Pets

You work with some dogs with compulsive disorders; what examples of compulsions do dogs have?

Dogs with compulsive disorders: Tail chasing, light pouncing, and more!

What kind of compulsive disorders do dogs have? So you're used to hearing about compulsive disorders in humans, such as the people that wash their hands multiple times per day or in a row, that may go back and check to see if the oven, the stove, or their curling iron is plugged in or on. But dogs get compulsive disorders too. And so my little friend Scooby here is a mini schnauzer. Mini schnauzers can get a compulsive disorder where they check their hind end, where they literally look around as if something is biting them in the tush. Dogs can have a compulsive disorder where they pounce on lights and shadows or where they chase their tail or suck on their flank, suck on blankets. There's many unfortunate compulsive disorders in our pet dogs and cats.

Dogs can suffer from compulsive disorders such as checking their hind end, chasing lights and shadows, chasing their tail, or sucking on blankets.

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Dogs can exhibit various compulsive disorders similar to those seen in humans. For example, some mini schnauzers may develop a compulsive behavior where they repeatedly check their hind end, as if something is biting them. Other dogs may have compulsions to pounce on lights and shadows, chase their tail, or suck on their flank or blankets. It's unfortunate that our pet dogs and cats can experience these compulsive disorders.

You've done extensive research on thunderstorm phobias - what do you recommend to address this fear in dogs?

Effective Dog Fear Solution: Angzutain & Safe Space

So I have done extensive research in thunderstorm phobias. My residency research project was on a supplement called angzutain that can be used to treat or help dogs with thunderstorm phobias. So what do I recommend? I certainly do recommend angzutain. We found it to be significantly effective. I also recommend that you set your dog up with a safe space where they can go where it's nice and quiet or you can set up white noise in that area. Some dogs like to go into the closet, some like to go in the basement, some like to go in the bathtub. And so if they do like to go in the bathtub just put a dog bed in there and turn on the exhaust fan for some white noise. The other thing is there are medications that can certainly help too. So ask your veterinarian about medications like cilio or a new one that's coming out on the market called pexion but there's lots of things that can help.

I recommend using the supplement Things Attain, setting up a safe and quiet space for your dog, and asking your vet about medications such as Sileo or Pepsi On to help with thunderstorm phobias.

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Based on my extensive research on thunderstorm phobias, I highly recommend a supplement called angzutain as a treatment option for dogs with this fear. It has shown significant effectiveness in our studies.

In addition to angzutain, I suggest creating a safe space for your dog where they can retreat to during thunderstorms. This area should be quiet and comfortable. Some dogs may prefer spaces like the closet, basement, or bathtub. If your dog finds comfort in the bathtub, consider placing a dog bed in there and turning on the exhaust fan for white noise.

Furthermore, there are medications available that can help alleviate thunderstorm phobias. Consult with your veterinarian about options such as cilio or the upcoming medication called pexion. There are various solutions that can assist in managing this fear, so it's worth exploring different approaches with your vet.

How do I manage my pet's behavior while they are undergoing treatment for a medical condition?

Managing Pet Behavior During Medical Treatment: The Key is Mental Enrichment

How do I manage my pets behavior while they're undergoing treatment for a medical condition? This is a really common question that I get asked for animals post-operatively. So maybe they've just been spayed or neutered or they've had a TPLO where they have to actually be confined and rested for six to eight weeks. And this can be really hard because pets want to move. They want to do things, especially once they start feeling better. And sometimes that's the key point of healing that they really need to be resting. So what you can do is you can number one, crate train your animal before the surgery. So that's really important. So they're comfortable staying in a crate. The other thing is mental enrichment. So while exercise is good for all of us, don't get me wrong, we all need it. It is very undervalued compared to, or actually overvalued compared to mental enrichment. And mental enrichment is training. It is providing feeder toys, puzzle toys, things to mentally stimulate your pet. And mental stimulation can go a long way to actually tiring the animal out more so than exercise. So just a 10 or 20 minute training session can really exhaust the animal so they'll then sleep for a good couple hours. And you can absolutely do this while they're being crated or under exercise restrictions. So mental enrichment.

Crate train your pet before their surgery and provide mental stimulation to tire them out during their recovery period. This can be done in the form of training sessions, puzzle toys and feeder toys.

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To manage your pet's behavior while they are undergoing treatment for a medical condition, such as post-operative recovery, there are a few strategies you can follow. First, it's essential to crate train your pet before the surgery so they are comfortable being confined when necessary. Secondly, focus on mental enrichment rather than just exercise. Mental stimulation through training sessions and puzzle toys can tire out your pet and keep them mentally engaged, even when physical exercise is limited. Spending just 10 to 20 minutes on training can help exhaust your pet, leading them to sleep for longer periods. These mental enrichment activities can be done while your pet is crated or under exercise restrictions, providing them with a positive and stimulating experience during their recovery.

What inspired you to pursue a career in animal behavior?

Inspiring journey: Army vet's passion for animal behavior transforms pet lives

What inspired me to pursue a career in animal behavior? Well, I think I've always loved Behavior the psychology of it but originally wanted to work in a zoo. And so did an undergraduate degree in Zoology and decided, I then really wanted to become a veterinarian after veterinary school. I joined the military and was an Army veterinarian, and it was during the first wave of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. And several of our dogs came back with signs of What we now know is likely PTSD, we are able to help those dogs. Overcome their fears, through the use of psychotropic medication and behavior modification, so that they could have good quality of life and live out the remainder of their years either through working or with through adoption. So, I now translate that into my pet clients and making sure that they have the best quality of life that we could possibly imagine for them, through the use of behavior modification. Nation and psychotropic meds if it's warranted. And so that is what Spurs me on day by day is to make sure that these pets are living their best lives.

