Having a roof worked on or replaced entirely can be a hassle for the entire family, but it's easy to overlook the impact it can have on your pets. If you need this important work done on your home, you might want to consider boarding your pets for the duration of the work. Here's why.
Noise and Vibrations
Having a roof worked on is incredibly noisy and sends vibrations traveling through the walls of the house. This can be terrifying for a pet who doesn't understand what's going on. Both dogs and cats have extremely sensitive ears that can pick up small sounds from farther away than humans can. Needless to say, large noises like hammering, saws, and nail guns can be extremely alarming for an animal and send them scrambling to hide. Unfortunately, as long as the work is going on, there's nowhere your pet can go to get away from the sound.
Stress
If you choose to keep your pet at home while your roof is being worked on, you could end up with a stressed pet that won't be social for a very long time afterward. Even confident and happy pets can become terrified, anxious creatures that are determined to hide in a closet or under the bed rather than come out. Some, especially cats, may even lash out in fear if you try to retrieve them once the work is done.
Health Strain
When it comes to stress for a pet, it's not just about temporary behavioral changes. Stress impacts the health of all living creatures, including pets. Excess stress can cause a heart rate to go up, blood pressure to rise, and respiration to quicken. These three symptoms can be stressful on a pet's cardiovascular and respiratory system, especially if they have preexisting health conditions or are elderly. While it's unlikely that having your roof worked on will shorten the life of your pet, it could make them ill enough to require veterinary care and medication to control their symptoms.
Thankfully, all of this can be avoided. Simply arrange for your pet to be boarded during the days that your roof will be worked on. Make sure to discuss the potential for an extension in their stay in case the roof work goes on longer than expected, too. Chances are high that your animal boarding facility will be more than happy to keep your furry friend or friends for as long as it takes, and your pets will feel so much better than if they'd been trapped inside with all that noise.
To learn more, contact a resource like the Marquette Animal Hospital.
A vet is someone who is there for your pet from their early years until their last years. When your pet is young, a vet can give them the vaccines they need for disease prevention as they become acquainted with the world. As your pet ages, your vet can monitor them for the conditions that often come with old age, such as arthritis and cancer. Vets care about their patients. We hope you will learn more about this care as you browse the content on this blog. We do our best to offer well-researched and helpful information for pet owners like you.