Understanding Your Pet’s Behavior: Tips for Better Communication 

If you’re someone who loves animals and has recently become a proud pet parent, you may want to know all that you can about your animal and their behavior. In fact, the best pet parents take the time to understand their pets. But it can be tricky to understand what’s going on with them, as they don’t have the ability to talk to us and let us know. However, with some research and paying close attention, you can learn more about how your pet behaves and how you can more easily understand what’s going on with them. Here are some things to consider: 

Continuous ear scratching requires attention

While our furry friends may get itchy every now and then and scratch for no apparent reason, if they’re continuously scratching their ears, you’ll want to pay attention to what’s going on. They could have some type of allergy going on or they may even have ear mites. The thing about ear issues in dogs is that, if left untreated, they can become more serious, leading to things like hematomas. 

Hematomas aren’t always easy to get rid of either, so make sure you talk to your vet and see if you should be using ear drops for dogs to help ease your animal’s pain and prevent more serious issues.  

A lack of appetite could mean something serious

Your animal probably likes to eat as often as you’ll feed them. Some dogs love food and treats and will perform on cue for them. When your animal with that voracious appetite stops eating, it’s definitely a behavior that should make you sit up and take notice. 

While at times they may simply have a bit of an upset stomach from eating something that didn’t sit right, in other instances it could be a sign of something more serious. Take time to monitor them and see if they feel better without any intervention. However, severe vomiting or diarrhea shouldn’t be left untreated. If this happens, go to your vet right away for care.

A destroyed home can result from anxiety triggers

If you get home one day and find your furniture or belongings torn apart and your pet has never behaved in this way, this could be because something is causing them anxiety. While this behavior is often typical of certain breeds at young ages, if your older pet that has behaved quite well for the most part is behaving in this way, you may want to take a look at recent happenings. 

Did you go on a road trip recently? Did they get attacked by a larger dog at the dog park? Your pet may be experiencing anxiety from a recent development and is acting out. Talk to your vet about ways that you can manage your pet’s stress. 

Lethargy is typically abnormal behavior 

Unless your pet is quite old and is often tired, sudden lethargy is something that you want to pay attention to. While they could just be a bit tired because they were unable to sleep well the night before, if they have no interest in anything they typically enjoy or look depressed and apathetic, it could be time to visit the vet. They may be sick and need treatment right away, so don’t let lethargy go unnoticed in your pet. 

Dogs can fake limp 

For a lot of dog parents, a sudden limp can be concerning. You may be worried that they got injured without you even noticing. You may panic and rush to the vet. However, your animal may simply be seeking your attention through limping as your reaction to injury is something they appreciate. Let a day pass before you rush to the vet, as the next day they may walk like nothing is happening. 

In Conclusion

As you learn about pet behavior, you may discover that pets will be letting us know how they feel through actions that aren’t quite normal in their day-to-day interactions with you. Have a vet that you can rely on for those instances where you need to go as soon as possible.