What to do if your pet is showing signs of anxiety when you go back to work

From today in Ireland, thousands of workers across the country start returning to their offices and places of work, as Covid-19 restrictions ease further. So what does this mean for all of the animal owners in Ireland? This could be the longest you have been away from your pet in months.

Here at Petfix Club, we want you to make sure you do everything you can to ensure the transition back to the office is as smooth as possible for your pets, to put your mind at ease and keep your pets calm.

A few weeks ago, Pete spoke about preparing your pets for being home alone post-pandemic. He had asked that you change your pet’s routine gradually, but for some this may not have been possible. To help you if this has been the case, here are some simple steps that can help with “the here and the now” if you find yourself back in the office this week.

Pets Home Alone: How to Help Reduce Separation Anxiety

• Install a calming pheromone diffuser close to your pet’s bed: different ones are available for dogs and for cats
• Establish a good daily routine for your dog: long walk in the morning, then breakfast, then settle time, and repeat in the evening.
• Make sure your pet has a comfy bed, and offer treat-filled chew toys such as K9Connectables or deep-frozen Kongs 
• Make sure your dog is checked every 3 – 4 hours: a walk at lunchtime will help settle for the afternoon
• Set up a simple webcam to monitor your pet on your phone when you are away: some pets are restless at first, but settle down once you’ve been gone for a few minutes
• If you are sure that your pet is not settling well on their own, talk to your vet about prescription-only calming medication to ease the transition.
• Don’t make a fuss of your pet before you leave, or when you return: the least excitement around departures and arrivals, the more likely your pet is to be calm in your absence

If you have any questions about your pet specifically, please send a message to Pete “the vet” Wedderburn through our Ask a vet tool.