by April Lang, LCSW

If anybody has any doubt that we are living in an ageist society, just turn on the television or peruse a fashion or gossip magazine. Youth is glamorized. Youth is glorified. Unfortunately, this attitude also extends to our companion animals as people clamor for the puppies and kittens at shelters and rescue groups, mostly oblivious to the seniors in their midst. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with being entranced by a young one’s oversized paws or outsized energy. It’s just that the seniors end up languishing in shelters and boarding facilities, not being given a fair shake. Sure, maybe their fur is no longer thick and lustrous, but it still craves a warm caress. And yes, their eyes may be a little less clear and shiny, but they’re still capable of gazing at you with love. If you’re willing to give a senior animal that fair shake, you’ll soon find that your new pal isn’t the only one reaping benefits.

On a purely practical level, a senior adoption means you get to bypass the frenetic energy of youth. Chewed up slippers and unfurled yarn will not be “gracing” your home. The sight of a kitten dangling from your curtains, or a puppy whose playtime never ends, are experiences you get to forgo. Instead, you’ll have animal companions who are content to just “hang” with you, getting pleasure merely from your presence in their lives. Additionally, adopting a senior means the “potty wars” are a thing of the past, their past. Cuddle time can now replace housebreaking time. Ah!

If, however, you’re seeking a more profound reason to adopt a senior animal, how about the likelihood that it will be transformative, for both you and them? How often do you get to feel like you’re making a big difference in someone’s life, offering a second chance — or in many cases, a first chance — at peace and happiness? Imagine what it would be like to know that you’re the person who changed the course of another’s existence!

While adopting a senior animal will undoubtedly add much to your life, it’s important not to lose sight of the realities of living with a more “mature” being. Age-related maladies will start cropping up, possibly necessitating more frequent trips to the vet. Medications and/or supplements might now need to be dispensed more regularly. Your patience and flexibility are essential now, to ensure that these ripe years will go smoothly and happily, for everyone.

Each day, we have the opportunity to bring some meaning into our lives. Perhaps this will be the day you decide to bring a senior animal into yours.

   

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About the Author
April Lang, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice in New York City. In addition to her regular therapy practice, she specializes in animal bereavement and couples therapy. Please visit her website, www.aprillang.com or call her at (212) 577-1357 for further information.

   

   

   

   

   

   

by Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express Tour

Dr. Horwitz will be at the Ceva booth at Maddie’s Pet Adoption Days on Saturday, June 1, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., at Petco – 92nd/Broadway, 2475 Broadway (at 92nd Street), and Sunday, June 2, Noon–5:00 p.m., at Petco – Union Square, 860 Broadway (between 17th and 19th Streets), in New York City.

Behaviorial problems are one of several reasons pet owners give up their pets. That’s why the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) has joined with Ceva Animal Health, makers of Feliway^® and Adaptil^® pheromone products for the Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express Tour 2013 to help resolve behavior problems in dogs and cats.

Here are 10 common behavior problems: 5 in cats and 5 in dogs:

In Cats: Stress Aggression Scratching Urine marking Tension in multi-cat households

In Dogs: Aggression Separation anxiety Fear and phobias Jumping up House soiling

Adopting a pet and giving it a loving home is wonderful, but it takes some planning and work to help your pet settle in properly and prevent behavior problems. Remember, your new family member needs compassion, guidance, and patience as they adjust to their new home.

Here are some behavior tips to help get your newly adopted pet settled in:

• Provide a loving, calm and reassuring environment.
• Take your newly adopted pet to your regular veterinarian as soon as possible. Discuss concerns you have with any behavior issues upfront — even before they happen.
• Ask your veterinarian about how using products like pheromones can help your pet ease the transition from shelter to home. For example, Feliway and Adaptil synthetic pheromones mimic the natural pheromones in dogs and cats that give them a sense of well-being and reassurance. There is solid science behind pheromone treatment to help dogs and cats in anxiety-producing situations. The treatment is very safe and easy to use.
• When a pet begins to exhibit a new unwanted behavior, consult your veterinarian. There can be an underlying medical condition for the behavior so it is important to make sure your pet is healthy. For example, house soiling could be because of a urinary tract infection or excessive licking may be the result of a gastrointestinal problem.
• Don’t make the problem worse by punishing pets or inadvertently reinforcing the bad behavior.

Here are some tips on how to interact with your pet when they show unwanted behaviors:

• Never punish your pet for misbehaving. Swatting, shaking, thumping, stepping on paws, or any type of physical reprimand will increase your pet’s distress and anxiety. Plus, it can lead to much more serious problems such as aggression.
• Contrary to what you might think, encouragement, praise or fostering are often not helpful either in stopping certain behavior problems, such as a pet that jumps on people, becomes distressed or anxious around loud noises or gets overly excited. These often don’t help your pet because they do not tell him what to do and could unfortunately increase frustration and anxiety. If these things calm your pet, then great, if not you need to do something different.
• It’s more productive to teach your pet what the correct behavior looks like and how to do it or seek other options from your veterinarian to properly address the issue.
• It may be the toughest challenge of all, but don’t panic and show signs of anxiety and anger during episodes of problem behaviors. This only confirms to your pet that there is something wrong, creates fear or anxiety, and will ultimately make matters worse. If you are upset or anxious about your pet’s behavior, it creates more tension for both of you.
• The best thing you can do is to leave the situation and find help for changing the behavior.

Failing to address behavior issues early on with your dog or cat, may make the behavior worse and weaken your bond with one another. Instead, consult your veterinarian as soon as you can. They can offer invaluable advice, guidance, treatment options, or referral to a specialist to address the behavior issues and increase the chances of successfully remedying the problems.

I want to encourage new adoptive pet owners not to give up on their pets. We have pheromones; we have behavior modification techniques; we have other methods of intervention — and your veterinarian can help. The trick is to seek help sooner rather than later…before it’s too late.

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About the Author
Dr. Debra Horwitz is an internationally recognized authority on behavioral issues in pets and is a board certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB). She has a referral practice for behavioral problems in companion animals and is a noted instructor, author, and lecturer in the field. She has appeared frequently in the media to address pet behavior issues and is co-editor of the ACVB book, Decoding Your Dog, for pet owners, available early 2014.