Behavioral issues can vary greatly and can be found in both dogs and cats, such as toileting/spraying in the house, destructive chewing/scratching, unwanted barking, aggression, etc.  All of these behaviors, plus many more, are not normal pet behaviors and can often mean that something is wrong.  So the first course of action for a responsible pet owner is to determine why their dog or cat is exhibiting these behaviors and to rule out any potential medical concerns that could be causing their pet to act this way.

If there are no medical concerns, then it is time to look back on the history of the pet and look and review the timeline of when and how the unwanted behavior started.  Was there a traumatic event, a change to their current living situation, or maybe an abrupt change to their daily schedule?  These are just a few possible scenarios that could be disruptive to a pet and cause a change in behavior.

It would be recommended at this point to seek out the help and expertise of a professional and certified trainer, or even better, a board certified behaviorist, as they would be able to assist you in finding the true cause of these behaviors and then recommend the appropriate training regime (which will often include behavioral and routine changes on the owner’s part as well) to either eliminate or dramatically reduce the undesirable behaviors.

The next step for a responsible pet owner, and many times the hardest, is to acknowledge and respect that there may be certain things or situations that your pet simply can’t handle or be in.  This may require some lifestyle changes on your part and even some frustration or sadness when you realize that your pet may not be able to do everything that you want or go everywhere you want to go.  But in acknowledging and understanding this, you are providing a better, less stressful  life for your pet and ensuring their safety and mental well being.

The carrier:

• If your cat is stressed by the sight of the carrier, try bringing him or her in several days before the visit.  Placing your cat on the floor and use a favored treat and/or toys to entice your cat to go into the carrier.
• Some cats might resist being put into a carrier so carriers with removable tops make getting cats into—and out of—the carrier easier. This eliminates the need to force the cat inside, which makes the cat—and you—more relaxed.
• Use items in the carrier that have a familiar scent i.e. cat bed/blanket or clothing.
• Always put your cat in a carrier when going places. Cats are often startled by loud noises and fast moving objects and may escape your grip and become injured.
• Once your feline friend has become acclimated to the carrier, you can start taking your cat on stress-free trial runs.

The car:

• While in the carrier, place your cat in the car and start it. Reassure your cat with praise and favored treats until your cat becomes more relaxed. (This may take a few sessions).
• As your cat becomes more comfortable with being in the car, you can start taking short rides, gradually increasing the distance until you and your cat reach the veterinary hospital.

The hospital visit:

• Call your vet’s office and scheduling time to just “drop by” for a mock appointment.
• Introduce your cat to the waiting area and veterinary medical team to get him/her used to the sounds and the smells of the hospital. This will get your cat to experience all of the steps of a routine visit without the physical exam.

It is important to remain calm and work at your cat’s pace, being aware of your cat’s responses.

Avoid the use of punishment either verbally or physically, because this can have negative consequences such as higher anxiety.

These steps may not cure all of your cat’s anxiety, but with continued exposure and positive reinforcement, you can help your cat to become more confident and less anxious before, during and after a visit to the vet.

 It wasn’t until I started working on a project with a board-certified animal behaviorist when I learned that there were solutions, and even better, they were simple and doable! We kept in mind that these recommendations won’t work for every situation, but it was definitely a starting point.

First of all, we had to determine that there were no underlying medical issues that may be a contributing factor to the agitation. Frequently, disease will cause pets to become agitated, especially if they’re painful. After the boys had been deemed healthy, we excitedly got to work on building a feline-enriched environment that would help each cat have his own space.

