topic Re: Pets and pain! in Wellness

Pets and pain!

ical — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 14:14:29 GMT

If anyone says that owning a pet does not help in managing pain, they don't have a pet, or they have a pet and the pet is a fish.

Re: Pets and pain!

hckynut — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 16:44:15 GMT

Will say that they certainly help take care of that thing sitting on top of the shoulders and it is all good.

Re: Pets and pain!

lolakimono — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 17:03:19 GMT

Yes- unless your pet trips you down the stairs...

which is why I always let him go first.

Re: Pets and pain!

Kookielady — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 17:14:48 GMT

Re: Pets and pain!

adelle38 — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 17:36:57 GMT

Unfortunately, many people suffering from chronic pain don't have the physical and financial means to care for a pet.

Re: Pets and pain!

Madisson — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 17:47:19 GMT

On 9/27/2014 adelle38 said:
Unfortunately, many people suffering from chronic pain don't have the physical and financial means to care for a pet.

That is so true, Adelle! People need to do their research on what is involved in caring for a pet before adopting one. They really are quite expensive to care for...if cared for properly.

Many people who have chronic pain also might be older people who are in apartments or housing that do not allow pets. That is so sad, because they are such a great comfort.

Re: Pets and pain!

adelle38 — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 18:19:05 GMT

On 9/27/2014 Madisson said:
On 9/27/2014 adelle38 said:
Unfortunately, many people suffering from chronic pain don't have the physical and financial means to care for a pet.

That is so true, Adelle! People need to do their research on what is involved in caring for a pet before adopting one. They really are quite expensive to care for...if cared for properly.

Many people who have chronic pain also might be older people who are in apartments or housing that do not allow pets. That is so sad, because they are such a great comfort.

In my apartment the non refundable pet fee is $350 plus an extra $15 per month. People say get a cat because they are easier to care for. They may not need to be walked but you need to be vigilant about cleaning the litter box which for me would mean going up and down stairs a lot. Then, there are always unexpected vet bills.

Re: Pets and pain!

LilacTree — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 18:47:15 GMT

I had to let my ex-SIL take my Belle. She was a sweetie, and a really good cat, but I just couldn't handle the box cleaning anymore, nor could I keep up with hair removal on the furniture and rugs. I have to say I did her a favor, because he and she are best friends and she has a far more interesting life with him than she did with me. My grandchildren see her often, so there's still a connection. I miss having a pet.

Re: Pets and pain!

Another new name Sue — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 19:09:35 GMT

Ford, how fortunate you were to have someone take your Belle. I'm sorry it's too difficult for you to have a pet now as they can be such a comfort.

Dogs, especially, help us in so many ways--guide dogs, military dogs, comfort dogs, security dogs, search & rescue and much, much more. It's a shame we read of so much animal abuse in the news. They really are "man's best friend."

Re: Pets and pain!

adelle38 — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 19:15:43 GMT

On 9/27/2014 lolakimono said:
Yes- unless your pet trips you down the stairs...

which is why I always let him go first.

I fostered a cat for two weeks who was a skinny version of him. He was a real sweetie but always on top of my feet when I walked. I was afraid one of us was going to get hurt. He also insisted on sitting on my head when I did yoga.

Re: Pets and pain!

Madisson — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 19:17:23 GMT

I agree that cleaning the litter box is a pain, but we do it at least twice a day. We have two cats. Female cats are easier to care for, as males sometimes spray. The fur really is a lot to keep up with though. We bought a leather couch just because we knew the fur wouldn't stick to it. We have to keep the nails clipped though.

$350 nonrefundable deposit it alot! However, cats sometimes vomit on the carpet or cough up furballs. We clean those messes up right away with the carpet cleaner, but they can cause some damage to the carpets, so I understand the deposit. I have heard of places charging $40/month for a cat in an apartment!

Re: Pets and pain!

PatsyCline — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 20:46:38 GMT

A pet can lower our blood pressure, yes I believe they help releive pain. :-)

Re: Pets and pain!

hckynut — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 21:23:28 GMT

On 9/27/2014 Madisson said:
I agree that cleaning the litter box is a pain, but we do it at least twice a day. We have two cats. Female cats are easier to care for, as males sometimes spray. The fur really is a lot to keep up with though. We bought a leather couch just because we knew the fur wouldn't stick to it. We have to keep the nails clipped though.

$350 nonrefundable deposit it alot! However, cats sometimes vomit on the carpet or cough up furballs. We clean those messes up right away with the carpet cleaner, but they can cause some damage to the carpets, so I understand the deposit. I have heard of places charging $40/month for a cat in an apartment!

Just want to add that "female felines" also spray. I don't want anyone to think because of a gender they will not have the same problem. When a female feline has a problem or just does not like a certain litter, they will also do the same as a male. We've had very many of both genders and the problem is not exclusive to the male species only.

Having a feline is certainly less work than a canine, and my wife now fostering Boxers makes this much easier for me to say. She works and I am retired, so? I take care of the fosters during the day hours and that requires keeping them company, and yes, walking them in the rain and below zero weather. Felines do not require that same attention.

Neither of these species is going to be without need for someone to take care of their needs and I think, like others here have said, if a person is not real mobile or is financially living barely meeting their necessities, it is neither fair to the person or the animal to be put in this position.

While I love all of our felines and our fosters, to even think they do not require a certain amount of work and expense, would be a pipe dream.

