Your Pet at Home | Behavior Consultation
Behavior problems are not uncommon in our pets. Sometimes the issues involve not getting along with housemates, urinating or defecating inappropriately, fear aggression, phobias of noises, or separation anxiety. If you feel that your pet may be having a behavior problem, you may want to consider having a consultation to address the behavior issue specifically. We would be glad to try and help you solve the problems and see if we can make life easier for your pet and you. However, behavior issues are not simple to address, and sometimes are much more complicated than physical illness because a simple pill won't solve the problem. There are a few things that you should be aware of before undertaking this process.
First, it is vital for your pet to have a current physical examination and some baseline blood work before beginning the behavior modification process. This is important because there are some physical metabolic conditions, such as kidney or liver problems or thyroid conditions that can cause behavioral issues in our pets. It is imperative to address the medical conditions as such and not try to solve them with behavioral modification. We are also not able to start behavioral medications that may be necessary without knowing that liver and kidney function is normal. The cost for a complete physical exam and blood work is about $170.
After making sure there are no physical problems that need to be addressed, the next step is to try and understand the particular issues or phobias each pet has as best as we can. We need to do this in order to make the best plan for each individual pet and their family. The plan-making is what the behavioral consultation is for. A behavior consult is a completely different process from a physical exam and takes a much longer time as well. You should expect the consult to take from 45 minutes to an hour. In order to help this process go smoothly, a behavioral form should be filled out before the appointment. This form is available at the clinic or can be downloaded below. The form is very detailed and does require a bit of time and thought to fill out completely, but it is extremely important in helping the doctor formulate the best plan. We ask that the form be returned to Canyon at least 48 hours before your scheduled behavior consult. If the form is not received in that time period, we may need to reschedule. The cost of the behavior consultation is about $65.
After the behavioral consult, you should have a plan for you and your pet to follow to try and solve the issues at hand. Oftentimes, this plan will involve some sort of medication. The medication alone will not usually be enough to solve the problem, and it is not meant to be used for your pet's lifetime. Most medication will likely be taken for at least a year. The medication will make it easier for your pet to accept the behavior modification techniques, which will help the changes take effect faster and easier. Medication without behavioral modification will eventually stop working and your pet will be back to where they started.
Behavioral modification can be very time consuming for you and your family, and it is not inexpensive. You should be prepared for these factors before undertaking any treatment. Behavioral problems are a very serious issue facing our pets today and you are to be commended for any effort you make to address them. More pets die each year from "behavior issues" in the United States than from all physical illnesses put together, either from being taken to shelters or euthanized by owners because of the problem.
There are two final thoughts to remember before taking on this challenge. It is possible that after a consultation, the doctor may decide your pet needs the attention of a behavioral specialist. Here at Canyon Pet Hospital, we can try and evaluate your dog for human-aggression issues, but we cannot set up a modification plan for that particular problem. If you decide you want to try and address that issue, we will be glad to refer you to a specialist. Secondly, you should be aware that with most dogs, you will be asked to go through obedience training, even if you have already undergone that process. It is an important part of most behavior modification plans.
Please let us know if you would like to begin the evaluation process, and we will be happy to help you get that scheduled.
To download Canyon Pet Hospital's Behavior Form click here.
If your pet is having issues with inappropriate urination click here to download that form.