topic Pets - tell us about yours in Staying well

Pets - tell us about yours

Music_Freak — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 12:26:38 GMT

I was just searching for an old thread here about how pets help us with mental illness/health and it seems to be gone, so I thought I'd start another one.

As some of you know already, I have a black cat named Buddy and he's my life, basically. I have no friends or contact with family currently, so he's it. Knowing he's around is a great comfort and during bad periods he's generally the only thing that gets me out of bed.

So, go ahead and share anything about your pets and make us all smile.

Pets - tell us about yours

Emmy. — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 13:53:16 GMT

Love that you have buddy to look after you and give you lots of hugs 🙂

I have a dog called Poochie, he’s a havanese (no one has ever heard of that breed... it’s a type of bichon).

I’m home alone in the evenings so we got him when anxiety and depression entered my life. He’s my best friend. My little companion and can sense my different moods. He’s what’s known as a “velcro-dog” so follows me EVERYWHERE lol.

We take him everywhere with us, and our holidays are usually based on finding accommodation he can stay at with us. We live 2 hrs north of Sydney and he’s travelled with us in the car to; Melbourne, Adelaide, Dorrigo, Armidale... he’s well travelled hehe.

Funny things he does:

When we got him we noticed every time we sneezed he’d come running over to us... so we started telling him “Poochie when someone sneezes you say bless you” and now if he sneezes or we sneeze he will always come to us. We think it’s his way of saying bless you.

We only recently got him a doggy door (he’s 4 years old), so prior to that he would just go on command when we took him outside and cause I’m always home it’s easy to do.. anyway if we’d not taken him in a little while he came up with his own way to show us he needed the bathroom. He will come up to us and extend his back leg right out and point it (and arch his back). It’s so funny to see.
I once bought him a high chair to sit in so he could eat with us at the table lol. (Crazy). He sat in it happy as...
Whenever the phone rings he always think it’s for him and comings running over to me and puts his paw on my leg. Like he’s saying “who’s on the phone Muma”.
He knows lots of tricks, “shake hands” is particularly cute.
I’m hoping to register him as a service dog so he can come on planes, to cinemas and shops with me. Anywhere that triggers panic attacks.

Ok so I’m going on way too long lol. But fun thread you’ve started Narelle 🙂

Pets - tell us about yours

geoff — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 16:45:14 GMT

Good Morning MF, it's 2.20 am but I'm pleased you have started this thread again because there are so many people, including myself that couldn't be without a pet and as you know mine is in the photo and she's called Mindy or Moo-Moo, comes to both of these names.

Like what Emmy says, she barks whenever the phone rings, with a carrot in her mouth or if she's chewing it.

Comes with me everywhere, sleeps next to me and walks up some stairs I built for my previous puppie.

When I take her for a walk she knows the point where to turn back but before this happens she does circles, one way then the other way.

Many thanks, Narelle.

Geoff.

Pets - tell us about yours

Summer Rose — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 06:56:36 GMT

Hi Music Freak and others

I have a little dog named Scout--and when I say little, I really mean it. She weighs just 1.6 kg, just mid-calf height--the perfect black and tan miniature pinscher. She loves to bark, climb on the furniture and in out and the dishwasher to lick the plates (!) and could chase a ball for hours. She makes me laugh every day and reminds me not to take life so seriously.

She keeps me well by loving me, unconditionally. I can feel low, beat myself up for some perceived fault or just be miserable and then Scout will come along, tap my leg and remind me that I'm important to her. That she needs me. And that I'm not so bad after all. And when I say "uppie" and she jumps into my arms my heart sings.

Pets - tell us about yours

Music_Freak — Sat, 05 May 2018 09:14:01 GMT

Been distracted this week and totally forgot I made this thread...oops.

Buddy walks on a lead attached to his collar, just like a dog and this is how I take him outside in the yard for a walk. Sometimes we go out on the the footpath, but never get that far.

Buddy's favourite place when it gets cooler is his leg tent. Which is basically me lying in bed and he'll paw at the covers until I lift them up. If my knees aren't up creating the “tent”, he will paw at my legs or head butt it until I bend my knees. He'll happily curl up and fall asleep there.

