Kim Koprowski, D.V.M.
59 West Main Street
Littleton, NH 03561
603-444-0132
603-444-5725
Office Hours By Appointment
Hot Topics
Treating behavioral problems in pets.
In America today, our animal shelters are inundated with unwanted or abandoned pets. Unfortunately, many are left behind due to behaviors that are incompatible with their owner's expectations. About 6 million animals enter US shelters every year and about 3 million of those are euthanized!
In cats, unacceptable behavior can include soiling outside the litter pan, scratching furniture or aggressive behavior toward other animals in the household. There are some solutions for these problems, especially if the owner is considering euthanasia. A spray bottle used by a "hidden" owner so the cat doesn't see who sprayed them can help distract some behaviors. Soiling outside the pan could be the result of a physical illness such as a urinary infection, diabetes, food allergies, parasites, etc. It's always a good idea to have a check-up to rule out these medical problems. Furniture scratching can be deterred by using double-sided sticky tape or aluminum foil on the corners. Aggression between cats can be caused by physical illness, unspayed and unneutered cats or not enough litter pans for the household.
In the event that undesirable behaviors continue to occur despite trying the above-mentioned solutions, there are drugs that can be administered to modify those behaviors. These drugs may be used to calm the cat's anxiety or aggression. In most cases, these drugs have come down in price over the years. For cats that are difficult to pill, these drugs can be formulated into an ointment that can be rubbed on the inside of the ear. These are called "transdermal" medications because they are absorbed through the skin.
Unacceptable behaviors in dogs are even more varied and can include house soiling, barking, aggression toward other animals or people, anxiety (from owner separation, storms, etc.), destructiveness and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Again, as in cats, these behaviors can be changed with time, patience, training and occasionally, drugs. The house soiling, aggression and anxiety can be caused by physical illnesses, so again, a physical exam for the dog is the best place to start. Barking can be reduced with training and the use of different types of collars that emit a harmless chemical or a slight electrical shock each time the dog barks. This trains the dog out of barking. There are also many drugs available that offer wide success in treating aggression, anxiety and destructiveness. Most of these drugs used in conjunction with training allow the dog to return to acceptable behavior. Many drugs are used for short periods of time and then tapered off completely.
Treating behavioral problems in pets does take patience and some money, but we can't give up on the animals with problems. Think of them as your children - you make a decision to have children and they become your responsibility and you have to take care of them, no matter what happens. When you adopt an animal, you also make that conscience effort to love them and take care of them no matter what happens. It's worthwhile to work with the animal and save a life, rather than euthanizing them or contributing to the pet population problem in shelters.
