it's not about being the most athletic — daily walks of 40 minutes or more, twice a day, are enough.
For cats, the best way to exercise them is through play — look for playful activities through hunting-style games where they can engage for 20-30 minutes a day, also twice a day. Likewise, setting a daily routine with regular times for eating, exercising and resting will give your furry friend predictability, making them comfortable, calm and secure, and creating psychic, mental and emotional stability. - Offer interactive toys and mental activity — this tool ends up being very useful for keeping our furry friends entertained, occupied and mentally active. Something as simple as hiding treats in different spots around the house, or providing scent games, helps reduce stress and, in turn, provide calm and relaxation.
- Give them attention and affection — just as in human nature, companion animals need to feel loved and cared for. That's why, in difficult moments, it's essential to spend time with them — by giving them attention, affection, and paying attention to their emotional needs, we'll manage to strengthen the bond, fostering their security and comfort, and thus improving their emotional health. A simple practice that promotes a sense of affection is through physical contact, such as giving a massage, since it helps reduce muscle tension, fatigue, distress and exhaustion in our furry friends.
Ideally, use proper massage techniques — you can make the process easier by placing 1-2 drops of flower essences on the palm of your hand, and remember to respect your pet's physical contact limits. - Likewise, and the most determining factor in our furry friends' well-being is that you, as their guardian or caregiver, are doing well — that's right! Your emotional state may go unnoticed by many people, but not by your furry friend — pets are experts at detecting emotions, and it's very hard to hide or disguise them in front of them, so asking for calm from a place of nerves or insecurity will fail, because animals quickly pick up on your mood. So, before offering your furry friend emotional support, make sure your own emotional state is balanced so you can help in the right way.
In short, to give our furry friend emotional support we must consider factors like the environment or setting they live in, their lifestyle and the routines or habits they follow, their social skills, and the changes throughout their life.
Likewise, there are intrinsic factors like age — generally, puppies or older animals may have a harder time coping with stressful or emotionally intense situations; breed, since some are more predisposed to certain emotional issues; and medical history, since certain illnesses affect our pets' emotional health, such as chronic pain or neurodegenerative disorders.
Lastly, let's understand and recognize the nature of our furry friends as domestic animals, since a cat isn't a small dog and a dog isn't a small human baby. Letting them express their natural behaviors as a species will, without a doubt, be the most important aspect for avoiding unwanted behaviors and emotional well-being problems.