When pets get older, it's very common for them to experience certain kinds of discomfort, illnesses, or even organ failure. But one of the most common health-related occurrences I've witnessed in animals has to do with their emotional health, unrelated to aging.
Many of you may know that animals are here on earth to be our teachers and guides; but another aspect of their involvement in our lives is to act as a mirror to our own experiences. I've met with clients who say that their pets seem to be feeling what they themselves are feeling...in other words, the animal "mirrors" back physical -- or emotional -- conditions such as aches, pains, stress, or some illness. One of their roles in being part of our lives is to show us where we need to pay attention. The problem is most people don't notice that their pets are just trying to tell them something, to realize that it's important to take care of ourselves.
My friend in the photo above began barking excessively shortly after his "dad" passed away. His mom, now a widow, asked me to speak with him about this, and it turned out he was simply being protective due to the loss of his "father figure." He only wanted to keep his mom safe; now that there was no longer a man in the house, he took it upon himself to be her protector.
So what seems to be a behavior problem is actually a loving and concerned pet trying to get a message across to the family.
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