Behavioral Medicine & Counseling for Problem Pets
We understand that well-trained pets make happier, more agreeable companions. The Animal Care Daybreak team provides information, advice, and resources to assist you in addressing your pet behavioral concerns.
Addressing Problem Pet Behaviors
We offer behavior counseling geared toward correcting annoying, damaging, or dangerous conduct in pets. Common behavior problems plaguing pet owners include excessive barking, chewing, spraying, scratching, digging, house soiling, and aggression. We work with you, identifying the source of the problem and developing a plan to establish or restore a positive relationship with your companion.
Medical Interventions
We begin with a thorough exam to identify any physical issues that may cause problem behaviors. Physical causes for acting out include an irritating allergy or skin disorder, painful urinary tract infection, or intestinal parasites. Medical interventions for specific conditions can effectively eliminate related behaviors.
Some pet problems are best addressed by adding behavioral medication to the treatment plan. These medications help treat problem behavior in a variety of ways, such as:
- Altering the animal’s perception of a situation or thing
- Changing the consequence of the behavior
- Providing an acceptable alternate action
- A combination of these options
Typically, medication is combined with behavior modification to help the patient respond more effectively. For example, if a dog is afraid of thunder storms, medication helps to tolerate the storm while behavior modification is implemented.
Training Helps Pets & Owners
Aside from medical issues, environmental changes can cause stress that leads to pet problems. Changes in the pet’s household, such as adding a new family member or a move to a new location, can cause unpleasant behavioral changes.
Don’t wait to address pet problems of this nature. The longer a negative behavior is exhibited, the more difficult it is to correct it. Basic training techniques can provide immediate relief, helping pet owners establish order and safety while enhancing the human-animal bond.
We employ several great obedience trainers and behaviorists for general training and good citizen classes. Contact our hospital for help at the first sign of behavior problems.
Additional Resources
- Petfinder® offers a selection of videos demonstrating dog and cat training techniques.
- Learn more about desensitization and behavior modification when training pets.