Help your pet stay on its best behavior.
Pets can’t tell you something is wrong, making the ability to spot unusual shifts in mood or behavior very important. Behavioral changes can be a symptom of an underlying medical issue, environmental factors, improper training and more.
Common Behaviors
Aggression
Uncharacteristic aggression and dominance seeking is one of the most serious behaviors in dogs. Aggressive actions include biting, lunging, growling, baring teeth and barking. These can be dangerous for people and other pets. Aggression has a broad of range social, environmental, and occasional medical causes that need to be identified for proper intervention.
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is identified by pet distress during times when they are separated from you and others they feel attached to. When left alone, some pets can exhibit destructive behaviors including barking, chewing, digging, attempting to escape, and improper elimination.
Barking
Barking and howling are how dogs normally communicate; however, excessive vocalization can become a nuisance. Dogs bark for a number of reasons including as an alert; to seek attention; when they are excited, lonely or anxious; or when they are simply bored. Proper training can help control barking habits.
House Training
House training generally occurs when your pet is young, although it can be taught to older animals. This process teaches them to eliminate waste in a designated location rather than in your home. Remember, house training takes time and accidents will happen. Owners should use consistent, positive reinforcement to achieve the best results.
Inappropriate Elimination Disorders
This disorder has a wide range of causes that result in your adult pet improperly eliminating waste. Inappropriate elimination disorders are often a symptom of separation anxiety, excitement and urine marking, or have a physical cause like a change in diet, gastrointestinal distress, infection and incontinence.
Storm/Noise Phobias
Thunder, lightning, heavy wind and rain often frighten cats and dogs. Loud sounds such as fireworks can also cause distress. This can lead to them seeking “safety” in locations around the home where they feel secure. While scared, they may bark or eliminate waste.
Cognitive Dysfunction
Pet cognitive dysfunction syndrome is most often seen in elderly pets and those with dementia. It is characterized by persistent disorientation, difficulty following commands, unresponsiveness to external stimuli, sleep-wake cycle changes, improper waste elimination and a decreased level of activity.
Destructive Chewing
Chewing is a natural behavior in pets, but can easily become destructive if left unchecked. Inappropriate chewing often occurs in pets with separation anxiety, and who are frustrated, bored or stressed, leading to widespread damage around the home. Redirecting your pet’s energy into toys and edible bones is a good way to condition your dog to chew on appropriate objects.
Correcting abnormal or unwanted behavior is a complex process that begins with diagnosing the issue. If you notice your pet acting differently you should schedule an appointment with Bramer Animal Hospital.
Our experienced staff can help determine the medical or environmental cause for your pet’s unusual behavior and work thoroughly to look at options to consider, including referral to a expert behaviourist to help them return to their happy and loving selves.