There are several steps in creating a feline-enriched environment that allows for natural coping strategies which include:

• Multiple, elevated, single cat-sized, resting perches throughout the environment help cats to feel that they have their “own space”.
• Multiple litter boxes (# litter boxes = #cats + 1) in different locations throughout the house keeps cats from feeling like they have to protect that part of their territory.
• Multiple feeding and watering stations to limit competition for food and water.
• Multiple scratching posts/pads at different heights and angles to give cats several options for nail grooming that aren’t your furniture.
• Make sure energetic cats have plenty of appropriate outlets for play such as a laser light and other cat safe toys.
• Acclimate the aggressor cat(s) to wearing a cat-safe belled collar so he/she can’t sneak up on the other cats.
• Place Feliway® pheromone diffusers in the house. Feliway mimics facial pheromones that cats produce when calm and happy and is thought to have a calming effect within the home

We took all of these recommendations and applied them in different combinations until we found one that seems to most desirable. These few environmental changes have made our house much happier. Don’t get me wrong, there are still bits of vocalizing here and there, but it’s a huge improvement.  I’m not going to tell you that this is the magic bullet for every similar situation, but if you have made sure your cats have been examined by a veterinarian, tested for possible disease and have provided a feline enriched environment, you too can find happiness and harmony in your home again. If you find that these remedies do not work in your home, schedule a consultation with a board-certified behaviorist to partner with you to develop a strategic plan.

Yesterday and this morning, Emerson had difficulty jumping in and out of the car, as well as difficulty jumping on and off of furniture. As this is abnormal for any 3-year-old Lhasa Apso—particularly for Emerson—I am somewhat concerned. When it comes to my Pet—okay, when it comes to most problems—I am known for my tendency to quickly arrive at catastrophic conclusions. With regard to Emerson, these conclusions manifest as paranoia. I can’t help it—he has dealt with more than his share of health problems, such as his epilepsy, and hardships for his young age.

To prepare for a potential visit to his veterinarian, as well as to fulfill my need for knowledge and information, I conducted some research on the Humane Society of the United States Web site and spoke with a few of my colleagues here at Banfield. As a result of their advice, I am keeping a brief daily log of Emerson’s symptoms, eating/sleeping habits and changes in behavior. This will help me to best convey my concerns to his veterinarian.

Hopefully, he will wake up tomorrow, devour his breakfast and run around the house chasing is toys, per the usual. If he still appears to be in discomfort, a visit to the veterinarian will be the next step.

Of course, it took a little fiddling until it worked this well and it hasn’t “cured” the yowling by any means but it’s meant that I can get a decent night’s sleep. The feeder’s got two compartments and at first I set both to open at 5am, but then he’d get bored at 6am and I’d get woken up anyway. Now I’ve got one side set to open at 4am and the other side at 6am and it works pretty darn well.

The other big bonus is that because I give him a cuddle when I first see him in the morning rather than filling up his food bowl, he’s no longer associating food with attention. This means that he’s been eating less and although I haven’t weighed him yet I swear he’s a wee bit slimmer.

He still is (and always will be) a yowler, though. He needs cuddles every morning and a good dose of quality time each night. Even then he’ll yowl if he’s bored or thinks you should be paying attention to him. It’s a lot easier to do that now, though, because I like him a whole lot better since I’m getting enough sleep.

My next goal is to set him up with a food toy during the day. I’ve got an old plastic bottle that I’ve cut holes in; the idea is to put some food in it so that he has to work for it, which keeps him occupied and provides some exercise. I’ve used it a couple of times and he likes it, but I keep forgetting and it’s hard to get it organized when you’re getting ready for work. Ultimately, I’ll have smaller amounts in his breakfast bowls, feed him less at night and have the rest in the food toy so that he has to work for it during the day. This exercise started off as a way to get some decent sleep, but it’ll be a big bonus if I can make him healthier, too.

It’s important to recognize that your dog is not trying to “punish” you for leaving him/her alone at home. In fact, more than likely, if your dog has separation anxiety, he/she is simply responding to a state of panic at being left alone. In these situations, a little empathy and patience goes a long way.

According to the Humane Society of the United States (and of course, my own personal experience with Finn), signs of separation anxiety include:

• Digging and scratching at doors and windows in attempt to reunite with you.
• Destructive chewing or soiling (in otherwise housetrained dogs).
• Exhibiting depression or anxiety as you prepare to leave the house.

