Do you have a cat that urinates in inappropriate places or a dog that is destructive when left alone? Or perhaps you are aftaid to have people come to your home because your pet barks excessively and frightens your guests. Sometimes animal behavioral problems are just small nuisances, but other times they can be seriously disruptive. Often owners do not know how to modify the behavior or that there is help available. Unfortunately, more animals die each year in the United States because of behavioral problems than from infectious disease. Of the millions of animals that are euthanized in animal shelters each year, some 50%-70% are brought to the shelter because of their behavior.

The most common behavioral problems reported in dogs are aggression and separation anxiety. For cats the most common is inappropriate urination. There is help for many of these pets and their owners. For many, behavioral modification and a few environmental changes can do the trick. For others, medication is needed. Other behavioral problems may be rooted in medical illness. The elderly cat that defecates just outside the litter box may suffer from arthritis and find it difficult to climb into the box. The cat or dog that urinates on the carpet may have a bladder infection. In addition, there are many less-significant management problems that people "learn to live with" such as jumping on strangers or pulling on the leash while walking. These can frequently be solved with relatively minor investments of time.

Here at Old Dominion we are well positioned to help with these problems. We have veterinarians trained to take a holistic approach in identifying and treating medical and behavioral problems, and identifying how and when they interrelate. A program is then designed specifically for your pet and your household. We can also work with you to try to prevent future behavioral problems.

You can click here to access a printable copy of the online form (if you wish). You may save these forms to your computer, fill them out, and submit them to Old Dominion Animal Hospital to aid our specialist in determining a solution to your problem. Please call us at (434) 971-3500 for more information on how to initiate a behavioral consult.