Your team of Vets and Nurses have a wealth of knowledge on all sorts of behaviour problems and are equipped to help pet owners in need.
Our experienced team of vets and nurses are dedicated to ensuring that your furry friend receives the highest quality of service, from vaccinations to surgery
If your cat is urinating outside the litter box, we recommend a thorough exam by one of our Veterinarians to rule out any medical problems. If no medical issues are present, we suggest limiting access to the problem areas, providing dedicated toileting areas, and trialing different types of litter substrates. Additionally, products such as Feliway and drug therapy can be helpful in reducing stress and anxiety. For more specific advice, please attend our clinic.
Dogs dig for various reasons, including to cool off, hunt, nest, escape confinement, or out of boredom. It's essential to determine the reason for digging before inhibiting or preventing it, which could result in new behavior problems. Providing a cool resting area with shade and water, additional play and exercise, or a designated digging area can be helpful. For escape digging, housing the dog indoors is the most practical solution until they learn to stay outside without digging. Our Vets can assess your pet and work with you to develop a treatment plan, which may include medication or specific training.
Stool eating, or copraphagia, can have medical or behavioural causes. The vet can check for medical issues like poor digestion, nutrient absorption, or parasites. Behavioral reasons may include puppies exploring, learned behavior from the mother dog, or dogs attracted to feces as they are to food. To correct this behavior, prevent access to feces, supervise when outside, interrupt with a firm command, and change the diet. Meat tenderizers may make the stool less palatable. "Wild Forage" and "Forbid" are products that may help in some cases.
Certain breeds of dogs, like Labradors and Retrievers, are more prone to noise phobias. These phobias can be triggered by a wide range of sounds, from thunderstorms to hairdryers, and are difficult to resolve. Desensitisation and Counter-Conditioning are typically the recommended techniques, where dogs are gradually exposed to the noise and rewarded for remaining calm. If necessary, anxiety medication and DAP diffusers can also be prescribed by a veterinarian. For specific advice on your dog's noise phobia, please contact us at the clinic.
Dogs can display destructive behavior when left alone, such as barking, urinating, defecating, and destroying furniture. Early socialization and training are important to prevent this issue. Dogs should have at least 2 hours alone per day and discouraged from dependent behaviors such as sleeping on the owner's bed. Enrichment toys and sufficient exercise can help prevent boredom. Delayed treatment can require medication and cognitive therapy. Contact the clinic for further information or to find a local dog trainer.