How does health relate to emotional wellbeing? 

Physical health, mental health and emotional wellbeing are all related. Physical problems can lead to poor mental health and emotional wellbeing, and vice versa. Good all-around health of your dog is a prerequisite for their day-to-day happiness and quality of life.   

A dog experiencing physical health problems, pain or discomfort will likely have a lowered or depressed mental state and have poorer emotional wellbeing. Similarly, mental and emotional issues can cause or contribute to physical health issues directly. For example, an anxious dog may experience digestive issues.  

There are also knock-on effects of poor physical health, pain and discomfort which impact emotional wellbeing indirectly. For example, your dog may be prevented from exercising or expressing their natural canine behaviours and receiving all the associated positive mental and physical benefits. 

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In this section…

You will learn more about: 

  1. Health checks and spotting problems early
  2. Weight Management
  3. Vaccines and parasite prevention
  4. Dental care
  5. Physical activity
  6. Mental stimulation
  7. Seeking behavioural advice
  8. Measuring pet wellbeing

Key Terminology

A state of physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing.1 

The state of being comfortable, happy and healthy.2 

Any activity that activates or enriches the mind. Stimulation may be provided from the environment or internally from learning.3

An accumulation of excess body fat, resulting in excess bodyweight. Dogs are classified as obese when they weigh 20% or greater than their ideal bodyweight.4  

The term used to describe infection and associated inflammation of the tissue surrounding the tooth. Also known as gingivitis and periodontal disease.5  

A method of evaluating body composition based on a visual and feel based assessment of the dog’s body and abdomen.   

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Regular health checks and spotting problems early

With the help of your veterinarian and advances in technology, many diseases and conditions can be prevented or managed more effectively with appropriate prophylactic treatments (e.g., vaccinations, flea and worming medications) or if detected early. This is why taking your dog for a health check with your vet every six months is recommended.  Taking an active interest in your dog’s health and enjoying regular, meaningful interactions and a strong bond with them, also means you’ll be much more likely to spot any changes quickly and be more in tune with their emotional needs too. To find out more about the importance of preventative healthcare, follow this link. 

Changes in behaviour are often the first sign of illness, disease or discomfort which may lead to more obvious signals ...

With the help of your veterinarian and advances in technology, many diseases and conditions can be prevented or managed more effectively with appropriate prophylactic treatments (e.g., vaccinations, flea and worming medications) or if detected early. This is why taking your dog for a health check with your vet every six months is recommended.  Taking an active interest in your dog’s health and enjoying regular, meaningful interactions and a strong bond with them, also means you’ll be much more likely to spot any changes quickly and be more in tune with their emotional needs too. To find out more about the importance of preventative healthcare, follow this link. 

Changes in behaviour are often the first sign of illness, disease or discomfort which may lead to more obvious signals that your pet is in pain – to begin with you might simply notice that your dog is ‘just not itself’.    

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Changes in behaviour that may indicate signs of discomfort include:6 

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01

An increase or decrease in activity level.

02

Altered mobility (lameness, movement).

03

Increased sleeping or a change in sleeping habits.

04

Unusual aggression.

05

Anti-social behaviour.

06

Nervousness.

07

A change in appetite.

08

Altered elimination patterns.

09

Changes in other behaviours (e.g. licking or scratching).

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A change in behaviour should always raise concerns

If your dog's behaviour appears to be new, different or doesn’t seem right, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.  Even mild or early-stage health problems can have a negative impact on a dog’s emotional state.  So early detection is important to help prevent problems from escalating over time and safeguard your dog’s emotional wellbeing.   

Weight management  

Being overweight or underweight can have serious detrimental mental and emotional impacts for dogs, Help to keep your dog at a healthy weight as well as implications for their physical health. Being overweight can reduce your dog’s enjoyment of, or ability to do, the things dogs love such as run, jump, chase and swim. Overfeeding in combination with a sedentary lifestyle, are key reasons for obesity in dogs which is associated with, or in some cases the cause of, several health complications.7 These range in severity from conditions which cause pain or discomfort such as joint problems and skin disease, to conditions which can be life-threatening like heart problems. Obesity can make your dog’s existing medical condition worse or lead to the risk of painful conditions such as joint disease developing too.  Unfortunately, there has been an enormous increase in the incidence of obesity in dogs, just as there has been with people. In fact, obese people tend to have obese dogs8, suggesting that the environment and lifestyle that can impact owners' weight may also impact their pets.  

