Moving home can be an exciting but also a stressful time in our lives. Boxes need to get packed, carpets need to be rolled up and bags get filled with all our belongings. It’s also a long process that can be draining on us humans. If this is a stressful experience for us, have you considered what it must be like for your pet?
Moving and packing can really stress some pets out, with a lot of change occurring from furniture being packed up, unfamiliar people in and out of their home and large boxes being removed. Different pets can react to the same situation in many ways; while some may accept change relatively easily, others may have a hard time coping.
Pet owners should aid in managing the effects of moving on their pets in order to help them cope. It is essential for pet owners to plan ahead of time, and take the necessary steps to ensure pets are calm, relaxed and happy during a stressful event such as relocating to a new home.
Identifying the signs of stress in pets:
Signs to look out for that dogs or cats are stressed vary, so it helps to know what to look out for.
For dogs, examples of stress may be:
- an unwillingness to eat food they usually love,
- running around frantically at the sight of their owner packing bags/boxes
- being aloof and
- whining for no apparent reason.
With cats, be on the lookout for:
- excessive grooming,
- hiding,
- not using the litter box to relieve themselves and
- a lack of appetite too.
Calmeze
Calmeze is a nutritional aid for stress and anxiety in dogs and cats. It promotes relaxation, boosts confidence and provides pets with a sense of wellbeing. Calmeze can be used during the period in which one home is being packed up and another unpacked in order to help sensitive dogs or cats cope under the pressures of change.
In order to reap the product benefits it is advised to dose Calmeze a few days prior to a particularly stressful event as well as during the event, and if needed for a few days after the event. It is advised to speak to your veterinarian about a dosing schedule that would suit your pet’s specific needs.
Calmeze takes 1 – 2 hours to take effect so cat and dog owners should dose in advance in order for the product to take effect prior to the stressful event taking place.
Calmeze is available in tablets and a liquid for dogs, which can be given directly to the pet or pumped over food. Calmeze for cats is a salmon-flavoured gel that can also be pumped over food, or applied directly to the front paw, which will be licked off during grooming.
Pets can also sometimes take a few days to get used to a new environment so if signs of stress are apparent it is recommended to continue to use Calmeze until your cat or dog is relaxed and comfortable in their new surroundings.
Calmeze is available through participating veterinary practices and vet shops.