This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Helping Pets Feel Happy & Comfortable at Home

Our pets crave routine. Any swing in that routine and sometimes it's up to us to help them feel safe and happy again in their own home.

In general, our pets feel most comfortable at home, especially when we are with them. But some pooches and purr boxes are more sensitive than others, and any shift in their daily routine can cause stress, fear, and unpredictable behavior.

Such stress can cause a whole host of other issues, including:

  • Diarrhea & colitis
  • Shedding
  • Nervous/obsessive compulsive behavior, such as excessive licking
  • Snapping or growling
  • Hiding, shivering, shaking, and general actions that result in pity parties

Every pet is different. During thunderstorms, my childhood dog would run and hide. If you tried to go to him to comfort him, he would just run to another room to hide and be alone. Perhaps he felt like every crack of thunder was striking down his pride.

Find out what's happening in Fairlawn-Bathwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

My current dog, however, runs straight to my lap and the first flash of lightning. As long as I hold him, he'll fall asleep during the storm. But if no one comfort him, he cries, shakes and shivers. Last summer, he got a bad case of colitis (diarrhea with mucous caused by inflammation of the colon) that required a trip to the . After a test ruled out worms and bacteria, the vet said it was likely caused by stress. We could only trace it back to a bad thunderstorm that occurred on a night he was left home alone.

But pet manufacturers are coming to the rescue these days, and my pet pantry is stocked with items for almost every emergency. Most of these products are tempting to pet owners who would rather try natural remedies before trying drugs, or after a bad experience with drugs.

Find out what's happening in Fairlawn-Bathwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jennifer Joslin of Stow plunked down a good chunk of change for the  for her dog Abby, who she got as a rescue at age two. Abby is a pretty good dog with a lot of character and some quirks, including general naughtiness when left to her own devices and a fear of thunderstorms.

The Thundershirt works in the same way swaddling works for a baby, wrapping up the puppy to help her feel more safe and secure.

"The Thundershirt cracks me up," laughed Jennifer. "It really didn't work for storms for Abby, but I do notice a calming effect overall when I put it on. She kind of looks sleepy and wants to relax."

When Jennifer first got Abby, she kept him in a crate. While some dog owners initially think the idea of a crate is akin to a cage at the pound, giving a dog his own space is often quite helpful.

The crate becomes the dog's den, where he can sleep securely. He can be put in it when company or the cable man are visiting. Many dogs eat their meals in their crate. When introduced properly, as a happy place and not a jail, most dogs love their crate.

Add to it a comfy bed they can call their own and some favorite toys, and your pet will have his own den he can retreat to when he seeks solace and peace. Just this weekend I found a gorgeous, puffy, comfy pet bed at  for just $18.88.

Crates and beds can also help with traveling. The portable familiar surroundings and smells can help your pet feel safe during a move or visit to family out of town.

Another helpful product is Comfort Zone with Feliway for cats or with DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) for dogs. These diffusers plug in to a wall socket and release calming pheromones that help dogs and cats feel more comfortable.

I purchased a Feliway diffuser at  for my cats when I got a new kitten. Like most remedies, it was only one piece in my arsenal to help make the transition go smoothly. I also got some Bach flower essence and Rescue Remedy Pet (which is sold at ).

"Bach Flowers are made from the essences of flowers, plants, trees, the help work on emotions," said Liz Madsen, an animal communicator I profiled in . Liz uses the essences in her energy work with animals waiting for homes.

"I have three different formulas that I use for different issues that the animals have. They help with depression, anger, the fact that they are caged, have health issues and more."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Fairlawn-Bath