The cause of this condition is complex and can be brought about or worsened by a change in routine, a generalized anxiety disorder, trauma, and/or being left alone for the first time, among other causes. Speak with your veterinarian at the first signs of separation anxiety. Many methods exist to reduce the destructive behaviors, including behavioral training, environmental changes (such as leaving the television or radio on), providing toys that keep your dog occupied, minimizing the impact of your entrances and exits and leaving an article of clothing that has a familiar scent (like an old t-shirt).

Fortunately, Finn’s anxiety was controllable using these methods other than medication. In most cases, your veterinarian or dog behaviorist will suggest medication only after other methods don’t provide relief.

Emerson and I relish any opportunity to get out of the house for some fresh air. He enjoys his daily walks, but the Fourth of July holiday gives us the opportunity for extra time together, which usually means we take a small road trip.  Because I live within driving distance of the beach, and Emerson loves running around and playing “fetch” in the sand, my Fourth of July weekend plans entailed frolicking at the Pacific Ocean with him.

However, the downside to Fourth of July is the fireworks. There were plenty of kids playing with fireworks at the beach, which happens to be one of Emerson’s least favorite seaside activities. Emerson can get quite anxious, especially when it comes to loud noises.

From past years, I learned that the best solution is to keep him on an isolated part of the beach and away from the noisy firework festivities of any kind. This way, Emerson and kids can both enjoy the holiday. Anxious Pets can exhibit severe distress, leading up to destructive behavior. Sometimes, your anxious Pet will be happiest in the comfort of your own home. Banfield recommends making your home as comfortable as possible for your Pets during any potentially stressful time, such as the Fourth of July. Leaving on the TV a little louder than usual, playing the radio in each of the bedrooms and leaving on extra lights tends to mask many of the unfamiliar noises that startle Pets. In addition, your Pet may find comfort being kenneled while you are gone—it’s a safe zone for many Pets and they will rest easier knowing they are in familiar territory. 

Although veterinarians will generally recommend keeping Pets at home during Fourth of July and Emerson has more than his fair share of anxiety, I always find he is most content and comfortable wherever I am. My presence and the distraction of play enable him to ignore the loud noises and bright lights coming from fireworks. You will know what’s best for you and your Pet, and you can always go to your veterinarian for behavioral advice. I think that’s why Emerson was brave enough to endure pesky firework noises at the beach this past weekend. Apparently playing fetch with mom far outweighs the scary things in life!

Back in Australia (he’s a well-travelled cat) he was an indoor-outdoor kitty but he got into so many fights that when we moved here he became an indoor kitty. He still yowled if he managed to escape at night, 5am outside the bedroom window, but we had a room we could keep him in that blockedmost of the noise. In our current place, we can’t do that because the only areas that aren’t carpeted are the kitchen (no doors to shut and I wouldn’t keep him there anyway) and the bathrooms (too small and they echo a lot).

We’ve tried everything and I’m almost at my wit’s end. Cats yowl for a variety of reasons, such as when they’re unwell, hungry or in need of attention. If you have a cat that’s yowling, get your vet to check him out first to rule possible medical reasons.. My parent’s older cat often yowls because of hyperthyroidism; the changes that the disease cause are often attributed to “old age.”.

Not for Jake, though. He’s had a clean bill of health on multiple occasions. He yowls when he gets bored or hungry.. If your cat yowls for attention during the day, the best thing to do is ignore it, then reward your cat with play or cuddles when he or she is quiet. If your cat is yowling at night, have playtime before bedtime so your cat goes to bed tired. Putting your cat to bed with a little food (make sure it’s not extra to their main meal, to avoid weight problems) can help with the hunger problem.

