A dog chasing his own tail may appear to be just cute behavior, but for some pets, this “trick” quickly becomes part of an abnormal repetitive routine. Sleuth the Reporter Dog asked the Veterinary News Network about how veterinarians help resolve behavior issues.
1) Unresolved behavior problems are a leading cause of abandonment and euthanasia of many pets in today’s world.
2) Like us, pets can exhibit behaviors that appear to be obsessive-compulsive, experience separation anxiety or even develop phobias due to thunderstorms or fireworks.
3) All species can exhibit abnormal behaviors such as obsessive tail chasing in dogs, wool sucking in cats or endless pacing in horses.
4) In many cases, veterinarians can prescribe medications to help the pet, but the drugs often work more effectively when combined with behavior modification programs.
5) Furthermore, veterinary and animal behaviorists state that environmental enrichment and proper socialization can help owners avoid potential behavior problems.
6) When contemplating a new pet, be sure to consider the pet’s mental needs in addition to his physical and health requirements. Some breeds may not be suitable for your expectations of a pet!
7) Although medication has a place and can help with certain behavioral issues, owners are cautioned to not rely solely on a pill to resolve problems.
8) As with any medical problem, the key to resolution of a pet’s behavior problem might lie with your veterinarian. Be sure to have a good physical examination done whenever your pet displays abnormal actions.
9) Veterinary behaviorists and certified applied animal behaviorists are available to help you keep your best friend in the best mental health possible.
10) Be sure to visit and bookmark www.PetDocsOnCall.com whenever you have medical or behavioral questions about your pet.