Is nurturing and taking care of your dog comparable to parenting?

The results of a new report suggest that taking care of your pet can be more stressful than being a parent or managing a romantic relationship.

Can we really compare pet care to parenting?

A survey was recently conducted by OnePoll on behalf of EllVet Sciences in light of Pet Wellness Month across 2,000 pet owners in the UK. It was revealed that 42% felt stressed out when asked about their ability to look after their pet, compared to their relationship with their spouse or partner (37%) or that with their kids (30%).

This is because over half of the respondents (51%) believe that their pets also experience stress.

When respondents were asked about how their pets could be made to feel calmer, 47% said they could accomplish this by spending more time with their pet outside; 46% said they would connect their pet with other pets; 44% said they would simply spend more time with their pet, and; 43% said they would take their pet to a pet therapist – as potential solutions.

The survey also discovered that people think and get stressed about their pets getting old, just like they think about themselves getting old and feel stressed as a result (65% in both cases).

Pet owners feel that they can spot signs of their pet slowing down, such as:

·       A lack of energy (56%)

·       A general lack of enjoyment around their pet’s favourite activities (54%)

·       Difficulty climbing or coming down stairs (51%)

Pet parents also pointed to other signs of their pets getting old, including:

·       A lack of energy and drive (60%)

·       Sore and achy joints (48%)

·       Not enjoying the things they typically do (48%)

The respondents also expressed the most common worries they had around their pet’s health:

·       37% said they were concerned about their pet’s digestion

·       Another 37% said they were worried about their pet’s inability to engage in play and enjoy life

·       33% said they had concerns around their pet’s heart health

More than 2/3 or 68% pet parents said it was difficult and hurtful having to watch their pet age and suffer, pointing out that it was more so than having to go through a divorce/break-up (61%), losing a job (61%) or losing an expensive belonging (62%).

What you can do to ensure your pet ages gracefully and stays healthy

Through the proper support, you can help minimise the stress your pet feels at each stage of their life. The longer your pet stays by your side, the more important it is to be able to identify signs of ageing – for example, such as trouble sleeping or socialising, difficulty moving, enjoying the same activity they’ve been enjoying for years, etc.

Pet’s cognitive decline and overall health is directly correlated with their activity level, what they eat, how well they are groomed and the level of attention they get.

Happy Hounds can easily spot signs of ageing in your pet, and along with regular dog walking and dog grooming in Winchester, we see to it that your pet gets the quality attention and doggy day care that he/she truly deserves.