Re: Pets and pain!

ical — Sat, 27 Sep 2014 22:35:54 GMT

Oh well. I guess if I said having a Bentley would help with pain management, I could understand. But even in areas and places one cannot have a pet, due to expense, or physical inability, or whatever reason, feed the birds, or listen to that cricket that chirps outside your window, or put a pan of water on your window sill so the bees can get a sip, or maybe a sparrow, or a moth might go to your screen, if you put your shade up and watch it go toward the light shining from the lamp by your bed. And for all you know, maybe even a fish would be better than bitterness. The point is to divert pain and to know you are not alone with it… At least I thought so.

Re: Pets and pain!

Madisson — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:28:55 GMT

On 9/27/2014 hckynut said:
On 9/27/2014 Madisson said:
I agree that cleaning the litter box is a pain, but we do it at least twice a day. We have two cats. Female cats are easier to care for, as males sometimes spray. The fur really is a lot to keep up with though. We bought a leather couch just because we knew the fur wouldn't stick to it. We have to keep the nails clipped though.

$350 nonrefundable deposit it alot! However, cats sometimes vomit on the carpet or cough up furballs. We clean those messes up right away with the carpet cleaner, but they can cause some damage to the carpets, so I understand the deposit. I have heard of places charging $40/month for a cat in an apartment!

Just want to add that "female felines" also spray. I don't want anyone to think because of a gender the will not have the same problem. When a female feline has a problem or just does not like a certain litter, they will also do the same as a male. We've had very many of both genders and the problem is not exclusive to the male species only.

Having a feline is certainly less work than a canine, and my wife not fostering Boxers makes this much easier for me to say. She works and I am retired, so? I take care of the fosters during the day hours and that requires keeping them company, and yes, walking them in the rain and below zero weather. Felines do not require that same attention.

Neither of these species is going to be without need for someone to take care of their needs and I think, like others here have said, if a person is not real mobile or is financially living barely meeting their necessities, it is neither fair to the person or the animal to be put in this position.

While I love all of our felines and our fosters, to even think they do not require a certain amount of work and expense, would be a pipe dream.

Hmmm...interesting! I've only ever had female cats, so I guess I was lucky that they did not spray. I just lost my 17 year old cat due to kidney disease a month ago. Toward the end when she was having a problem eliminating, she would stand along side the box and try to go as she seemed to need to stretch her body to eliminate. I had puppy pads all around the litter boxes. I agree that the dogs are much more work...we have three.

Re: Pets and pain!

newziesuzie — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 02:31:23 GMT

On 9/27/2014 ical said:
Oh well. I guess if I said having a Bentley would help with pain management, I could understand. But even in areas and places one cannot have a pet, due to expense, or physical inability, or whatever reason, feed the birds, or listen to that cricket that chirps outside your window, or put a pan of water on your window sill so the bees can get a sip, or maybe a sparrow, or a moth might go to your screen, if you put your shade up and watch it go toward the light shining from the lamp by your bed. And for all you know, maybe even a fish would be better than bitterness. The point is to divert pain and to know you are not alone with it… At least I thought so.

That's a nice post. I think you're right. Caring for other living creatures even the tiny ones can give us the added reward of less pain.

Re: Pets and pain!

hckynut — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 05:28:54 GMT

On 9/27/2014 Madisson said:
Hmmm...interesting! I've only ever had female cats, so I guess I was lucky that they did not spray. I just lost my 17 year old cat due to kidney disease a month ago. Toward the end when she was having a problem eliminating, she would stand along side the box and try to go as she seemed to need to stretch her body to eliminate. I had puppy pads all around the litter boxes. I agree that the dogs are much more work...we have three.

Madisson,

I am sorry to hear you lost your 17 year old recently. All of our felines have been indoor only and they all have been fixed also. Several of of them also ended up with kidney disease and we were able to extend their functional happy lives for a couple of years by giving them fluids ourselves at home on a regular basis. When it reached the point where we knew they were no longer enjoying their lives be had them euthanized. It is never easy no matter how many times one has to make that decision.

Of our well over 30 felines over the years, more of them have been females than males. That is just the way it worked out for some reason. While the females don't do "it" quite the same, the results on carpets are exactly the same. When any of them started going outside the litter boxes the first thing we always do is take them to our vet. Most of them we were able to keep from doing this, but I can't say we were successful with all of them, male and female. I just had to do a whole lot more cleaning and buying more odor removers.

Been a long time since we've had this problems so haven't had this extra work for quite awhile now. I thought the same things with males versus females until I saw several of our females doing it on the carpets. At that point I also started watching them all, not just the boys.

Best to you and all of your furry family,

Re: Pets and pain!

spindlegirl — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 04:58:28 GMT

(((((((((Madison))))))) I'm sorry your kitty passed over the rainbow bridge.

Re: Pets and pain!

Madisson — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 18:37:01 GMT

hckynut ~~ Thank you for your condolences. It is just awful to have to make that decision to euthanize. We decided against giving her fluids because she had severe arthritis also and could not handle the pain medications the vet prescribed. It's like you said...when they get to the point that they are not enjoying life anymore, then you have to make that very tough decision. That was probably the most traumatic experience of my life.

You have quite the furry family also. I've read before that you and your wife foster dogs. That is just so kind-hearted and unselfish of you. It must be so hard to give them up when they find a permanent family. You must be very special people.

Re: Pets and pain!

Madisson — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 18:43:06 GMT

Spindlegirl ~ Thank you so much for your condolences. My furbaby passed just two weeks after my brother passed unexpectedly, so it has been a double whammy. I visit the Rainbow Bridge site frequently. It is very comforting. It also consoles me to think that my furbaby is with my brother and my father.