If you love an animal, remember this: Aggression, destructiveness, house-soiling, withdrawal, and over-grooming are not moral failings. They are symptoms. And like any symptom in any medical field, ignoring them is never the answer.
Traditional Handling Fear-Free Practices -------------------- ------------------- Scruffing and heavy restraint ---> Pheromone diffusers & treats Forcing onto slippery tables ---> Examining on the floor or lap Ignoring growls/hisses ---> Pausing and using chemical sedation Core Tenets of Low-Stress Veterinary Visits If you love an animal, remember this: Aggression,
| Behavioral Sign | Possible Medical Cause | |----------------|------------------------| | Polyphagia (excessive eating) | Diabetes, hyperthyroidism, malabsorption | | Nocturnal vocalization (cats) | Hypertension, cognitive dysfunction, hyperthyroidism | | Sudden aggression (dog) | Pain (e.g., dental, orthopedic), brain tumor, hypothyroidism | | Pica (eating non-food items) | Anemia, pancreatic insufficiency, GI disease | Or is something physically wrong
Deep-seated territorial conflicts within multi-cat households. If you love an animal
As pet owners, our first instinct is often to wonder: Is this behavioral? Are they acting out? Or is something physically wrong?
The integration of behavior into veterinary science serves three primary purposes: 1. Reducing Stress and Fear-Free Care