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Help to keep your dog at a healthy weight

You can find more information on Weight Management in Nutrition.

Whistle also has a whole range of resources, tools, and tips on healthy body weight maintenance, including the Whistle Food Portion Calculator which translates your dog’s characteristics and activity into tailored portion recommendations to help regulate calorie intake and keep them at a healthy weight.  

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To treat or not to treat?

Treats or rewards can strengthen the bond between owners and their dog and improve the wellbeing of both parties. Some treats may have other benefits too, such as Dentastix® which are clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar build-up, while promoting a sense of wellbeing by stimulating physical activity and a sense of enjoyment while chewing.9 

However, poor treating practices can adversely affect health and contribute to obesity. You can think of treat-feeding within the context of the daily energy and nutrition balance. Treats can replace up to 10% of your dog's daily calorie requirements.  An easy way to provide a lower calorie dog treat is to chop or break your dog's current treats into smaller pieces. They probably won't even notice the difference!

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Alternative Treats

Depending on the breed and personality of your dog there are also other methods of rewarding them such as grooming, play and exercise which also have a positive impact on the human-dog bond without the potential to contribute to overfeeding and obesity. 

For tips on how to treat and more information on the impact of treats on your dog’s emotional wellbeing, see Nutrition. 

Vaccinations and parasite prevention 

Routine treatments like vaccinations and parasite control are cornerstones of veterinary preventative healthcare for your dog, protecting their physical health and the mental and emotional repercussions of poor physical health. In fact, health concerns are often identified during vaccination or other routine appointments, so it is important to take your dog to the vet, even if you think they may be perfectly fit and healthy. Download the pdf or see Introduction and Socialisation for extra information. 

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Dental care 

Dental disease, including gum inflammation, gum disease and dental deposits affects over 80% of dogs over three years of age but often goes undetected.16 As part of a dog's dental care, an unconscious examination is required to properly diagnose early stages of dental disease, so it’s likely that the prevalence is underestimated by vets who usually only look in the conscious dog’s mouth. Dental disease can cause serious pain and discomfort, which is a barrier to your dog’s happiness and emotional wellbeing. It can stop your dog from getting adequate nutrition and reduce the enjoyment they gain from eating food and playing with food-based enrichment or other toys.

 

Dental Disease 

Dental disease in dogs can also lead to other serious diseases such as heart, liver and kidney disease, which clearly have long-term implications with physical and mental health as well as emotional wellbeing. Small dogs, in particular the toy breeds, are more susceptible to gum disease compared to larger breeds.

Dental Disease across popular dog breeds

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SHINE Dog dental disease infographic
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Proactive care can help prevent dental disease

In recent years, Waltham scientists have developed a non-invasive, digital imaging method to measure the amount of plaque on your dog’s teeth, which will help develop better dental products for them. More information on this cutting-edge technology can be found here. 

Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly is a great way to keep their gums and teeth healthier and fight gum disease. Introducing tooth brushing early in their life and in the right way could also mean they actually learn to enjoy the experience! You can find more tips in this step-by-step tooth brushing guide for dog owners.   

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Clinically proven to be safer

Some dog treats, such as Dentastix, are clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar, while promoting a sense of enjoyment and wellbeing by stimulating physical activity18. Chewing is a natural behaviour for dogs whose ancestors spent time chewing harder materials. It allows them to explore their environment and helps reduce boredom. Many commercial dental chews, as well as natural products like antlers, are too hard and may lead to fractured teeth19. Products, including dental chews, clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar and approved as safe by the Veterinary Oral Health Council can be found here.  
Bad breath from dental disease may lead to decreased interaction between pets and owners can affect the human-owner bond. This can negatively impact you and your dog’s emotional wellbeing.

Physical activity  

An active dog is a healthy and happy dog.  All dogs need exercise to stay physically fit and healthy – and it’s just as important for good mental health and emotional wellbeing too.27 In fact, a study demonstrated that daily exercise was proven to reduce stress and improve animal welfare for dogs living in a shelter environment.28 This is because physical activity provides mental stimulation and boosts that ‘feel good’ factor. And, if done correctly, it enables dogs to have positive interactions with their environment and express their natural behaviours.  

Ideally, most dogs need purposeful exercise multiple times a day – the frequency, duration and intensity of these sessions will vary depending on the life stage, breed and personality of the individual dog.  

