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filler@godaddy.com
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
As a small animal veterinary technician, I am deeply passionate about helping dogs and cats live happy, healthy, and fulfilled lives.
During my time working in a clinical setting, I witnessed a growing awareness and concern among pet owners about the emotional and psychological well-being of their animals. More than ever, people are recognizing that mental health plays a critical role in a pet’s overall quality of life. We are beginning to move away from outdated, traditional beliefs that reduce animal behavior to mere instinct or training responses.
Instead, a new, more compassionate framework is emerging—one that acknowledges pets as sentient beings with rich inner lives, emotions, and experiences not unlike our own. This shift reflects a deeper respect for the complexity of our companions and opens the door to more thoughtful, empathetic approaches to their care.
As a vet tech, I’m excited to be part of this movement and to support both animals and their humans in nurturing these meaningful bonds.
Just like humans, pets experience a wide range of emotions—joy, fear, anxiety, loneliness. Mental health support means recognizing these emotions and creating an environment where pets feel safe, loved, and understood.
Mental health involves mental stimulation and a sense of purpose. Boredom can lead to destructive behaviors, but providing enrichment—puzzle toys, scent games, social interaction, new experiences—keeps pets engaged and fulfilled.
Some pets come from backgrounds of neglect, abuse, or abandonment. Their healing goes beyond obedience training; it requires patience, trauma-informed care, and sometimes professional behavioral therapy.
Pets thrive on secure attachments. Their mental health improves when they have strong, predictable bonds with their humans. Spending quality time together, positive reinforcement, and mutual trust are key.
Mental health can be affected by underlying medical conditions (pain, hormonal imbalances, etc.). As a vet tech part of my role involves identifying when a behavior might be rooted in health, not just training.
Understanding canine or feline body language helps us spot stress early. Tail flicking, hiding, excessive grooming, pacing, or barking can all be signs of mental distress—not disobedience.
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