Treat Yourself Like a Dog (or Cat)

What veterinarians ask that other doctors miss

This isn’t intended to be deprecating, just a quirky approach to self care.

Although the title may have varying interpretations; it really is a tale (first and last pun I promise) about pets and vets. Consider the following scenario.

Lately, your dog, or cat, just doesn’t seem right. They have a blank stare, seem uninterested in anything they typically enjoy; there might even be strange sounds coming from their body.

All these oddities lead you to conclude, something must be wrong, and because the animal simply can’t tell you what’s ailing them, you decide a trip to the veterinarian is in order.

You arrive at the office, fill out some standard forms, a health history questionnaire with vital statistics, and are called back to a room. The vet greets you, conducts a visual review, some form of physical exam, then asks a series of critical, insightful questions:

What’s your pet been eating? Have they been getting enough activity? Are they playful and social, or seem withdrawn?

Sure, your doctor may ask about diet or exercise, it might even be on the health or intake forms; but too often, and for varying reasons, they’re unable to delve deeper. Questions such as these reveal a tremendous amount of information and help open further, candid discussion into a host of ailments, both physical and emotional.

Ask and answer the following questions for yourself.

What are you eating, when, and how much?

I doubt anyone remains skeptical of the powerful role food plays on our overall health and wellbeing. Evidence is mounting for a growing link between food and mood. What we eat, and when we eat it, will have a direct effect on how we feel.

Researchers are learning more about the role our digestive system plays, not only in our overall health, but regulating feelings. Scientists discovered gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine and GABA, all of which play a crucial role in regulating our mood.

We should also consider the basics, drinking enough water for example. Dehydration can not only cause muscle cramps, it can lead to headaches, dizziness, or fatigue. Or late night snacking; eating just before bed or late into the evening can disrupt sleep.

Of course there’s no shortage of advice out there on what or how to eat. In general, I follow three rules; produce over processed, farm over factory, real over refined. For those interested, here’s the healthiest human diet, according to science.

Veterinarians will often endorse calorie counts based on several factors. Humans have similar requirements. Whether you’re looking to gain, maintain or lose weight, there’s a recommended calorie count based on age, gender, size and activity. You can calculate your total here.

The single best natural mood enhancer thought, might just be exercise.

Are you getting enough activity?

You’ve likely heard the term, “runner’s high”; this euphoric feeling is not unique to running alone. Exercise not only increases blood flow to the brain, but releases endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters, the body’s very own natural antidepressant.

Our bodies are designed for motion and activity. This isn’t to say you should run daily or weekly marathons, but make motion a habit. Take a periodic break, walk outside, or even inside. A few minutes every hour or two will add up to a substantial total by the end of the day.

If you were a Chihuahua or Shih Tzu, your doctor would advise a 30-minute daily walk; for a Retriever or Standard Poodle, one to two hours of walking. Recommendations for a standard human amount to 8,000 steps a day.

While walking, instead of sending a text or email, make an occasional phone call, or meet someone if possible.

How’s your social life?

We’ve made many sacrifices to our social lives in the past year. These changes take a toll, not just on our mental, but physical health as well.

Humans are social animals, we crave and need interaction. It doesn’t have to be a large cocktail party or concert either; walk with a friend, if they can’t be there physically, do it by phone. Facetime with loved ones, or coworkers (the fun ones anyway) whenever possible.

On the surface, you might dismiss all this as obvious, and I can relate. It was only after a self assessment before realizing, I would too often neglect these very areas.

Full disclosure, I don’t have pets, just kids

Despite living in an area with frigid weather this time of year, I decided to go out for a walk with my kids yesterday. It was sunny, relatively mild, a perfect day to be outside.

We walked, talked, and just enjoyed each other’s company away from desks, phones, and computers. After returning home, we prepared dinner; good moods and better vibes continued well into bedtime.

A day in the life of a typical pet includes eating a set amount at a set time, exercise, being showered with attention, reinforcement, and love. Seems like a great approach to physical and mental wellness.

Too often, we fail to look for simple solutions, the basics; good food, exercise, and conversation.