Are You Causing Your Pet to Be Stressed?

TAMPA, FL--(Marketwire - May 18, 2011) - You might not realize it, but if Fluffy or Skippy are listless, disobedient and getting sick all the time, chances are that your pet doesn't have some mysterious disease -- he or she may simply be stressed out.

"A lot of people think that stress is something that only affects humans, but it's a very real threat to their pets, too," said Dr. Paul McCutcheon, a veterinarian with more than 45 years' experience and co-author of The New Holistic Way for Dogs and Cats from Random House (www.newholisticway.com). "Better pet care will result when pet lovers and veterinarians understand that stress is the underlying cause of every form of pet health problem."

Dr. McCutcheon's tips for pet owners who want healthier, happier pets include:

• Think Before You Adopt - Ask yourself serious questions about your lifestyle and future before you adopt a pet. Then you can better choose an animal whose needs are similar to your own. By being honest with yourself, you can ensure that your pet won't face a stressful future and inevitable health problems.

• Establish Your Role - You need to see your role and your veterinarian's role in a different way. While you are in the best position to influence your dog or cat, your veterinarian can be a good coach who provides you opinions and advice that help you make better choices regarding the care and feeding of your pet.

• Watch Their Diet - Just as processed foods are being blamed for an increase in obesity for people, causing a wide variety of health problems, processed food is a danger for pets, as well. Look into switching over to a new trend in pet food, raw foods. They can be found in pet specialty shops and grocery stores in the refrigerated section. They are also known as "fresh" foods for pets, so ask your store managers about them. They provide a balanced diet with none of the dangers associated with processed food, which makes up the majority of the pet foods available at pet stores and supermarkets today.

About Dr. Paul McCutcheon
Paul McCutcheon, DVM, is the founder of Toronto's East York Animal Clinic, serving 5,000 patients, and a former director of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and the Human-Animal Bond Association of Canada.