He is an absolute grub when he eats his dry food, remnants of it end up all over the wall where his food is. I don't know how he does it.

He's not a cuddly cat, but likes to be touching me or leaning on me when he curls up next to me. I call him the leaning tower of cat fur.

That's all I can think of at the moment, but there's sure to be many more stories

Pets - tell us about yours

Lici — Sat, 05 May 2018 09:42:01 GMT

Hi all 🙂

I have a cat named jasper. He's 6.5kgs and a big ball of ginger fluff! I've had him since he was born and he's been a real constant in my life. He sleeps on his back and loves the heater (I always say he's praying to the heater gods with the way he lays in front of it).

I have a running narration of his life in my head, I guess that sounds weird, but it's highly entertaining giving him different voices. I included him as a character in one of my story assignments and he was a grumpy, sarcastic cat who was fiercely loyal (the grumpy and loyal part certainly suits him!)

It's funny how animals make us feel better isn't it? When jasper decides that he wants to sit next to me and purrs he really puts a smile on my face.

Enough from me cause I could babble on about him all night!

Kind regards,

Lici

Pets - tell us about yours

smallwolf — Sat, 05 May 2018 11:23:12 GMT

A cat named Thomas. My son was a fan of Thomas the tank engine and that is where the name comes from.

Scared of strangers and loud noises. Doesn't like being held. Comes out for food. You can pat him. Sleeps next to me in winter. Meows and generally annoys me when he wants food. But I probably wouldn't want him any other way.

And he is about 14 years old.

Pets - tell us about yours

Summer Rose — Sat, 05 May 2018 15:51:34 GMT

Music_Freak said we can share anything so here goes ...

Tonight our entire family was out all night until quite late and my darling dog Scout was home alone. She hates it when the entire "pack" goes out and she's left behind. She's usually naughty. Anyway, when we came in I picked her up for a cuddle and whilst she was covering my face with kisses she also peed all over me. My son was disgusted but I just laughed. I don't think anybody has ever been so happy to see me that they urinated!

Pets - tell us about yours

Music_Freak — Sun, 06 May 2018 07:57:49 GMT

Buddy likes my pea and ham soup. Had a bowl tonight for tea and when I went to get bread to clean the bowl, Buddy's tongue was already doing it! He's not allowed on the dining table or benchtops, but he seemed to have forgotten that house rule tonight.

Cheeky bugger!

He steals my seat too...like a magnet to the warm spots. I get up/turn away and he'll be sitting in my spot.

I swear, if I didn't love him so much...I'd get so angry

Pets - tell us about yours

Summer Rose — Sun, 06 May 2018 23:25:14 GMT

Hi Music_Freak

Buddy is cheeky and bossy too! I love him already.

My dog Scout like the sun too. I put her bed in the sun and she lounges like a queen. As the sun moves throughout the day, Scout will pick herself to follow it. She then stands in the spot she likes and barks. This is my cue to move her bed for her! She actually has me trained!!! 1.6 kilos and a tyrant but I love her to pieces x

Pets - tell us about yours

Guest_10473 — Mon, 07 May 2018 09:48:08 GMT

Hi everyone, I have two Miniature Pinschers, George and Agatha, that have been great at helping with my depression/anxiety/ocd. Playing with them or even just watching them play together is so entertaining and a good distraction from negative thoughts. I also have three cats which love snuggles and pats . . . I find the sound of their purring to be calming.

The dogs also encourage me to be more active and to get out and about by wanting to go for walks. On days that I am feeling unmotivated I still get up and tend to my pets and then once I am up and doing things it is easier to keep going and do more things. A couple of years ago when I was in a bad place and was staying in bed all day my husband fed my dogs a chicken neck each in the kitchen. I smelt something disgusting and Agatha had brought her chicken neck to me and placed it on my pillow right by my face - I am certain that she was trying to communicate something like "here you go Mum, have my chicken neck, it always make me feel better". It did get me out of bed at least and I couldn't help but laugh and smile at her generosity! I love my pets so much.

Pets - tell us about yours

Summer Rose — Tue, 08 May 2018 21:58:20 GMT

Hi Fred

I really like your observation that your dogs get you out of the house walking. Who could ignore a min pin? I'm sure Agatha and George would never tolerate that!

