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Gabapentin Reduces Stress in Feline Patients, Study Shows

Julie Liu, DVMNo sooner do you read the alert, “Caution, will bite!” on your next patient’s chart when you hear him enter the building: loud yowls in the waiting area, followed by hissing, growling, striking, and screaming when you dare to peek at him through the carrier in the exam room. Is it a scene from a veterinary horror movie? Nope, just a senior cat who’s been losing weight for a couple of months, is overdue for rabies, and oh by the way, can you also trim his nails?

Fear of the veterinarian is a common finding among our feline patients and unfortunately, left unaddressed, can often escalate to aggression and worse veterinary care. Cat parents may put off bringing their cat to the vet due to the stress involved, and veterinarians are often unable to perform an exam, diagnostics, or treatments due to risk of injury. If you’ve ever attempted to “examine” one of your feline patients by observing them solely from the carrier, a recent JAVMA study1 may bring hope.

In the double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study, two groups of healthy cats at least 6 months of age were given either gabapentin or a placebo capsule two hours before the first of two veterinary visits. One group had a history of fear-based aggressive behaviors (FAB), and the other did not.

During the vet visits, the cat parent was present but did not interact with the cat, and the vet attempted to go through the following steps with a standardized clinical exam, corresponding to a compliance score of 0 through 9: no handling; removing the cat from the carrier; cardiopulmonary auscultation; abdominal palpation; intraoral exam; ocular exam; otic exam; rectal temperature; and finally, return of the cat to the carrier. The exam was stopped if the cat tried to bite or scratch the vet, but the exam continued if the cat hissed or growled. On the second of the two visits, performed a mean of about 15 days after the first visit, the cat received the opposite treatment of either placebo or gabapentin and the steps to attempted clinical exam were repeated.

The results suggested that the compliance scores of cats in the FAB group that received gabapentin were significantly higher (median, 9) than the same cats with FAB that received a placebo (median, 0.5). Forty-two percent of the cats receiving gabapentin did experience some side effects, most commonly drowsiness and myorelaxation. However, all adverse effects had resolved after approximately 10 hours, which is a reassuring point to make with concerned cat parents. In addition, most cat parents in the study rated the gabapentin and the placebo as being fairly easy to administer with regular food.

If you’re not using gabapentin routinely for your feline patients to reduce stress, now is a great time to start. An easy way to get cat parents on board is to send home a “Fear Free goody bag” that includes two free doses of 100 mg gabapentin (a trial dose and a day-of dose), an individually packaged Feliway wipe, and the Fear Free handout “How to Prepare Your Pet for a Veterinary Visit.”2 Cat parents who balk at having to pay a dispensing fee for a gabapentin prescription may welcome a sample, and gabapentin is so inexpensive that the cost vs. benefits of actually being able to handle and treat your feline patients will pay off a thousandfold. Just make sure you discuss potential side effects and recommend that they give the gabapentin in a tasty treat such as Churu to avoid causing a food aversion with their regular canned food.

If the cat parent does their part by administering the gabapentin to their fearful cat, we as Fear Free Certified Professionals must do ours and use feline-friendly handling. A perfectly mellow cat floating away on a cloud of gabapentin is going to come crashing to earth if they’re scruffed or dumped out of their carrier. While removal from the carrier was the second step in this study’s standardized physical exam, if a cat doesn’t want to come out of the carrier on their own, they’ll often become much more stressed when they’re removed from the familiar environment of their carrier. Try removing the top of the carrier and allowing your feline patient the option of hiding in the towel–you’ll find that you can often do an entire exam, vaccines, and sample collection this way without the cat escalating to FAB.

For more info on feline-friendly handling, check out the updated, amazing, and free AAFP webinar by Dr. Ilona Rodan.3 Even experienced cat people will learn some great tips on ways to keep their feline patients as relaxed as possible.

  1. Kruszka, M., Graff, E., Medam, T., & Masson, S. (2021). Clinical evaluation of the effects of a single oral dose of gabapentin on fear-based aggressive behaviors in cats during veterinary examinations, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 259(11), 1285-1291.
  2. https://fearfreepets.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Preparing-for-the-visit-store.png
  3. https://catvets.com/education/online/webinars/feline-friendly-handling-interactions

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Julie Liu is a veterinarian and freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. In addition to advocating for Fear Free handling, she is passionate about felines and senior pet care. Learn more about Dr. Liu and her work at www.drjulieliu.com.
 
