Pets feeling effects of the coronavirus as owners stay home

Patty Villalobos’s 5-year-old pitbull, Lah, has had increased anxiety since the start of the stay-at-home order.

BY CAMI KOONS

Owners are spending more time at home and thus with their pets amid the stay-at-home order. While many pets are loving the extra time and attention, some have increased anxiety and paranoia. 

George Schreiner, a veterinarian and owner at Eudora Animal Hospital, said pets tend to take on the anxieties and feelings of their owners. He said a disruption in a pet’s routine can affect them as well. Schreiner said he has filled more anxiety medications for pets recently than he does normally. 

Patty Villalobos said her 5-year-old pitbull, Lah, has reacted to the change by binge eating bread if the family leaves the house. She said that while she and her family don’t leave the house often, Lah will find any bread left out and eat it all if the family leaves. 

“If we go out now, she has this, crazy, psycho, go-on-a-binge thing,” Villalobos said. 

Villalobos said Lah acted similarly when her daughter, Natalie, Lah’s owner, left for college. Lah now has to be put in a kennel when they leave the house, as Villalobos fears for the dog’s weight gain and safety. Villalobos said since she and her family are home all the time now, Lah freaks out when they walk out the door, even if they just go to the backyard. 

“The other dogs will look out the window when we go outside, but she’ll go straight for the bread,” Villalobos said. 

Schreiner said the key to anxiety with pets is exercise. He suggests taking antsy pets out for extra walks. 

In addition to changes in pet behavior, the veterinary clinics have changed some of their practices to limit social contact. Kelly Daigh at Eudora Animal Hospital said technicians now wear gloves at all times and the masks made by eighth grader Campbell Mayer. She said technicians also pick up pets from their owners’ cars as the lobby is closed to customers. 

Daigh said the hospital is also trying to limit the number of nonessential pet services. She said vomiting, diarrhea, limping, bleeding and breathing issues are symptoms that warrant a trip to the vet right now. 

Amy Boucher, office managing assistant at the hospital, said while they aren’t dissuading pet behavioral problems from the hospital, she always recommends increased exercise with the pet before bringing it to the hospital.

Reach reporter Cami Koons at eudoratimes@gmail.com.

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