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Signs that your dog is getting the right amount of physical exercise: 

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01

They have a good body condition score.

02

They have good muscle definition.

03

They show a willingness to engage in different activities.

04

There are no signs of breathlessness or difficulty keeping up.

05

They are enthusiastic to exercise and be active, but not over-excited.

06

They are generally calm and relaxed when at home.

07

Remember: some dogs would play fetch all day - but too much exercise can be mentally overstimulating, and detrimental to physical health.

08

Large and giant breed dogs, in particular, are at risk of developing orthopaedic problems like arthritis from inappropriate exercise. 

Mental stimulation  

Just as humans need to exercise their brain as well as their bodies for fulfilment, mental stimulation in dogs is just as important, and for some more so than others!  

In a variety of species, exposure to an enriched environment is known to not only improve cognition but also stimulate brain growth32. Studies have even suggested that engaging in activities designed to improve cognitive function may help delay brain ageing and improve quality of life in dogs long-term33.  Every dog will require and want different kinds and amounts of mental stimulation, so it’s up to you to get to know your dog’s individual needs. Achieving suitable cognitive tasks and challenges and developing cognitive skills can make dogs feel good - just like humans.   

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Seeking behavioural advice early  

Behaviour problems in dogs and your response to them can compromise your dog’s mental health and wellbeing. Seeking support early from a reputable trainer and/or behaviourist can help prevent problematic behaviours from occurring and set your dog up for success as a well-behaved, happy and resilient pet.  

We've put together a detailed guide which looks at this subject and the impact stress can have on your dog's behaviour. Download it below

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Guide: dog behaviour and emotional health

Measuring pet wellbeing

Unlike people, our pets can’t simply “tell” us how they are feeling. Scientists who have a specific interest in animal welfare, rely on a range of strategies to infer wellbeing of an individual or of a population of animals. Rather than relying on a single measure to infer emotional state, it is considered beneficial to capture a combination of behavioural and physiological indicators which can provide a more accurate understanding of how animals may be feeling in a variety of situations. These welfare indicators can include subjective or objective measures. For example, quantifying the duration and frequency of specific behaviours or measuring the concentrations of hormone analytes in blood or urine, are considered objective measures. Whereas, rating specific attributes or surveying a caregiver on their animal’s behaviour are subjective approaches to measuring wellbeing. The Animal Welfare Foundation provides a clear summary on how best to assess animal welfare. 

Pet owners and caregivers also have an important role to play in regularly monitoring their pet’s behaviour to better understand their mood and how they are coping in various environments. Observing pet behaviour and playing an active role in interpreting what your pet is trying to tell you will assist in ensuring your pet experiences optimal wellbeing. Take time to understand what is considered normal behaviour and body language for your pet so you can quickly recognise when they may need support to improve their physical or emotional health.  

At the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, a scientific instrument was developed by Data Scientists to measure pet dog wellbeing. The Dog Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire is a validated tool which relies on caregiver reports to quantify dog welfare and has been successfully used to collect data on dog wellbeing.  Based on a 32-item questionnaire, the assessment offers a comprehensive picture of a dog’s overall physical and emotional health, focusing on factors such as:   

- Energy levels  
- Happiness  
- Mobility  
-  Sociability 
- Appetite   

This assessment is suitable for use in the general population of dogs and may enable digital tools that veterinary teams and owners could use to track a dog’s wellbeing at any stage of the pet’s life.  You can read more about the development of the Dog QoL here. Be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming Cat QoL instrument which is under development. 

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Key Points

Physical problems can lead to poor mental health and emotional wellbeing, and vice versa.  

Alongside regular veterinary check-ups, taking an active interest in your dog’s health and enjoying regular, meaningful interactions and a strong bond with them will help you spot any changes quickly and be more in tune with their emotional needs. 

Such as routine check-ups, vaccinations, dental care and parasite control will help you detect problems early to reduce their long-term impact on quality of life and emotional wellbeing.  

Help prevent problematic behaviours from occurring, sustain your dog’s mental health and set your dog up for success as a well-behaved, happy and resilient pet.  

In your dog’s overall health and emotional wellbeing. Dogs that are overweight may experience a reduced ability to engage in pleasurable, positive behaviours such as exercise and play, as well as more physical health complications and exacerbation of current health condition

And emotional enjoyment, as well as contributors to physical health. Every dog will have different requirements based on their unique needs including age, health status and breed type, as well as their individual preferences. 

 

 References

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