Did you know that behavior problems are the number one reason dogs and cats are surrendered to shelters every year? Many shelter animals are younger than three years old and few receive veterinary care prior to their surrender. Some are sick or injured while others are strays that were dumped, lost, or escaped from their yard or house. Many of these animals are untrained and have not been previously spayed or neutered. In dogs, the most common behavior reasons for surrender are house soiling, destructive behavior, barking, and unruly behaviors, followed by fearfulness and past bite history. Cats are frequently

If you have ever had your cat snuggle up to you on the couch then nip at your hand when you try to pet them, you are not alone. This is just one scenario in which some cats have shown aggression to their owners. Many other situations can lead to cats swatting, scratching, or trying to bite their human partners. While these are unwanted behaviors from our feline friends, there are often logical explanations for their actions. Trying to stop the aggression starts with understanding when and why it might be happening. Then, you can determine how to approach the

      Courtesy of the Sophia Yin Collection Courtesy of the Sophia Yin Collection TIP 1: Block the view but not the light. “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” There are many different sights and sounds that stimulate barking out the window. Your dog is less likely to bark at what she can’t see. Window film is easy to install, allows light to filter in, and comes in different decorative designs. TIP 2: Reinforce an alternative behavior. Imagine your dog sitting nicely on a mat while you open the door to let guest in, receive a delivery, or just

What is Fear? Fear is a natural emotion that causes an animal to avoid situations and activities that may be dangerous. What or who the pet perceives to be dangerous may not be the same as the person’s perception, and can be independent of actual bodily risk. However, pets act on what they perceive. What is Anxiety? Anxiety is the anticipation of future danger that may be unknown, imagined, or real. It can result in the body responding as it does when the animal is afraid. What is Stress? Stress is the body’s physiologic response triggered by anxiety and fear.

At some point in many dogs’ lives, they will require eye drops. This might be a one-time event to examine the eye or it may be multiple times per day to treat chronic disease. Regardless of the cause, applying eyedrops need not be a struggle for you or the pet, whether at home or in a clinic setting. The same approach works in both places. Gather everything you need: A comfortable place for you and the pet. For small pets this might be on a table, on a chair, or even on your lap if the pet is comfortable there.

Many see their dogs as part of the family, their “fur babies.” Our dogs eat from our plates, sleep in our beds, and even lick the baby’s face — which is why we get concerned when these same dogs go out and eat their own or another animal’s feces (poop) in the yard. The technical term for this behavior is coprophagia. Why do they eat feces? The mystery is still unsolved. Some wonder if it is due to age since many feces eaters are puppies or young adult dogs and others wonder if it is due to poor diet. Could