{"id":28260,"date":"2017-10-17T22:08:44","date_gmt":"2017-10-17T19:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeadvancer.com\/?p=28260"},"modified":"2017-10-17T22:08:44","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T19:08:44","slug":"esa-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeadvancer.com\/esa-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is an ESA Dog and What You Should Know Before Getting One"},"content":{"rendered":"
What is an ESA dog? Emotional support animals (ESA) are fast gaining popularity among people who are suffering from mental or emotional problems.<\/p>\n
They provide the comfort, companionship, and affection needed when trying to cope with the symptoms or effects of an emotional or mental disability.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re considering getting an ESA dog, there are a few things you should keep in mind.<\/p>\n
When considering the options of bringing a new dog home, ask yourself if you\u2019re ready to commit yourself to a new pet. Maybe you already have another dog or a cat in your home.<\/p>\n
Are you capable of ensuring its comfort, safety, and health<\/strong>? Will you be in a position to exercise the new dog every morning? Will your emotional condition compromise the pet\u2019s safety?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure about any of these questions, it\u2019s good to discuss the options you have with your ESA doctor. It\u2019s true that most people love emotional support dogs, but there are other options available such as cats, fish, and birds.<\/p>\n Many people make the mistake of choosing an emotional support dog on the basis of how cute it looks or how smart it is. Be sure to know the dog\u2019s level of patience, clinginess, and energy level.<\/p>\n Considering these factors will help you determine if the dog will have a positive impact on your emotional or mental health<\/strong> or end up causing more harm or being a burden.<\/p>\n The best ESA dog should match your needs and personality and be more independent rather than being too needy. The last thing you want is having to deal with extensive care needs of a dog<\/a> when you already have a busy schedule yourself.<\/p>\n Some dog breeds are pretty good at handling tasks on their own with little to no guidance, meaning less work for you.<\/p>\n Before bringing a new dog home, you have to ensure your home is pet-friendly. You should know that simple day-to-day thing like chewing gum can be dangerous for dogs and open play spaces are critical for your dog\u2019s health. You have to make your home a better place for your ESA dog.<\/p>\n Avoid common hazards with pets by getting electric cords and small toys out of the way as well as toxic chemicals and plants from common places where you\u2019ll be spending with your dog. There are different ways you can make your home pet-friendly<\/strong> to ensure their safety and comfort.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to think of the annual cost of care for the type of emotional support dog you want. A dog can add a significant amount to your annual expenses.<\/p>\n The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) notes that the annual cost of care<\/a> in the first year for a small ESA dog can go up to $1,314, a medium dog $1,580 and a large dog around $1,843.<\/p>\n Just like normal health emergencies, it\u2019s important to have the right pet care emergency numbers just in case something happens. Your emotional support dog could get sick or start behaving badly. You should have working contacts to the nearest pet vet, stolen pet, pet poison control, pet loss support, and disease control offices.<\/p>\n Be aware of your dog\u2019s health<\/strong> and look out for common signs that may indicate your pet<\/a> requires emergency care such as seizures, pale gums, difficulty standing, rapid breathing and change in body temperature.<\/p>\n Emotional support dogs are meant to be a constant, comforting presence in the face of deliberating emotional and mental illnesses. ESA dogs are there to help the owner cope with afflictions like stress, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and autism<\/strong>.<\/p>\n These dogs don\u2019t require any special type of training or treatment.<\/p>\nWill the Dog Fit Your Current Lifestyle?<\/h3>\n
Is Your Home Dog-Friendly?<\/h3>\n
How About the Cost of Care?<\/h3>\n
Do You Know Where to Seek Help?<\/h3>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n