I’ve done all this. Jake still yowls. The only things that have worked are locking him in a room with Jackson, the Kelpie/Husky cross (on the very first day that Jackson came home, there were some loud noises but we’d had enough of the yowling so we didn’t care. They’re best friends now) and clomicalm. We tried a feliway diffuser, it worked for maybe a week. The clomicalm works well, but it turns him into a vegetable during the day so we didn’t use it for long. The experts say you should never yell, but I have to admit caving in. I can hit a moving target with a cushion from 20 feet as well. It’s so frustrating that I even started to look into bark-stopping collars for dogs that emit small electric shocks. I can hear the chorus of “oh, that’s terrible” and I agree, but sleep deprivation does funny things to you.

My point is, don’t give up. A friend of mine recommended a timed feeder and a “food toy” (a plastic bottle with some holes in the side and some kibble in it), so I’m going to give that a try. Hopefully, the feeder will be able to give him breakfast nice and early and the food toy will keep him busy during the day. The best-case scenario is that he’s fed nice and early and kept busy during the day so that he gets some exercise and is nice and tired at night. Fingers crossed…

Our routines become so commonplace that eventually we don’t pay much attention to them. This got me thinking about Emerson and his scratching, rubbing and licking consistently on his skin—particularly during the spring and summer months. The itching doesn’t seem to occur only in the morning, but at different times throughout the day. I began to take notice. Have I missed something? Could his scratching indicate a need for further attention? 

Since I always wanted to be a detective on some level, I began to do some investigating, noting the time of day (and season) Emerson was itching, as well as the location of his scratching. I also changed his shampoo, spoke with my Banfield veterinarinan and modified his diet a bit because of some food allergies. Fortunately, Emerson’s itching began to subside.

Dogs shouldn’t itch all the time. And if they do, I would suggest consulting your veterinarian, as your daily sidekick could have a condition that needs to be treated medically. Keep a close eye on how often your Pet indulges in scratching and whether it is localized to one particular area. Also part your Pet’s hair and check regularly for any skin abnormality or discomfort when these areas are touched.

As for Emerson, it seems my detective evaluation gives me nothing further to worry about. His skin and coat looks better than ever and he continues to greet me each morning with long stretches and deep yawns—and yes, a lick and scratch or two. But now the licks are only on my face. Not a bad way to start each day!

In the summer, it’s amazing how many opportunities exist to socialize my 3-year-old Lhasa Apso, Emerson. Granted, I live in the particularly dog-friendly town of Portland, Ore. That said, it seems that as the weather warms up, dogs accompany their owners on more and more activities—sometimes even to the grocery store (though it’s not always allowed and I follow the rules). I do, however, have a hard time leaving Emerson at home when he wants to come along on a jog, a hike or a quick trip to the dog park.

Luckily, Emerson is a champ when it comes to traveling in the car. He will do almost anything to ride along, whether it’s to a family function, a trip to visit my grandmother at her assisted living facility or a road trip. He is more than content to watch the scenery pass by and anticipate the exciting adventures that await him.

Varied exposure to other people and Pets is enriching not only for him, but to those around him. My grandmother’s eyes lit up this weekend when she saw him—a true testament to the fact that Emerson was a bright spot in her day. Of course, Emerson doesn’t always react positively to people. In fact, he can be very suspicious of new faces. One crucial part of being a responsible Pet owner is being in tune with your Pet and anticipating how it will react to certain people/situations. For the first few encounters with a new person, Emerson tends to lean on the side of being slightly territorial—and sometimes, even grumpy. With this in mind, I can take steps to  help create an easier transition for both Emerson and any new people he interacts with.

Sharing new experiences with your Pet is a wonderful way to strengthen your bond, learn more about your Pet’s personality and to promote the positive role Pets can play in our community.

If you haven’t done so before, consider taking your dog to a new setting and introducing him/her to new people and Pets. Remember to exercise caution until you know how your Pet will react in new situations.

Don’t forget to consider the temperature as spring and summer head our way. As it gets warmer outside, I have to use extra caution when bringing Emerson along in the car, as the inside temperatures can reach fatal levels in just a few minutes. If it’s warm outside and I’m leaving the house for a few minutes, or even hours, to run errands, I know he’s much safer at home than sitting in the car.