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Parrot Prep: How to Set Up Avian Training and Behavior Classes

Rachel Lees, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)Behavior problems are a common cause of relinquishment and euthanasia in most domesticated species, including parrots. When obtaining a new pet, clients have specific expectations and ideas about what normal behavior looks like for each species. Whether they have a dog, cat, bird, or guinea pig, these choices are most likely made from a positive experience the client had in the past.

But what happens when things do not go as planned? What if expectations are too high and the pet obtained is unable to live up to the client’s expectations? Biting, screaming, and feather picking are parrot behaviors that many new owners are not prepared for when they acquire their pet. In the avian world, euthanasia is much less likely as most veterinarians are hesitant to end a bird’s life due to the client’s convenience, but this makes it more likely that the bird will be rehomed multiple times.

What if we were able to prepare our avian clients for behavioral problems before they start? What if avian rescues could work to teach birds specific cued behaviors to help eliminate aggression in some of these pets?

Psittacine preparatory programs or avian prep programs can be life-changing for birds and a great resource for owners to understand normal bird behavior, create realistic long-term expectations, and work toward creating an environment that is mentally and behaviorally enriching. They also help teach cued foundation behaviors used to eliminate and replace unwanted behaviors (just as we do with dogs and cats). Avian prep programs can help to strengthen the human-animal bond, keep birds in a home long-term, and increase the bond between client, bird, and clinic. Bonus: offering such programs also increases revenue through fees and the sale of products and treats.

Creating the Course

Who will teach the courses? What are the most important topics to teach? What foundation behaviors are most important and why? These are all great questions and we will break them down below:

Educator/Instructor:  An avian veterinarian or veterinary technician with a special interest in birds should instruct this course. The individual should be knowledgeable in avian communication, body language, forms of enrichment, and use of positive reinforcement for training. An exotic-animal trainer may be an ideal instructor if one is in your area. This trainer should use and recommend positive reinforcement. Avoid use of aversive training techniques, which can increase fear, stress, and anxiety in all species.

Curriculum Breakdown

I recommend creating a four-week course. The first two weeks can be taught virtually or in person without the client’s bird present. The goal in the first two weeks will be to review the basics of avian communication, enrichment and environmental set up, learning theory and use of positive reinforcement (with a marker), and answer client questions. The third and fourth classes will focus on teaching cued behaviors with the birds present in the hospital. (See the chart below)

To prevent potential disease transmission or other risks for birds brought to class, take the following measures:

  • Waiver (indicating risk to client, bird, etc.)
  • One owner per bird
  • Clients should bring their own equipment and reinforcers (carriers, towels, etc.)
  • Birds will need to have a current examination by a veterinarian, complete blood cell count, and Chlamydophila screening in the past year.
    • Old World parrots such as African greys, lovebirds, and cockatiels must have a negative test for circovirus
  • All unwanted behaviors (feather picking, etc) should have been medically worked up prior to working solely on behavior.
Class Topic and Discussion Points
Class One (Humans Only) ·       Introduction and Client Problem Behavior Discussion (Why are they here and what are they seeing at home?)·       Avian Communication

·       Environmental Enrichment/Management
Class Two (Humans Only) ·       Environmental Enrichment/Management (cont.)·       Learning Theory and Using Marker Training

·       Marker Mechanics and Preparing for Birds in Class
Class Three (Humans and Birds) Break down into 5- to 10-minute training sessions with short breaks in between.·       Name Orientation

·       Target

·       Step to Me

·       Off

·       Station Training
Class Four (Humans and Birds) Break down into 5- to 10-minute training sessions with short breaks in between.·       Name Orientation

·       Target

·       Step to Me

·       Off

·       Station Training

Foundation Behaviors to Teach

The following behaviors can be useful to have trained and generalized prior to problem behaviors starting. Response Substitution is a term used when we want to replace an unwanted behavior with a new behavior. Teaching and creating strong cued behaviors can help to eliminate and give alternative responses in situations involving attention-seeking or aggression.

Name Orientation: Teaching birds their name can help with obtaining their attention to interrupt unwanted behaviors and ask them to offer a different behavior.

Target Training:  This behavior can be used to teach the bird to move from one place to another by teaching them to place their beak near the target.

Step to Me:  Cue a bird to move to handler’s arm or hand to be transported from one place to another.

Off:  Cue bird to move off of handler during periods where conflict may occur.

Station Training:  Teach bird to go to a specific location on cue. This can be used as an alternative behavior.

Avian prep programs and training classes are currently scarce but ideally courses like this will become as routine as dog training classes. Pet birds deserve just as much of a chance to be successful in the home environment as dogs or cats. If you or others you know are teaching a course like this, please update us on the Fear Free for Professionals Facebook Group. We would love to see your photos and ideas for these courses as well as your feedback!

