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Did you know that the mental abilities of our dogs and cats are thought to be on par with those of 2-year-old children? Dogs are capable of learning hundreds of words, reading our facial cues, and spatial problem-solving. Cats can learn from observation, store long-term memories, and understand object permanence. Our pets also have rich emotional lives and can feel joy, anger, fear, affection, and even jealousy. Unfortunately, since many of us are naive to the complexity of our pets’ minds, we fail to understand the importance of mental stimulation to their overall health and wellbeing. 

Mental exercise is just as important for our pets as physical exercise. It lowers stress levels, reduces hyperactivity, and keeps the brain active and healthy. It helps growing puppies and kittens become well-adjusted, happy, and confident adults. It also helps to prevent and slow the progression of age-related cognitive dysfunction (similar to human dementia) in aging pets. Without frequent mental stimulation, pets often become bored, restless, and anxious. This can lead to destructive behavior, aggression, excessive vocalizing, inappropriate elimination, and other major behavioral problems. The good news is that there are a multitude of ways to stimulate your pet’s mind and help mitigate these issues, including (but not limited to) the following: 

Don’t underestimate the intelligence and emotional capacity of your pets (and animals in general), and remember that many behavioral problems in our animals stem from unmet psychological needs. Devoting just 15 minutes per day to actively and positively engaging with your pets can make a big difference in their quality of life and the bonds you share. 

“Ask the Vet” is a monthly column written by local veterinarians, including Colin Chaves of Covington Creek Veterinary, Karen Novak of Mendocino Village Veterinary, Clare Bartholomew of Mendocino Coast Humane Society, and Kendall Willson of Mendocino Equine and Livestock. Past articles can be found on the Advocate-News and Beacon websites by searching “Ask the Vet.”

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