The holiday season, often depicted as a time of joy and festivity, can also bring feelings of stress, loneliness, or depression for many individuals. Factors such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), financial pressures, or memories of lost loved ones can make this period challenging. During these times, pets can offer invaluable companionship, comfort, and emotional support.
For pet owners, maintaining your pet’s health is vital to their ability to support yours. Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital (BBVSH) in Surrey offers 24/7 emergency and critical care and specialty services to keep your furry companions healthy and happy throughout the season.
Here are just some of the ways pets can help alleviate holiday depression and how veterinary care ensures their well-being as they support yours.
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Unconditional Love and Companionship
Pets provide unwavering companionship, offering unconditional love without judgment. For those feeling isolated during the holidays, pets offer a sense of purpose and connection that can ease feelings of sadness.
How Pets Help:
- Warm Welcomes: Dogs and cats greet you enthusiastically, making you feel valued and loved.
- Combating Loneliness: Their presence reduces feelings of isolation, especially for individuals living alone.
- Engaging Interactions: Activities like talking to or playing with your pet can alleviate feelings of solitude.
Veterinary Tip: Regular veterinary check-ups ensure your pet remains healthy and capable of providing the companionship you cherish. Veterinarians can also address behavioral concerns, such as separation anxiety, that may arise during busy holiday schedules.
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Stress Reduction Through Physical Contact
Interacting with pets has been shown to lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and increase oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding and happiness. Physical touch from a furry friend can be especially comforting during emotionally challenging times.
How Pets Help:
- Cuddling Comfort: Petting or cuddling your pet releases feel-good hormones.
- Calming Effects: The rhythmic motion of stroking a dog or cat can have a soothing effect.
- Seeking Closeness: Pets often seek physical proximity, providing warmth and comfort.
Veterinary Tip: Ensure your pet enjoys physical contact. Some pets may have medical conditions, like arthritis, that make certain interactions uncomfortable. Your veterinarian can help identify and manage these issues to maintain a positive and pain-free relationship with your pet. At BBVSH, we offer physiotherapy services for both dogs and cats.
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Encouraging Physical Activity
Physical activity is a powerful tool against depression, and pets, particularly dogs, encourage you to stay active. A daily walk, hike, or game of fetch benefits both you and your pet, boosting mental health.
How Pets Help:
- Regular Exercise: Dogs encourage daily walks, which can alleviate symptoms of depression.
- Sunlight Exposure: Outdoor activities increase exposure to sunlight, helping combat SAD.
- Endorphin Release: Physical activity releases endorphins, improving mood and reducing stress.
Veterinary Tip: Before engaging in vigorous activities, ensure your pet is healthy enough for exercise. A pre-holiday veterinary check-up can identify any underlying health concerns, such as joint issues or weight-related limitations, that may affect their ability to stay active. At BBVSH, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons can assess injuries and help make a plan to treat these symptoms. Find out more here.
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Creating Routine and Purpose
When dealing with depression, maintaining structure and purpose can be challenging. Pets rely on their owners for food, exercise, and care, providing a daily routine to follow.
How Pets Help:
- Responsibility: Feeding, grooming, and walking your pet instill a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.
- Structured Schedule: Pets thrive on routine, helping you establish a regular schedule.
- Sense of Meaning: Knowing your pet depends on you can provide a sense of purpose and motivation.
Veterinary Tip: Consistent feeding schedules and proper nutrition are key to your pet’s health. Consult your veterinarian about the best diet and care routine to ensure your pet stays healthy and energetic.
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Offering Emotional Support and Connection
Pets are excellent listeners and offer nonjudgmental emotional support. They intuitively sense when their owners are upset, often staying close during difficult moments.
How Pets Help:
- Quiet Companionship: Cats may curl up next to you when you’re feeling down.
- Empathetic Behavior: Dogs often display empathy, nudging or licking you when they sense sadness.
- Calming Presence: Their presence creates a soothing environment, reducing the intensity of negative emotions.
Veterinary Tip: Behavioral changes in pets, like clinginess or lethargy, may signal stress or illness. If your pet is providing emotional support but seems unusually withdrawn or anxious, a veterinary visit can rule out any underlying health issues.
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Socialization Opportunities
Owning a pet can help you connect with other pet owners, providing opportunities for social interaction. This is particularly beneficial for those who struggle with loneliness during the holidays.
How Pets Help:
- Meeting Others: Dog owners often meet others at parks, trails, or pet-friendly events.
- Community Engagement: Joining pet groups or attending holiday-themed pet meetups can help you make new friends.
- Conversation Starters: Pets act as icebreakers, making conversations with strangers easier.
Veterinary Tip: Regular vaccinations and parasite prevention are essential when exposing your pet to public spaces. Talk to your family veterinarian to ensure your pet is fully protected before attending group activities.
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Reducing Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
The shorter days and reduced sunlight during the holiday season can contribute to SAD, a type of depression triggered by seasonal changes. Pets provide emotional warmth and a reason to go outdoors, both of which help combat these symptoms.