Resources 

Luescher, Andrew. Manual of Parrot Behavior. Blackwell Publishing. 2006

Shaw, Julie K. and Martin, Debbie. Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2015.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Rachel Lees, an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, is a veterinary technician specialist in behavior, a KPA certified training partner, and veterinary behavior technician at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She loves helping people create and maintain a strong human-animal bond.
 

Compulsive Behaviors in Cats: How to Recognize and Manage Them

Sandy RobinsIt’s not only people highlighted in reality TV shows who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorders; cats do, too. Repetitive and exaggerated behaviors such as sucking on fabrics and chewing plastics, excessive grooming, or bolt-out-of-the-blue aggression are signs of typical compulsive issues in cats. How a pet parent reacts to and understands these issues can go a long way toward controlling and even eradicating them.

According to feline behaviorists, neither age and nor gender are mitigating factors in compulsive behavior. However, wool sucking along with repetitive meowing has been found to be more common among so-called oriental breeds such as Siamese and Birman cats.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman, president and CEO of the Center for Canine Behavior Studies (they study feline behaviors too), who authored The Cat Who Cried for Help: Attitudes, Emotions, and the Psychology of Cats, ranks excessive grooming, known as psychogenic alopecia, as the most common abnormal repetitive behavior among cats generally. Wool-sucking and pica, the ingesting of weird objects, come in second, and, lastly, Dodman says that feline hyperesthesia, often referred to as twitchy skin syndrome, which results in a cat launching unprovoked attacks or suddenly appearing startled and then dashing away, is often also considered to be a compulsive disorder.

Psychogenic Alopecia

Cats are often mislabeled as independent, selfish, and uncaring creatures. In fact, the opposite applies; they are very caring and empathic and very conscious of their surroundings. Thus, all kinds of changes and conflict in their lives can evoke stress and anxiety. One common reaction to their personal situation is over-grooming.

“Feline psychogenic alopecia may begin as a displacement behavior arising from situations of conflict, frustration, or anxiety, but might in time become compulsive,” says Dodman. In an article published on the CCBS website, he spells it out: “The diagnosis of psychogenic alopecia as a compulsive disorder is reserved for those cases in which no underlying medical problem is evident.

“In most cats, over-grooming resulting in alopecia where they have pulled out chunks of fur and licked their skin raw, has an underlying skin disorder such as an allergic reaction to fleas or other external parasites. Inhalant allergies and even food allergies could be the root cause, and it’s important to seek veterinary assistance to rule all these causes out before the excessive grooming can be diagnosed as behavioral.”

In her book Cat vs Cat, Pam Johnson-Bennett says: “Because cats are such meticulous groomers, a cat parent may assume that the behavior is nothing unusual. Displacement grooming is a normal way for cats to recue their anxiety and calm themselves during or after a stressful situation. You may see this after a cat miscalculates a jump and falls to the floor. Although it may look as if she is embarrassed, it has more to do with her need to get her bearings because she was caught off-guard. Also being denied something she wants like getting on a counter and being repeatedly removed and even scolded can prompt displacement grooming,” she explains.

However, Johnson-Bennett points out that it’s easy to dismiss these small stressors. So, they build and suddenly the cat has huge bald patches!

“Interactive play comes to the rescue yet again,” she writes. “Use it to boost confidence and release endorphins.  Pouncing and play games offer mental and physical stimulation.” And she warns, “if you see your cat sitting in a particular position before she’s about to start compulsively grooming, get out the wand and other toys and play instead!”

But play may not be the complete answer. Sometimes medication is necessary to help break the cycle.

Wool Sucking and Pica

Cats who love to chew on a blanket or a piece of cloth may be likened to young children who walk around sucking on pacifiers or hugging security blankets. This behavior often occurs in kittens who have been removed from their mothers too young and have not had the opportunity to nurse until their mothers properly weaned them. Soft, cuddly fabrics become a substitute for mama cat.

The sucking itself is not a problem, but if the sucking turns into chewing and swallowing, it can lead to problems such as gastrointestinal obstructions. Boredom and loneliness, especially when cats are left alone all day, can lead to separation anxiety and can prompt them to turn to material sucking and chewing to soothe themselves. This can lead to pica, the ingestion of material, plastic, and other non-food items.

Often the urge to suck on fabrics subsides as a kitten becomes an adult. However, problematic chewing can recur in adulthood as a defense mechanism for dealing with a stressful situation such as household tensions between cats or separation anxiety.

