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Behavior & Training

  • The birth of a baby or the adoption of a new child is associated with a great deal of anxiety, excitement, and stress for not only the family, but also the family pet. Some cats can have a difficult time adjusting to these changes, especially if this is your first child, but preparation and planning will help.

  • Behavior Counseling: Diagnosing a Behavior Problem - Is It Medical or Behavioral?

    Los problemas de comportamiento pueden deberse a causas médicas, psicológicas o a una combinación de ambas. Una historia clínica minuciosa, un examen físico completo y una serie de pruebas diagnósticas apropiadas determinarán si hay alguna enfermedad que influya en el problema.

  • Cats were once considered solitary creatures. We now know that they are, in fact, social animals who benefit from interaction with their own and other species. However, not all cats are social with other cats. The personality of each cat must factor into the decision to introduce a new cat to your home.

  • La desensibilización sistemática es un método de adiestramiento utilizado para reducir el comportamiento indeseable de un animal en respuesta a un determinado objeto o situación. Es la forma más efectiva de tratar miedos y fobias.

  • Dexmedetomidine is a sedative/tranquilizer used primarily in cats and dogs as a pre-medication injection for anesthesia or for chemical restraint. It is also used orally in dogs for short-term anxiety management. The most common side effect is a low heart rate. Dexmedetomidine should not be used in patients with severe heart liver or kidney disease. It should be used cautiously in young, old, or weak animals. Consult your veterinary office immediately if you suspect a negative reaction or overdose.

  • Many veterinarians, including nutritionists and behaviorists, believe it is important for dogs and cats to express their natural foraging and hunting behaviors. For pets living indoors, this can be difficult, and the lack of this stimulation can sometimes lead to behavior problems. Enriching a pet's environment with food toys and puzzles at mealtimes can fulfill the need to forage. The use of toys, puzzles and other novel methods of food delivery can also be effective ways to increase daily movement in overweight or inactive pets.

  • Behavior Management: Pet Selection Guidelines

    Pueden evitarse muchos problemas de salud y de comportamiento en las mascotas pidiendo consejo antes de adquirirlas. Estos consejos ayudan, primero, a seleccionar la mejor mascota para una familia en particular, para lo cual hay que tener en cuenta la especie, la raza, la edad y el sexo del animal, y también el lugar en el que se va a adquirir.

  • Losing weight is difficult. Feeding a veterinary prescription weight-loss food is important, but energy expenditure is also important. Encouraging your cat to exercise can help to increase energy expenditure and can complement a successful weight-loss program.

  • Obesity occurs when a cat consumes more calories than they expend. Therefore, managing obesity in cats often requires both dietary changes and increased exercise/activity. There are several methods for increasing activity in cats, including play, using cat trees and climbing structures, outdoor enclosures, and intentional, active feeding practices. Each of these can be beneficial in promoting weight loss.

  • You’ve probably heard lots of funny cat anecdotes; about how you don’t own them…they own YOU; how they feel superior to everyone, especially dogs; that they expect to be treated like royalty. If you are considering a feline acquisition, first consider this: lots of those remarks are true! This handout explains the other factors to consider in selecting the cat most likely to choose your family, too.