The physical exercise is important to recovery but I also like the social side that this activity creates. I have made many friends whilst out walking in my neighborhood with my dog, Scout.

Our pets can help us connect with others and reduce isolation. Some days Scout is the only one I talk to all day until we go out for a walk and I inevitably meet up with a neighbour or sometimes a complete stranger for a chat.

Scout enjoys the other dog or attention from another human and I connect with another person- win/win!

Pets - tell us about yours

Music_Freak — Thu, 10 May 2018 09:20:00 GMT

Poor Buddy must be so cold. My phone says it's 12° outside and he's barely left his leg tent.

I think I might have to try and find a heating mat or something for him.

Pets - tell us about yours

Music_Freak — Fri, 11 May 2018 14:26:04 GMT

I swear Buddy just understood me...

I had to kick him off the bed to remake it because the sheets were all messed up and tangled and told him “don't worry you can get in bed with me in a minute”

Lo and behold as soon as I was in bed, he jumps on, walks over to my head and I feel a gentle paw tap me on the shoulder. That's his “OK, lift up the covers for me, please”.

Pets - tell us about yours

Summer Rose — Sun, 13 May 2018 06:22:58 GMT

Buddy really gets you. That's so sweet.

Scout tries really hard to get me. She has learned the word "go" all on her own by listening to me talk. Whenever I say "go" she knows I'm leaving and races to me to try and stop me. It's so cute but it breaks my heart to leave her every time.

Pets - tell us about yours

justaburden — Sun, 13 May 2018 09:21:28 GMT

My fur baby is a 3 year old red headed, champagne body Shih Tzu name Milleigh. She is the love of my life. I have been through some very tough stuff in the last 16 months and she has been my salvation. She comes running if I sneeze to see if I am ok. But its when I am in tears that she is such a comfort. She brings me so much joy and a smile to my face. She sleeps cuddled up next to me and warms my heart when she snuffles and snort during the night. When I get home she is the most excited. She stands on her back legs almost jumping with joy. I dont know what I would do without her.

Pets - tell us about yours

Lici — Sun, 13 May 2018 11:18:15 GMT

I'm a little bit concerned for my cat Jasper at the moment. My boyfriend was patting him and he yawned which is when we noticed that he's missing one of his top fangs. I'm going to have to save up some money to take him to the vet I think, just to make sure it's not a gum disease or anything. 😕 I have pet insurance for him, but of course the one extra I didn't get on the cover was dental as I couldn't afford it. Sigh. I hope he's ok. Does anyone know if it's normal for cats around 9/10yrs old to lose teeth?

Kind regards,

Lici

Pets - tell us about yours

Summer Rose — Sun, 13 May 2018 11:56:31 GMT

Hi Lici

I can't answer your question (sorry) but I once found an "ask a vet" paid service on the internet. I think it was about $20. Of course, you can Google it for free! Best wishes to you and Jasper x

Pets - tell us about yours

Music_Freak — Sun, 13 May 2018 12:23:45 GMT

Hmmm, I'm not sure, but it's a possibility. Try online like SR suggested. I've found many answers to animal questions with helper Google 🙂

I think gum disease would mean red, inflamed, bleeding gums and yellow “crusty” looking teeth at the gum line, but I'm not a 100% sure. I think it's a lot like human gums.

Could the tooth have been knocked out in some way? Is the root still there?

Good luck and look after Jasper. Try softening dry food with a little water if eating is an issue.

Pets - tell us about yours

Lici — Sun, 13 May 2018 13:41:05 GMT

Hi Summer Rose and Music Freak,

Thanks for the advice. It's really appreciated. I did a Google search and most of the stuff I found said injury or gum disease. His gums still look pink and healthy though and he seems to be eating fine. It's strange because he hasn't shown any signs of bleeding or inflammation etc so we had no idea he had lost one and it looks perfectly healed which suggests he lost it a while ago. If only cats showed their teeth more like dogs!

I'll keep an eye on his eating more closely and start looking around for a vet. I only moved to this area recently so haven't found a new vet yet.

anyways I'm off to bed. Thanks again for the replies. Silly ball of fluff, if only they could talk to us and tell us when things were wrong!

I hope you both have a good night!

Kind regards,

Lici