Did you know that your pet gets headaches … not only headaches but migraines, indigestion, sore throat and various other aches and pains too? Have you ever thought they could feel human-like emotions such as stress and anxiety? Well they certainly do and that includes dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds and mice too. It probably hasn’t occurred to many that our pets have good days and bad days … happy days and sad days as well!

Now just because Rex doesn’t speak a human language, or scream the place down like a grisly human baby, we tend to lump all dogs into one big melting pot and believe they can’t be poorly unless they are throwing up on the carpet or running a raging temperature. But this isn’t true. The poor old boy could feel pretty grotty without necessarily having obvious symptoms. He may have leg cramps, toothache, heart burn, sinusitis, sore ribs or even Ehrlichiosis, a common, chronic tick borne disease of which the symptoms are erratic and often missed by human care givers.

Take dear old Felix for example who was probably chased off the TV several times yesterday for obscuring everyone’s view with two furry legs and a tail. The truth be known, he may have had a bad tummy ache from eating too many flying-ants and found himself a ready made Tummy-warmer on top of the television set…

And Chirpie doesn’t necessarily have to fall off her perch to feel ill or be in pain. Perhaps she was a little less vocal or more stand offish than usual because her wing hurt where she bumped it during a noisy fireworks display. And you thought she was sulking because she didn’t want to climb on your shoulder.

Feelings and emotions

Not only do our pets feel physical aches and pains which often go undiagnosed, but they also have feelings and emotions just like us. They have likes and dislikes and suffer anxiety attacks, sadness and grief over a lost loved one. They get frightened when left on their own, see ‘ghosts’ that aren’t there and panic when they’re scared. They suffer from stress and hunger and anger and bloat. And also feel joy and pleasure, gratitude and love.

Our pets can be humorous or sullen, manipulative, dominant or subservient. These wonderful animals are sentient little beings which too often suffer their aches and pains, as well as feelings, in silence as they do not have a voice with which to speak.

I therefore ask on their behalf to please spare them a thought and always treat them with care respect … especially since you don’t know if they’re having a good day or a bad one.