How could we possibly understand our pets? How can we know what they are thinking? Have you ever worried about your pet?
Think about being a first time mom or dad. You worry, you read books and articles, and call the pediatrician for just about anything. Or is that just me? I was that kind of parent. I took my daughter to the doctor on a 100-degree day, dressed in long sleeved everything, bundled in a blanket. My pediatrician kindly told me she was plenty warm and I could help her by not layering as much. I thought I was doing my best! I wish she could have told me otherwise. I’m glad my pediatrician did!
Our pets are no different than those newborn babies. They can’t talk. They rely on us to do everything for them. We know that 4PM is dinner time for our dog. She barks and gets excited. That’s about the only thing she can “tell” us unless we really are paying attention. If your pets could talk, what do you think they would say?
We had our first dental cleaning with our dog Finley and she had to have two broken teeth extracted. If you’re unfamiliar with a dental, let me explain it a little bit to you.
They put your dog or cat under general anesthesia to do the cleaning. We admitted her to the animal hospital that AM, prepped for surgery with no food since the night before. She stayed all day, we picked her up that night. She’s unable to go home until she’s cleared to do so. It was a long day waiting for that call! Just like any surgery, going under anesthesia has its risks, so it was a relief to get that call that all went well and we could pick her up.
I was not prepared for how lethargic and sad Finley would look. She had been drooling so she was covered in saliva. She looked so sad. It broke my heart to see her so mellow and sad. It’s those eyes! She was telling me she was sad. You know that look right?
We took her home. She wanted nothing to do with food, or even her favorite treats. She is normally crazy about food and acts ravenous half the time. Her refusing a treat was highly out of character for her. We knew it was important to get her to eat and take a pain pill so we kept trying, but kept failing at it. It took hours. But what a relief when she finally did! After eating a little bit of food we had softened for her and taking her pain pill, she started to perk up a little and acted more like herself. But we had a long ways to go!
I think the hardest part about being a pet parent is them not being able to tell us how they’re feeling or doing. We have to rely completely on their cues. And when their cues are off, we worry! I’m not alone am I? Have you worried about your pets? Tell me, what have you worried about in the past?
I think if Finley could talk, she would have said something like: “Why are we here? I was just here last week. I don’t want to be here. Please don’t leave me here. Why are you leaving me with this stranger?” I think she then would have said after surgery and me picking her up, “I’m so glad to see you. I’m exhausted, I’ve been in a crate most of the day in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people, I was starving but queasy, thirsty, and I hurt. Can we go home now please? And please, don’t ever take me back here.” At home I think she would have asked for privacy (as she made her way to her crate and didn’t want to leave).
This year I’m dedicated to share my thoughts on what our pets would say if they could talk. We have to be looking for the cues, but they give us signs all the time. How can we use those cues to worry less and proactively help our pets live a happy, healthier life? That’s what I’m committed to share with you!
I’d love to hear about your pet experiences. What kinds of things are your pets “telling” you?
You can also read how my passion for helping others started: How It All Started
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