Mary Beth Spitznagel, Ph.D. (right), a clinical neuropsychologist and associate professor at Kent State University, talks with a pet owner. Instead of using groundskeepers to cut the grass, the sheep grazed on the White House lawns. We encourage our clients to call. At her memorial, family and friends "each took a handful of sand and put them in with the ashes, and my sister and I took them out and cast them in the surf," Owens said. President William Howard Taft's pet cow, Pauline, stands on the lawn of the State, War and Navy Building in Washington. See the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter. Maybe in the beginning, if you're feeding one feral cat, this will be a solo effort, but word may get around the local feline population, and if one cat becomes two, and two cats become three, you should try to make your feral cat care a group project. The woman ran out of her home in her bathrobe, holding her small Chihuahua in her arms, Rollin said. The researchers also used a questionnaire to measure how well each pet owner adhered to his or her veterinarian's recommended regimen for caregiving. Carlson co-authored a new article that examines pet caregiver burden and the pet owner’s psychological experience in the context of sick pet caregiving. As Owens reflected on the lives of his father, his mother and their black lab, Maggie, he said his family found peace at his mother's memorial last year. For that reason, he wasn't surprised by the findings in the new paper. “Difficulty managing that stress contributes to anxiety or depression for many. “It turns out that the effects of caregiving for a sick pet – burden, stress, anxiety, depression, low quality of life – are in many ways similar to what we see in a person caring for a sick family member, for example, a parent with dementia,” Spitznagel said. There should be no stigma attached to it. Losing a pet and/or caring for a chronically ill pet is hard. President Franklin D. Roosevelt drives in his convertible with his dog Fala. Try to keep the space clean, and make the dog as comfortable as possible. Any animal who doesn’t move is at risk of bed sores or worse. It is linked to depression, anxiety and poor quality of life. Your dog may develop arthritis or other degenerative diseases that cause him to slow down. "But the interesting reaction was the neighbors. Although President Donald Trump does not have a pet in the White House, Vice President Mike Pence has carried on the longstanding tradition of executive branch pets. ... Their vet could play a big role in this," said Schulz, who has studied, Also, "making sure that they have the knowledge and skills to provide the needed care for their pet, including minimizing the suffering of their pet -- again, their vet would be key in providing this knowledge," he said. Read her blog post “Allo’s story.”. "Those conversations ... they just tear the heart out of you.". In recent years, she has held clinical privileges at Summa Health System in Akron, where she provides patient care, working with dementia patients and their families, one day per week. It’s stressful when a family member is sick even our four legged family members. President Warren G. Harding and his dog Laddie are photographed in front of the White House. "If you ask most veterinarians the hardest thing they do, it's telling the senior man or woman that comes in, having just lost a significant other or spouse or partner, that now their animal, their dog or cat or whatever their loved one is, now has a terrible disease as well," he said. TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- As much joy as a pet can bring to the life of its human, when a beloved dog or cat falls ill, the emotional toll can be high. "I have my own views as to why pets have become so important to people. "People need closeness with other human beings, and failing that, they seek it in their pets.". All in all, as a society, humans have developed stronger bonds with their animal companions over time, said Bernard Rollin, distinguished professor of philosophy, biomedical sciences and animal sciences at Colorado State University. "Getting emotional support from friends and relatives, and perhaps respite, if that is needed, (and) dealing with their depression, which might include getting professional help. President Lyndon Johnson sings with dog Yuki while his grandson, Patrick, watches at the LBJ Ranch in 1968. Shortly after his father died of kidney cancer in 2010, his mother's beloved black Labrador retriever mix -- Mary Margaret, or Maggie -- was diagnosed with. Caring for a sick pet can be complicated. Simple problems can become much more complicated when treatment is delayed. There are ways to prevent and treat it. “I would also recommend that the pet caregiver takes stock of how much help they are getting from others in the household – are there other people who could pitch in and provide some respite for the primary pet caregiver?” Spitznagel continued. Dr. Mark Carlson of Stow Kent Animal Hospital examines a dog. First lady Nancy Reagan cradles an early Christmas present, a King Charles spaniel named Rex, as she and President Reagan stroll along the South Lawn of the White House in 1985. The way your question is currently worded makes it off-topic here though. It is linked to depression, anxiety and poor quality of life. Many owners are unsure whether they should bring their pet in to be seen because they don't want to overreact. President Jimmy