Is this video in your Libary?
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The Language of Dogs, Sarah Kalanjs
This video should be essential viewing material for every person who will be working directly with animals at your practice. While every explanation of each dog body language signal outlined in this 2 DVD set, is not necessarily scientifically based, the descriptions are generally accurate. When employees can accurately read body language, they can respond more appropriately to your canine patients reducing stress for all involved. It is a small investment for a major payoff in improved dog handling through a greater understanding of how dogs communicate. This video is highly recommended for kennel staff and veterinary technicians.
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The Veterinarians page is filled with downloadable handouts and questionnaires for your practice as well as previous newsletters.
The Resources page is updated regularly with articles and podcasts for pet owners on everything from puppy training to cat aggression.
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561-795-9398
All appointments are now scheduled through our administrative office at the number above allowing us to schedule clients at all three locations from one central office.
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Lunch and learn lectures are complimentary. Almost any behavior topic can be covered. Call 561-795-9398 to schedule.
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| FAQs | |
My patient repeatedly mounts visitors. What advice can I give my client to help change this behavior?
Dogs generally mount people because they are overly aroused or anxious about the interaction. If the behavior is occurring when visitors first walk in, it is likely that it is due to increased arousal. The dog may not know how to interact with people properly in the first place due to lack of socialization or structure.
The easiest thing to do is to keep the dog in another room until the visitors have come in the door and are settled. Just taking the excitement out of the visitor's entry can help. Next, your client can teach her dog to sit for all interactions with every person so that he learns a way to interact with people appropriately.
Alternatively, she can direct her dog to pick up a toy when visitors come in or even have the visitor toss the toy to the dog. This type of interaction gives the dog something kinetic to do instead of mounting.
Click here to download a client handout on mounting.
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| Volume: 4, No: 1 | January, 2011 |
From the Journals
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Phenotypic and genetic characterization of tail chasing in Bull Terriers
K. Tiira, C. Escriou, A. Thomas, S. Renier, C. Dufaure de Citres, L. Koskinen, L. Kareinen, P. Arnold and H. Lohi. Presented at the Canine Science Forum, Vienna, Austria.
Bull Terriers are overrepresented in the population of dogs who are presented for tail chasing. In this study, the authors attempted to evaluate the association of environmental factors on tail chasing in this breed, isolate a tail chasing loci and identify if the flank sucking locus is associated with tail chasing.
The authors found no correlation between tail chasing in bull terriers and the amount of exercise, gender, daily activities of the dog or presence of the flank sucking locus at CFA7. Dogs with tail chasing behavior were more likely to display fly snapping behavior when compared with controls showing a propensity to display compulsive behaviors in other ways outside of tail chasing. The authors were not able to identify one particular locus (through genetic mapping) which was associated with tail chasing in this population.
Clinical implication: This was a preliminary study and as such needs to be repeated with a larger sample size. The conclusions that tail chasing is not associated with exercise or daily activities holds true with what I see in clinical practice--that this is a compulsive behavior, not a behavior of boredom. There has been a locus isolated for flank sucking in Doberman Pinschers and impulsive aggression in English Springer Spaniels. As genetic behavioral research pushes forward, more tests will become available to help screen animals predisposed to behavior problems allowing early intervention and prevention.
Excessive mouthing in puppies as a predictor of aggressiveness in adult dogs
M. Godbout, D Frank,
Presented at the Canine Science Forum, Vienna, Austria.
In this double-blinded controlled study, the authors compared 38 mouthing puppies (affected) and 23 non mouthing puppies (control). All puppies were between 8 and 16 weeks old when examined by a veterinarian. A validated questionnaire was used to follow up with owners at 1 and 3 years of age. There was no correlation between excessive mouthing behavior and the development of aggressive behavior as an adult or the retention of the pet in the home at 1 and 3 years.
Clinical implication: Mouthing in puppies is a normal behavior. While it has to be addressed, it is not necessarily a predictor of future aggressive behavior.
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What can you say in 20 minutes?TM
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Overgrooming in a young cat
Signalment: Sara, 2 y, F/S, Calico Cat
Presenting complaint: Barbering the hind legs and abdomen for 6 weeks. Owner reports that patient bites and licks the abdomen and hind legs.
History:
The owner had a baby about two months ago. She also reports that Sara has always been an anxious cat. Her mother has been visiting with her dog since the baby was born. Sara is spending a lot of her time under the owner's bed.The owner can't be sure how pruritic Sara is because she doesn't see her very much.
P/E: Broken hairs are evident bilaterally in the inguinal region and the caudally on the hind legs. There are no skin lesions observed grossly. The cat ambulates well and doesn't show any signs of pain when examined.
Diagnostics: CBC, serum chemistry, T4, U/A, skin scrape, skin cytology-wnl. DDx: Food allergy, Atopy, FAD, Attention seeking behavior, Displacement behavior Behavioral considerations: The stress of a new baby and dog in the house can certainly cause increased anxiety leading to a diagnosis of Displacement Behavior. Sara is showing signs of stress (i.e., hiding) and historically she has always been a stressed cat.
However, the new dog could have introduced fleas into the environment. In addition, Food Allergy and Atopy cannot be ruled out in the initial appointment. In this case, it is prudent to assess Sara for dermatologic disease AND treat her for behavior disease. Because we can't be sure which disease individually (or a combination) is causing the clinical signs and her behavior is not severe, we are going to treat her with just behavior modification and management changes while the dermatologic assessment is completed.
Initial Behavioral Treatment plan:- Environmental enrichment. This includes lots of toys, high resting spaces, spaces to hide, and scent enrichment. Click here to view two articles on environmental enrichment for cats intended for owners.
- Create a safe place for Sara by closing off a room with a baby gate that is low enough that she can jump it, but too high for the dog to clear it. She should have food, water, a resting spot and lots of toys. The dog should not have access to the room and the room should not be a place where the baby spends time regularly.
- Confine the dog daily for a short period of time to give Sara free roam of the house. This is best done when the baby is asleep.
- Stimulate Sara orally by feeding her out of food toys and giving her things to chew on like dehydrated chicken breast or cat grass.
- Don't force interactions between Sara and the baby or dog.
Discussion: In one study, it was found that only 20% (4/20) of the cats referred to a veterinary behaviorist for psychogenic alopecia actually had the criteria for that diagnoses. Eighty percent had dermatologic disease. In my experience, most of these cats have dermatologic disease alone or both dermatologic and behavioral disease.
Because dermatologic work-ups often take time (weeks to assess effect of flea control or food allergy) and Sara has signs of anxiety and stress which are affecting her quality of life, it is appropriate to start dermatologic and behavioral treatments. Even though all the elements for a purely behavioral diagnosis are present in Sara's case, dermatologic diseases should be considered in all cases where a cat is barbering excessively. When the veterinarian is confident that there is not a dermatologic component or if the cat's quality of life is severely affected, a psychotropic medication should be considered. |
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