How Pets Help:
- Motivation to Go Outside: Dogs encourage spending time outdoors, increasing exposure to natural light.
- Joyful Distraction: The happiness pets bring can offset the emotional heaviness of the season.
- Playful Energy: Their playful nature can lighten your mood and encourage fun, spontaneous moments.
Veterinary Tip: Ensure your pet is comfortable with colder weather. Breeds with thin coats may need protective clothing, and all pets should have access to fresh, unfrozen water and a warm, dry place to rest. If you suspect your pet is suffering from frost-bite or hypothermia after prolonged exposure to the cold, our emergency department is open 24/7/365.
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Volunteering and Fostering Pets
If you don’t have a pet, consider fostering or volunteering at an animal shelter. Caring for animals can be incredibly rewarding and provides a sense of fulfillment.
How Fostering Helps:
- Providing Care: Shelters like SAINTS Rescue in BC offer opportunities to care for senior or special-needs animals in need of love.
- Temporary Homes: Fostering pets gives you the chance to provide a temporary home while building a meaningful connection.
- Community Involvement: Volunteering allows you to make a difference in the lives of animals and improve your own mental health.
Local Shelters and Rescues in BC:
- BC SPCA: With multiple locations across the province, BC SPCA provides adoption, education, and volunteer opportunities.
- Surrey Animal Resource Centre (SARC): Focused on finding homes for surrendered animals and offering volunteer opportunities.
- SAINTS Rescue: Specializes in providing care for senior and special-needs animals in BC.
- Tiny Kittens: A Langley-based rescue focusing on feral cats, kitten care, and innovative community programs.
- Small Dog Rescue BC: Dedicated to rescuing and rehoming small breed dogs in BC.
- Katie’s Place: A Maple Ridge shelter for cats with special needs, offering fostering and volunteer opportunities.
- RAPS BC (Regional Animal Protection Society): Operates a no-kill shelter, adoption programs, and a sanctuary for farm animals.
- Loved At Last Dog Rescue: Focuses on rehoming abandoned and at-risk dogs from around the world.
- Ned’s Wish Foundation: A foundation supporting retired service dogs, ensuring their care and well-being in their later years.
Veterinary Tip: Many of these organizations partner with veterinary hospitals like ours for the medical care of their animals. Donating or volunteering helps shelters afford the lifesaving treatments and care that rescued pets need.
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Therapy Dogs: Bringing Comfort to You
For individuals or groups experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, or emotional fatigue, therapy dogs provide a unique source of comfort and support. Organizations like HeroDawgs specialize in bringing therapy animals directly to workplaces, events, or communities, creating a calming and uplifting environment. These programs are especially impactful for first responders, healthcare workers, and others working in high-pressure roles.
How Therapy Dogs Help:
- Reducing Workplace Stress: Therapy dogs visiting workplaces help reduce stress and promote a sense of calm among employees.
- Emotional Support: For first responders and healthcare workers, therapy dogs can provide a much-needed emotional reprieve in high-stakes environments.
- Boosting Morale: A visit from therapy dogs can lift spirits, enhance team cohesion, and bring moments of joy to challenging days.
- Event Participation: Therapy dogs can be invited to community events, offering comfort to attendees and fostering positive interactions.
Veterinary Tip: Therapy dogs undergo regular health screenings and behavioral evaluations to ensure they are safe, healthy, and ready to work in high-stress or crowded environments. Organizations like HeroDawgs collaborate closely with veterinary professionals like BBVSH to maintain the well-being of their therapy animals.
Incorporating therapy dogs into workplaces or community programs is an excellent way to promote mental wellness and create a supportive environment for individuals facing stress or trauma.
Final Thoughts
The holidays can be challenging, but the companionship and unconditional love of pets can make a world of difference. Their ability to provide emotional support, establish routine, and encourage physical activity makes them invaluable partners in combating holiday depression.
With your pet by your side, the holidays can be a time of healing, joy, and connection. Together, you can create moments of comfort and happiness that make the season special.
Note: If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health, there are free and confidential resources available through Wellness Together Canada. Or visit the Government of Canada mental health website for other resources available in your area. Bell Canada Let’s Talk also has some great resources, and check out this Canadian Living mental health resources roundup.
If you’re in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 911.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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About Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital
Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital is a family owned, veterinary specialty and 24/7 emergency and critical care hospital in Surrey, BC, serving the Vancouver metro area and greater British Columbia. We have a sister hospital in Bellingham, Washington.
As a certified VECCS Level I facility and a Level II VetCOT Trauma Centre, we are capable of handling even the most critical, life-threatening emergencies and trauma, with board-certified specialists on staff and on-call to handle any medical or surgical issue.
Our board-certified specialists offer services in emergency and critical care, surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, oncology, dentistry, diagnostic imaging, and animal rehabilitation.