I was inspired to pursue a career in animal behavior after working as an Army veterinarian and witnessing first-hand how behavior modification and psychotropic medications can help animals overcome their fears and live out the remainder of their lives with quality. This experience has motivated me to help all pets live their best lives through behavior modification and psychotropic meds if necessary.

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What inspired me to pursue a career in animal behavior? Initially, I had a love for behavior and psychology, and my goal was to work in a zoo. I pursued an undergraduate degree in Zoology with that intention. However, my path took a different turn when I decided to become a veterinarian after veterinary school.

During my time as an Army veterinarian, I was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during the first wave. It was there that I encountered dogs who showed signs of what we now understand as likely PTSD. We were able to help these dogs overcome their fears through a combination of psychotropic medication and behavior modification. This allowed them to have a good quality of life, whether they continued working or found new homes through adoption.

Now, I apply this experience to my work with pet clients. My focus is on ensuring that they have the best possible quality of life through behavior modification and, if necessary, the use of psychotropic medication. Seeing these pets live their best lives is what motivates me every day.

How do I determine if my pet's behavior problem has a medical cause?

Determining if your pet's behavior problem is medical

How do you determine if your pet's behavior problem has a medical cause? I have my friend Nacho here to answer this question. So the first thing is visit your veterinarian and have them perform a full physical examination as well as laboratory work. So this would include a full CBC, chemistry panel, and urinalysis to evaluate if there's anything with the kidneys, liver, red blood cells, white blood cells that is at play there. And once you've rolled that out, then you can fairly confidently say that this is likely just a behavioral concern. However, there are things like pain that oftentimes go undetected even on physical exam and with appropriate lab work. So if your pet is not improving with their behavioral treatment, it's really important that you talk to your vet about the possibility of pain as an underlying component as well.

Visit your veterinarian for a physical exam and laboratory tests to rule out any medical causes of your pet's behavior problem. If your pet is not improving with behavioral treatment, talk to your vet about the possibility of pain as an underlying component.

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To determine if your pet's behavior problem has a medical cause, it is advised to visit a veterinarian. They will conduct a thorough physical examination and laboratory work, including a complete blood count (CBC), chemistry panel, and urinalysis. These tests help evaluate the kidneys, liver, red and white blood cells for any underlying medical conditions. Once medical issues are ruled out, it is likely that the behavior problem is purely behavioral. However, it's important to note that pain can sometimes go undetected even with physical exams and lab work. If your pet's behavior does not improve with behavioral treatment, it's crucial to discuss the possibility of pain as an underlying factor with your veterinarian.

What is your least favorite behavior to train an animal?

Pointless Heeling: My Least Favorite Animal Training Behavior

My least favorite behavior to train an animal is absolutely a heel, where they have to walk right beside you, because I find it to be the most pointless, non-functional behavior on the face of the planet. Unless you're going to be doing competition obedience, it's literally pointless. If I need my dog to engage with me or not pull on the leash, there are so many other ways that I can do it. I can use a hand target. I can just reward loose leash walking or offer eye contact. But a heel is completely pointless. When I go on a walk with my dog, I want the walk to actually be enjoyable for my dog, not put them in this obedience heel for no reason. So I want them to sniff around and look everywhere. The walk is for them, not for me. If I want to go on a walk, I'm going to go by myself, potentially, because it's going to be less stressful for everybody. So anyway, that's my answer.

My least favorite behavior to train an animal is heel because it is a pointless and non-functional behavior. I prefer to use methods such as hand targets, rewards, and loose leash walking that are more enjoyable for the animal.

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My least favorite behavior to train an animal is the heel command, where they have to walk right beside you. I find it to be the most pointless and non-functional behavior. Unless you're involved in competition obedience, it serves no practical purpose. There are many other effective ways to ensure engagement, prevent leash pulling, and promote loose leash walking, such as using a hand target or rewarding eye contact. When I go on a walk with my dog, I want it to be enjoyable for them. I want them to explore, sniff around, and take in their surroundings. The walk is for their benefit, not just for my control. If I want to go on a walk for myself, I might consider going alone to reduce stress for everyone involved. That's my perspective on the matter.

Neither AnyQuestion nor its Experts provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment or otherwise provide professional healthcare services.

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Amy Pike answers your Pets questions. See all the advice Amy Pike has and get answers to your own Pets questions.

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Dr. Pike has been a vet for over 20 years and is one of fewer than 70 Boarded Veterinary Behaviorists in North America. She has written articles for professional veterinary journals, is Fear Free Certified, serves on the Board of Directors of The Animal Welfare League of Arlington, and is a mentor to her own residents. Dr. Pike also acts as an instructor for E-Training for Dogs and presents at National Veterinary Conferences multiple times per year. She has recently moved to Northern Virginia and is co-owner of two ABWC locations, where she sees pets with behavior disorders ranging from mild fears to extreme aggression. She has gathered a team of behavior professionals to tackle any behavior problem and is working to expand prevention services with her support staff.