Dealing with your pet’s problematic behaviour can feel frustrating. When you’ve tried all your typical strategies and your pet’s behaviour isn’t improving, behavioural counselling could be the right fit for your furry friend. It’s normal for your pet to misbehave occasionally but prolonged, behavioural issues could be a sign of an underlying health issue.
How do I know if my pet needs behavioural counselling?
Behavioural counselling is the next step if your pet’s quality of life is impacted by their behaviour. Unexplained aggression can be a sign of underlying health issues, especially over a prolonged period of time. Pets who are in pain express it through their actions. During their appointment, we’ll perform a physical exam to rule out any health issues. Your visit could also include a few diagnostic tests like bloodwork. We’ll also ask a questions about your home environment to identify any triggers or irritants. If we’re able to diagnose medical issues as the root cause of your pet’s behaviour, a treatment plan will be put in place to help curb it. If not, we’ll move forward with behavioural counselling.
How does behavioural counselling fix the problem?
Many aggressive, fearful, or inappropriate behaviours in dogs and cats can be modified with a combination of desensitization and counterconditioning. The goal of behavioural counselling is to change or completely stop your pet’s problematic behaviour. We’ll work with you to create a plan, including techniques you can implement at home. Consistency is key to support your pet so it’s important to stick to their behavioural modification plan. If you notice certain strategies are less effective, our veterinary team can reassess the current plan. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact us at 705-522-4555.
