We all know that visiting a strange area with people that we don't know can be quite hard to handle at times, but what is it like for our pets? All pets act differently than others and may change their mood depending on the surrounding environment and experience. Some dogs may greet the local groomer with happy barking and tail wagging whereas some may growl or bite.

The fact is there are many different types of body language that animals can direct at us during any situation. In this section of our website, we will help you with:

• Identifying common body language and sounds from domesticated animals
• Calming your pet down when they're scared or upset
• Preventing problematic situations from occuring (Coming Soon!)
• Tips on wound and bite care and symptom relief (Coming Soon!)

TRIVIA: A cat or dog's mouth is often the dirtiest place on their body. The many bacteria that live there can cause serious infections in both humans and other animals. It is best to be on the safe side and pick up a broad spectrum antibiotic to treat any lingering germs.

Body Language - cats and dogs

Scared, stressed, or uncomfortable: Hiding face, shivering, panting, tail between legs, wincing, retreating, uncontrollable urinating/deficating, hissing (cats), growling, wimpering, ears back.

Happy, content, or excited: Wagging tail (dogs), barking or meowing, jumping, panting, licking, playing, howling, purring, light nips, rubbing (cats).

Angry, aggressive, or territorial: Growls, yelling, scratches, bites, hissing, barking, ears back, back hair standing, puffy or wagging tail (cats).

Body Language - birds

Happy, content, or excited: Chirping, singing, chattering, toy interaction, dilated pupils

Angry, agressive, or territorial: Biting, squaking, screeching.

Scared, stressed, or uncomfortable: Retreating, plucking feathers, skin mite overgrowth, quiet, depressed.

Body Language - rodents

Happy, content, or excited: Wheel interaction, normal storage instinct, exploration, popcorning (guinea pigs).

Angry, agressive, or territorial: Biting, kicking, ears back, mounting (territorial), scratching, chattering teeth.

Scared, stressed, or uncomfortable: Retreating, submissive position on back with teeth bared, uncontrollable urinating or deficating, kicking. 

Calming Techniques

Sometimes leaving a cat or dog alone in a quiet and comfortable place can give them the time they need to realize evrything is safe in the facinity. Offering food by hand may be a good option too to stimulate interest in eating and to show that you want to help. At our clinics, we always try to 'make friends' with our patients and boarders by talking in a reassuring, happy tone and offering a hand to smell. Dogs and cats always want to smell the person before being pet. This allows them to receive a better sense of who we are and what we intend to do. With a few tries, you will be able to touch and pet a once wary animal and will feel a major bond and accomplishment with making them trust you. Remember though, every cat and dog is different and some take longer to gain your trust than others.

It may take some time for animals in a unfamiliar place and with unfamiliar people, but 'making friends' with them and working on gaining their trust will help further the bond and ease them into a new experience or environment.

Keeping scared or injured birds in a dark, quiet area with little disturbance is the best for them as they are very delicate creatures. Using a blanket or towel over their cage will help too. Birds need stimulation and interaction depending on the breed. Some birds enjoy being handled and coming out of the cage when tame, whereas some are purely meant to be kept happy within their cage with their own kind. Researching bird breeds before purchasing will help in them and yourself being safe and happy.

Most rodents need socialization on a regular basis to keep tame and the best way to get them to trust you is picking them up and letting them adjust to your smell. Of course, when purchasing a young rodent from the pet store or adopting one, they may need a few days to adjust to their new cage and surrounding area. The best way to do this is to have their cage clean and ready for them before pick-up and to leave them in it for exploration for at least 3 days without any interaction or handling from humans.