Carter's daughter, Amy, holds her Siamese cat Misty Malarky Ying Yang. Pet parents often have to make gut-wrenching choices when it comes to caring for sick animals. "In many ways, it was the perfect sort of closure for my sister and I, in terms of bringing everybody back together," he said. When Caring for a Sick Pet Becomes Too Much. However, the paper has some limitations, including that the participants were recruited online, that they were not tracked over a long period of time and that they were primarily white women of relatively high socioeconomic status, with an average age of 48. The paper involved 238 pet owners and their dogs or cats. He watched as the ashes sprinkled across the Atlantic Ocean, off the shore of Pawleys Island in South Carolina. Justin Paget/Getty Images It was a dark April day in 2013 when I lost one Sophie Lou Who, my 12-year-old chocolate lab who had two marbles for eyes and a candy-kiss nose. The owners of healthy pets could respond with "not applicable" to some questions. While it helped to share and cope with the stress, it also made her realize the bigger picture. What are some of the things to expect as your dog ages? “Since our pets have become family, the hypothesis is that those same struggles plague pet owners also. Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Environmental Science and Design Research Initiative, College of Podiatric Medicine (Cleveland), Sexual Assault Resources, call 330-672-8016, Threatline, non-urgent anonymous reporting, call 330-672-7233, Sexual Assault & Relationship Violence Support Resources, Caregiver Burden in Owners of a Sick Companion Animal: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study, Kent State Researchers Find That College Students’ Alcohol Consumption Increases During Pandemic, Kent State Healthcare Design Researcher Receives $2.47 Million to Design Safer and More Efficient Level I Trauma Rooms, NIH Funds Kent State Psychologist’s Project to Teach Children Food Allergy Safety Skills. “But if someone is experiencing significant symptoms of depression or anxiety, enough that it interferes with daily functioning, it may be a good idea to consult with a mental health professional.”. Until recently, research into what’s commonly called caregiver burden was largely limited to people taking care of human family members. Indeed, many pet owners are willing to shell out substantial amounts of money on veterinary care: In a 2010 survey of more than a thousand pet owners, 42 percent said they’d be somewhat to very likely to spend $5,000 on a single treatment for their pets. “Acknowledging the stress doesn’t mean they love their pet any less. As you know, when a beloved pet seems off, it could be more than something small. Owens' mother died unexpectedly last year, he said. Owning a sick pet is linked to stress similar to caring for sick family members. "It is important that we do not minimize what family caregivers are experiencing in human caregiving relationships. When Caring for a Sick Pet Becomes Too Much Pet or person, caregiver’s burden is similar, Kent State researcher finds The mental and physical stress on individuals caring for elderly loved ones with chronic and terminal disease is well-documented and known as caregiver burden. He may tire more easily. It can make you depressed and depression is … President Abraham Lincoln's son Tad rides one of his horses. But if a pet becomes ill or has an accident, those expenses can skyrocket. The dog was dead. But a recent study shows the same kinds of stress apply to people taking care of sick family pets, too.. And that stress can spill over onto their veterinarian. Pet medications pose a threat to kids, study says, Family farm is heaven on earth for dying dogs, Labrador retriever named most popular dog breed, Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Research Ethics, Caring for an ailing pet could put your own mental health at risk, says a new paper, Experts offer strategies that might help alleviate pet caregiver burden. Caregiver stress is a familiar concern when someone cares for an elderly loved one. In fact, caring for an ailing animal often ends up placing a significant "caregiver burden" on its owner, new research finds. It would be fascinating to learn from pet owners how the euthanasia option affects them and how it impacts their caregiving experience.". It's a normal part of loss and grief," he said, adding that such burden can affect the well-being of pet owners caring for an ailing animal. During her journey of caring for Allo, Spitznagel joined a social media support group for pet owners going through similar experiences. "But pet caregiving in the context of a chronic or terminal disease is clearly stressful for the pet owner, and we can probably learn a lot about how to help people in this situation by looking at what helps reduce stress in human caregiving," she said. "She was hysterical, yelling, 'First my mother and then you.' He may have difficulty getting up or finding a comfortable position to sleep in. Dr. Mark Carlson of Stow Kent Animal Hospital examines a dog. A new paper published in the journal Veterinary Record links the burden of being a caregiver of a sick pet to elevated stress, general symptoms of depression and anxiety, and poorer quality of life. He may become reluctant to go up and down stairs or have difficulty getting into and out of the car. She also has four additional papers in the pipeline. Whether you are deciding what diagnostic tests to run, what type of treatments to use or how to fit long term expenses in your budget, it’s easy to become overwhelmed quickly. Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595. “Something striking in this study participant group of pet caregivers is that a good number of people feel stressed out but don’t stop to think about why,” Spitznagel said. Caring for an elderly sick pet can be draining and it often helps to get away to recharge your batteries to make sure you do not suffer from caregivers fatigue. Pet or person, caregiver’s burden is similar, Kent State researcher finds. President Barack Obama -- like other presidents before him -- likely benefited from having dogs Bo and Sunny at the White House. It was in the middle of the afternoon. Caring for a Sick or Injured Dog After Treatment You can play as much a part in how fast and how well your dog gets better as any medication or treatment regimen. Carlson is Spitznagel’s trusted veterinarian who has treated her dogs for years, including Allo, who passed away a year ago after a difficult bout with both Cushing’s disease and transitional cell carcinoma in the bladder. Media Contacts: – Lilienthal ♦ Mar 26 '17 at 15:59 The article, “Caregiver Burden in Owners of a Sick Companion Animal: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study,” was co-authored with veterinarians at Stow Kent Animal Hospital (Dr. Mark Carlson and Dr. Melanie Cox) and Metropolitan Animal Hospital (Dr. Dana Jacobson). Watching the emotional toll that caregiving took on her was difficult. Caregiver burden was not a new topic for Spitznagel. TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — As much joy as a pet can bring to the life of its human, when a beloved dog or cat falls ill, the emotional toll can be high. On average, pet owners spend $235 per year in recurring medical costs for a dog and $160 for a cat, according to the ASPCA. CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network. Until recently, very little scientific research has been published on what these caregivers go through and how they handle the stress. A new study on pets finds that when people care for ill cats and … In the months leading up to his father's death and Maggie's diagnosis, Owens said, his mother was the primary caregiver for both her husband and her dog. Mary Beth Spitznagel, mspitzna@kent.edu, 330-672-2399 But what about caregivers of pets with chronic and terminal diseases? President Woodrow Wilson's sheep are seen grazing on the South Lawn. Dr. McVety: This certainly depends on the type of disease the pet has. Make no mistake, there is a real chance you could become stressed, depressed, guilty, anxious or even angry. “There is a ton of research and support for those who care for humans, but virtually none for pet caregivers, even though 85 percent of pet caregivers consider their pets members of their families,” Spitznagel said. Caring for a sick dog may involve troubleshooting. I think part of it is ... people are more distanced from other people," he said. Homeless, terminally ill dogs find sanctuary. President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy stand with their guests and their daughter's ponies, Macaroni and Tex, outside the White House in 1962. I think in many ways, that's the greatest fear," he said. Give the dog as much attention as required by the situation. Strategies include "having a good understanding of the disease and its trajectory so that appropriate interventions and decisions can be made. Spitznagel said more work is needed to determine how to best help burdened pet caregivers, but the first step is to help people recognize that taking care of their pet is likely to take a personal toll on their own lives. New research finds that caregivers of pets with chronic and terminal diseases face … Here are some tips for recognizing the symptoms of sickness in pets and getting your pet the care he needs to recover. "What's fascinating to me, in the time since I was a kid, how much people's relationships with companion animals has changed," said Rollin, an animal-welfare expert who was awarded last year's. Without proper care, dental disease can p… For pet owners who might be in a caregiving role and experiencing a burden, some of the same strategies often recommended to human caregivers could be helpful, said Richard Schulz, distinguished service professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, who was not involved in the new paper. Spitznagel created a science blog, www.petcaregiverburden.com, on this topic and is doing additional studies with a veterinary clinic clientele and pet disease support groups. Then, through questionnaires and testing scales, the researchers measured each pet owner's level of caregiver burden, stress, depressive symptoms, anxiety and quality of life. If feelings of suicide emerge and you begin to feel unsafe, please know there is always help available and people that care at the National Suicide Hotline at … The paper involved 238 pet owners and their dogs or cats. While the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that senior pets see a vet every six months, it’s not uncommon for a seemingly healthy pet to go several years without seeing a … On a lighter side, you can show off your pet on Walgreens.com ! President Richard Nixon, his wife and two daughters play with their pet cocker spaniel Checkers on the beach at Mantoloking, New Jersey, in 1953. The