Be Watchful Of Your Pet's Behavior
If your pet is exhibiting unusual and/or concerning behaviors, it is important to first rule out an underlying medical cause for that behavior. For example, a cat that urinates outside the litter box may have a urinary tract infection. A dog that doesn't sleep through the night may be suffering from arthritis. To rule out potential underlying health problems first, all behavioral evaluations at Eastown Veterinary Clinic begin with a physical examination, screenings and laboratory tests, which could include a complete blood count, serum chemistry profile, thyroid screening and urinalysis. The tests we recommend will depend on your pet's symptoms and general health. If we do identify a medical disorder, we will discuss your pet's treatment options.
If all tests come back negative, and we do not find a medical problem that could be associated with the change in behavior, we will recommend ways to mitigate unwelcome behavior and may put you in touch with a trainer we trust who can provide you with a customized behavior modification plan.
In addition to recommending a trainer, we will also recommend scheduling a Behavior Consultation with one of our veterinarians.
Behavior and Obedience Classes at Eastown
Many of Eastown's patients begin seeing us as puppies, and we highly recommend puppy behavior and training classes to these pets. Puppy socialization is vitally important for preventing behavioral disorders later in life. During these classes, pets are socialized to people and other pets, habituated to sounds and handling and taught to tolerate nail trims and toothbrushing. They are also taught basic obedience commands. These classes rely on positive reinforcement and are taught by Eastown's trainer, Amy Townsend, LMT, LVT, AP. Puppies should be enrolled when they are as close to 8 weeks of age as possible to offer the greatest benefit to pets and pet owners.