Table 1: Common behavioral concerns or problems that should be reviewed for dog and cat clients
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The most common killer of pet dogs and cats are behavioral problems. Recently published data support the contention that
behavioral concerns - whether they involve simple management-related issues, misconceptions about what constitutes normal
behaviors or true behavioral pathologies are responsible for the elective death or placement of more pets than is any other
veterinary condition.
Common behavioral concerns for which dogs and cats are most often relinquished are discusses in Table 1. Demonstrations of
lessons that should be discussed and demonstrated at the first visit for puppies and kittens, and adult dogs and cats are
discussed in Table 2.
On their best behavior
At every visit, veterinarians should emphasize the need for good manners and for shaping and rewarding excellent behaviors.
At the first visit, all pets - cats and dogs - should be taught to sit for a food treat when requested. Simply learning to
sit on request and for all attention (food, walks, love, leash or harness placement, grooming, tick removal, teeth cleaning)
will:
- Treat and prevent many behavioral problems,
- Teach the pet that the client signals clearly about what the client wants and then addresses the pet's needs, and
- Teaches the pet that the client is reliable and trustworthy. These are the keys to a great relationship with a pet.
All cats and dogs should also be fitted for harnesses or head collars (or loose flat buckle collars if they already walk without
struggle on a lead) at their first visit, and they should not be allowed to leave until the client understands how to teach
the pet to enjoy walking without a struggle. Then, the client needs to go home and practice, practice, practice.
Training begins with veterinary team
This type of information cannot be conveyed in a 20-minute appointment, and veterinarians should plan accordingly, either
adjusting their schedules or using their staff. Behavioral intervention is truly a case of deciding whether you want to pay
now or later.
Table 2: Activities that should be demonstrated to the client at the first visit and then practiced daily by them
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If the patients have behavioral concerns, they concerns absolutely must be addressed as early in the development of the problem
as possible. This is not an option if veterinarians do not routinely query clients about their pets' behaviors. It is worth
noting that new data demonstrate that the average amount of time that a dog with a behavioral problem is maintained in the
household before being relinquished is four months. Behavioral problems are true veterinary emergencies. If the practitioner
is not comfortable with dispensing behavioral advice, the following are options.
1. Refer to a specialist. The only specialists in veterinary behavioral medicine are members/diplomates of the American College
of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB). Currently, there are only 30 boarded specialists in behavioral medicine, but the number
is growing.
2. If there is not a specialist in your area, you may still be able to work with one. Contact a diplomate of the specialty college
and ask if they will consult with you - not the client - through a formalized fax or e-mail consultation service. In this
case, you remain the veterinarian of record and all correspondence about the patient will go to you from the specialist, not
to the client.
3. Contact an applied animal behaviorist. Most people certified by the Animal Behavior Society are not veterinarians (although
some are), but instead have a master's or Ph.D. degree in a behavioral field. To be certified, they must produce credentials
supporting their training. While these individuals are not specialists and legally cannot diagnose and prescribe medication,
they can be extremely helpful in teaching you and your client about the development of the pet's problems and suggest behavioral
and environmental interventions.
4. Contact the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) and ask if there is a veterinarian with an interest in
behavior in your area. Their current membership directory contains the names and contact information for more than 400 veterinarians
with this interest, and notes which individuals are boarded specialists, which are certified by the Animal Behavior Society
as applied animal behaviorists, and which members will see clients whose pets have behavioral problems. While most members
are not specialists, many will see behavior cases and sometimes consult with specialists. Furthermore, even the non-specialists
may have attended a large number of more continuing education courses in behavior, and so have access to the most up-to-date
information. Look for professionals who are honest about their training and credentials and ask on what resources they rely
when they need help.
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