researchers separated the owners, who were recruited through social media, into … My mother would have to take my dad to the hospital down in Philadelphia, and then she'd take the dog to the veterinarian," Owens said. First lady Mamie Eisenhower and her granddaughter Barbara Anne Eisenhower stand with the family pet, Heidi, outside the White House. Updated 11:59 AM ET, Tue September 19, 2017. It can take an emotional, physical and financial toll on any of us. Anyway, after the first day I received a call from the sitter. The mental and physical stress on individuals caring for elderly loved ones with chronic and terminal disease is well-documented and known as caregiver burden. President Theodore Roosevelt's eldest son, Teddy Jr., holds his macaw, Eli. President Calvin Coolidge's wife, Grace, holds her pet raccoon, Rebecca. “I could see, as a group, we were coping. He may not be able to walk as far or play as long. In fact, caring for an ailing animal often ends up placing a significant “caregiver burden” on its owner, new research finds. The second family has a dog, two cats and a bunny. I would not say that pet caregiving is the same, for example, as providing care for a parent with dementia or a spouse who has had a stroke," Spitznagel said. TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- As much joy as a pet can bring to the life of its human, when a beloved dog or cat falls ill, the emotional toll can be high. Be sure … We are happy to listen and will determine to the best of our ability whether a problem warrants a visit. Compounding this is the fact our pets can’t tell us what’s wrong, which adds to the stress. I could see she was upset," Rollin said. Maggie, his mother's four-legged friend with white spots on her black paws, died soon after she was diagnosed with cancer, Owens said. Provide Beneficial Bedding. But, we were all hanging by a thread.”, “The strain on individuals caring for human patients is well-documented and taxes the caregiver both mentally and physically,” Carlson said. President Herbert Hoover poses with his dog, King Tut. Spitznagel said that this is the first study that has ever examined pet caregiver burden and the pet owner’s psychological experience in the context of sick pet caregiving. It is linked to depression, anxiety and poor quality of life. Taking care of a chronically or terminally ill family member takes a terrible toll on the caregiver. Carlson co-authored a new article that examines pet caregiver burden and the pet owner’s psychological experience in the context of sick pet caregiving. If they said anything at all, they sort of tapped their heads in the sign of insanity, and the ones who did talk to her, they would say, 'It's just a dog.' Most people know that when they get a dog or cat, a big part of the pet's expense will be routine veterinary care. During her training as a clinical psychologist, she worked on a federally funded project examining family members providing care for people with dementia. Help them with grocery shopping, filling prescriptions, and getting other items they may need. Rollin, who was not involved in the new paper, remembers an incident when he was a young boy growing up in Brooklyn and saw one of his neighbors crying uncontrollably. There would be the dog in the car, my dad in the car. She was subsidizing Allo’s quality of life with her own. As you might notice, these symptoms are not unlike those that you may experience while caring for a special person in your life who is very sick. Make sure the person who is sick drinks a lot of fluids and rests. When Caring for a Sick Pet Becomes Too Much: how to cope + avoid caregiver burden If your pet is sick, you invest so much time, energy, and money into caring for them. Bush walks on the South Lawn of the White House, followed by his dog Millie and her puppies. In 1989, Millie gave birth to a litter of six puppies, including Spot, who later returned to the White House with President George W. Bush. Otherwise, single protein and simple carbohydrate meals will be the gentlest on a pet's stomach. President George H.W. Compared to participants with healthy pets, study subjects caring for chronic or terminally ill animals scored higher on scales of depression, anxiety and lower on well-being, and a psychometric test called the Zarit Burden Interview used to measure burden in human caregivers (the study authors adapted the test by replacing the word “relative” with “pet”). All of the questionnaires and measurement scales were borrowed from studies on human caregiving relationships, Spitznagel said. Make Caring for Feral Cats a Team Effort. On the other hand, "many people are afraid that if 'I'm not there and something happens, then I wasn't there.' This can take a real toll on you, as their owner and family. The more difficulty the owner experiences, the harder it becomes to care for the pet and a vicious cycle ensues.”. It could be, in fact, a sign of mild sickness or even a serious illness. "Caregiver burden is a real thing. While the dog is healing, do your best to keep the dog’s surroundings calm and peaceful so that you do not to disturb it too much. For more information about Kent State’s Department of Psychological Sciences, visit www.kent.edu/psychology. In the end, the team determined that symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or stress were notably higher among those caring for sick or dying pets. "My mother would often have to take my father to the hospital.