Pets Get the Back-to-School Blues, Too!
Published: Aug. 3, 2009
An archive of Pet Columns from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine is available online at www.vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns/. Requests for reprints of this article may be directed to Mandy Barth, mandyb@illinois.edu.
As the dog days of summer come to a close, teenagers will be heading off to college and youngsters will be catching the bus each morning for school. Pet owners themselves may also have to return to working eight hours a day, leaving a lonely dog or cat at home who is confused by the changing household dynamics.
Dr. Kandi Norrell is a clinical assistant professor and head of the new primary care department, the "community practice," at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. She says, "it is important for pet owners to realize that it is not unusual for cats and dogs to go through a funk when everyone heads back to school."
The disruption in routine can be more traumatic for some pets versus others. For example, if you own a dog that is a herding breed, the change in pace may be particularly difficult. These breeds tend to think of the children in the house as their "flock" to take care of leaving them feeling lost or bored during their absence.
Some of the signs your dog may show if they are having a difficult time acclimating include separation anxiety, destructive behavior, inactivity, depression, and even stress-induced diarrhea. Though dogs are sometimes easier to read, cats may display more subtle signs. "Some of the signs of emotional depression in cats include lethargy (sleeping more than usual), changes in vocalization (more or less dependent on the cat), and occasionally behavioral issues like spraying or inappropriate elimination outside the litter box," notes Dr. Norrell.
To try to prevent your dog or cat from experiencing a rough transition period between the summer and fall, there are a few steps you can implement. Most importantly, "start sooner rather than later," stresses Dr. Norrell. Don't wait until the day your child goes off to college to start a new routine.
Here are a few tips to prevent "the back to school blues:"
On a final note, some owners consider getting another animal as a companion for the one left at home. "Owners need to think about what is best for their dog or cat, rather than their guilt of leaving a pet home alone," notes Dr. Norrell. Adding a pet into a household may cause more stress than benefit depending on the family and the current pet. If you do decide to add another animal to your household, it is important to plan ahead and make sure time permits for acclimation of the new pet to the household and for the current pet to accept and bond with its new pal BEFORE they are expected to make adjustments to being left alone.
For more information on keeping your pet healthy and happy during the back to school transition please contact your local veterinarian or the primary care clinic at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital at 217-333-5300.
An archive of Pet Columns from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine is available online at www.vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumns/. Requests for reprints of this article may be directed to Mandy Barth, mandyb@illinois.edu.
Veterinary Extension/Office of Public Engagement
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
217/333-2907