Stress factors for our four-legged friends
Stress in cats and dogs... Who knows this better than you in practice? We have summarized the biggest stress factors for you and what you can do about them.
Permanent stress in cats and dogs - recognition and treatment
21 October 2022 — by F.D.
It's not just us humans who have a stressful day. It can also quickly become stressful for our cats and dogs, especially when there are deviations from the usual daily routine, in unfamiliar situations or when they are left alone. If stress gets the upper hand, it can even promote illness and manifest itself in behavioral changes.
Short-term, short-lasting stress can occur in cats and dogs, especially in unfamiliar or familiar but negative situations. Travel, birthday parties, visits to the vet or even New Year's Eve firecrackers can scare pets, unsettle them and therefore lead to short-term stress.
Verstärktes Hecheln bei Hunden kann ein Anzeichen für Stress sein.
Permanent stress, on the other hand, is caused by recurring situations that the animal cannot control or categorize. These include being left alone frequently and for long periods or a dominant partner animal that defends its food and territory. A long vacation by the owner, during which the animal has to give up its familiar surroundings, can also become a problem. An animal with a sensitive nature is more easily stressed: For an already insecure and anxious dog living in the city center, even the daily walk can be a challenge. But that's not all - cats and dogs have a keen sense of human moods. The owners' stress can, under certain circumstances, get transferred to the pets.
Effects on health
Mental stress can actually lead to increased somatic susceptibility to disease through immunosuppression. In human medicine, a relatively new, interdisciplinary field of research has even emerged from this connection: psychoneuroimmunology. Psychological stress increases the release of certain neurotransmitters and hormones in the body. For example, the glucocorticoid cortisol, which has immunosuppressive properties, is increasingly produced during stress. Due to their mechanisms of action, glucocorticoids are even used pharmacologically to suppress immune reactions. Prolonged stress can therefore permanently restrict the immune function and thus increase susceptibility to infection. In addition to cortisol, there is a wide range of other substances released during stress that have health-relevant effects. For example, neuropeptides such as substance P can delay or even worsen existing inflammatory reactions.
Long-term stress can also have negative effects on the digestive system. The generally increased susceptibility can pave the way for infections, in addition to reduced blood flow to the stomach and intestines, as the body is in a constant state of flight or fight readiness and is more likely to make blood available to the muscles.
The cortisol released during stress also stimulates acid production in the stomach, which can lead to stomach acidity and subsequently even stomach ulcers. When cats and dogs are stressed, they also tend to eat less, which can further promote acidosis. Long-term stress also impairs the intestinal flora and gastrointestinal motility. This results in flatulence, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Many animals react to stress with increased grooming and licking of their fur. Individual areas are often affected, where the coat becomes thinner and thinner due to the constant licking and can even fall out completely. The skin becomes sore and cracked due to the mechanical irritation, which in turn leads to increased licking. The constantly moist environment provides ideal conditions for the proliferation of bacteria, which can easily colonize such areas, resulting in skin infections. Dogs in particular often nibble their paws and pads due to stress, which can lead to pain under stress even without an infection.
Overall, animals under constant stress are more susceptible to infections than well-balanced and happy four-legged friends. Commensal microorganisms, which can also be found in small numbers in the respiratory tract of healthy animals, for example, can also multiply excessively and suddenly become a problem.
Effects on behavior
Long-term stress can have a major impact on animal behavior. In a state of stress, the body is ready for flight or fight - there is no time for long deliberation. Decisions are therefore made quickly and impulsively. For example, even well-balanced dogs can suddenly display behavioral abnormalities such as aggression in critical situations.
If cats and dogs are repeatedly exposed to stress, their bodies are permanently in fight-or-flight mode. The activity hormone noradrenaline predominates in the brain, while the planning hormone serotonin is suppressed. This restricts their ability to communicate, including with their owner.
Different animals react very differently to different situations. In addition to aggression, behavioral abnormalities such as withdrawal and hiding are also frequently observed. Intensive grooming behavior is a common behavioral abnormality in cases of constant stress. Cats often start grooming one spot over and over again, dogs nibble and lick their paws and pads. The excessive grooming and licking is usually a skipping action - the animal does not know how to deal with the situation and therefore looks for a familiar and distracting activity. This behavior can lead to a number of consequences: Starting with sore, sometimes infected skin to digestive problems from swallowed hair or urinary tract infections from licking the genital area.
What to do if the animal is under constant stress
The most important thing is to identify the causes of the stress and eliminate them. Is it the partner animal that is fighting over food and territory? If so, you can, for example, create several feeding places and resting areas in different places. If the animal is stressed because it is alone too often, it becomes trickier - is it possible to take the animal to work with you, at least a few days a week? Can a dog walking service or day care be hired? In the case of cats, a well-tolerated partner animal helps to combat loneliness within the four walls. But a secure outdoor run also provides variety.