In the case study on compulsive wool sucking published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior with which Dodman was involved, two hundred and four Siamese and Birman cats enrolled in the study were tracked for various physical characteristics, current and previous medical conditions, presence of an abnormally intense appetite, and environmental factors. The research ultimately showed that early weaning and small litter size were associated with increased risk of wool-sucking in Birmans only. The presence of a medical condition was associated with increased risk of wool-sucking in Siamese cats. The presence of an abnormally intense appetite was seen in all affected cats. However, no relationship was found between physical characteristics and wool-sucking in Siamese or Birman cats.

Dodman also points out that medical conditions that can trigger abnormal ingestion of inappropriate material include hunger, nutritional deficiencies such as anemia or inadequate dietary fiber, diabetes, or tumors.

Feline Hyperesthesia

“This is a complicated behavioral condition with some features that appear compulsive and others that appear frankly neurological,” says Dodman. “Because of the overlap between symptoms of other issues, it is thought to possibly be a form of partial seizures with compulsive components. There is an apparent sensitivity to touch (episodes may be induced by stroking along the spine), which can trigger attacks and accounts for the name of this syndrome,” he further explains.

Feline hyperesthesia is often referred to as rippling skin syndrome, rolling skin syndrome, or twitchy skin syndrome. Signs include dilation of pupils, excessive skin rippling, and frenetic self-directed grooming that may result in hair loss.  Grooming may be so intense it may manifest as self-directed aggression often focused on the tail (tail-chasing).

Affected cats may emit excessive and unusual vocalizations and appear to hallucinate (act afraid of their tail) and run away. They may appear “manic” (excited look, frantic running, jumping) and are frequently extremely sensitive to touch.  Sometimes aggressive bouts are preceded by attention-seeking and enhanced affection to people. Affected cats are often anxious and restless, constantly wandering and pacing. Sometimes the aggression can be directed at people.

“Almost all aggressive behavior can be traced back to a specific cause. Idiopathic aggression – the name given to totally unprovoked aggression that has no known cause — is rare,” says Johnson-Bennett. “This type of aggression is too difficult and too dangerous for a cat parent to try and correct without professional help.”

Helping Owners

Advise cat parents to be on the lookout for excessive sucking or chewing on fabrics, behaviors such as hunting and pouncing at unseen prey, running and chasing, paw shaking, freezing, excessive vocalization and a manic look, self-directed aggression such as tail chasing, and overgrooming to the point of pulling out fur in patches. While these may start out as signs of conflict or anxiety, if not attended to, they can become compulsive disorders over time.

Ask cat parents about conflicts in the home and whether there are ways to eliminate it. They may need a referral to a veterinary behavior specialist who can help them to recognize and manage such conflicts, whether they are between cats and humans, cats and other cats, or cats and other animals in the home. Other things to try:

  • Environment enrichment may help to distract a cat from compulsive behavior.
  • A tall cat tree or cat condo strategically placed near a window helps keep cats engaged.
  • A fountain not only attracts a cat to drink water but also adds sound and motion enhancements to the environment.
  • Offer the cat an indoor garden of safe plants to nibble on, ideally placed near a water fountain or water dish.
  • Wand toys allow cats to chase, pounce, and play.
  • For cats who enjoy exploring, leash-training can provide safe outdoor excursions. A catio is another option that can provide distractions from self-harming.
  • Suggest puzzles that can be filled with treats or a portion of a meal.
  • If wool sucking or over-grooming are involved, a diet that includes a high-fiber kibble may help redirect the cat from compulsive behaviors to focus on nibbling. A veterinary nutritionist may have suggestions.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Sandy Robins is an award-winning pet lifestyle journalist and author of For the Love of Cats, Fabulous Felines: Health and Beauty Secrets for the Pampered Cat, The Original Cat Bible, and Making the Most of All Nine Lives: The Extraordinary Life of Buffy The Cat.
 
 

Repairing a Broken Human-Animal Bond

Rachel Lees RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)As a veterinary behavior team member, I strive to strengthen and improve the human-animal bond in every patient and client I encounter. In behavior medicine, though, we are often fighting a losing battle. By the time clients find us, they have exhausted funds trying different training techniques. The relationship between person and pet is hanging by a thread.

These battered bonds are often related to behavior problems such as destruction to the home, inappropriate elimination, and aggression. In a 2013 study by Jennifer Y. Kwan and Melissa Bain, 65 percent of owners relinquished pets for behavior reasons. This study also supported the use of positive reinforcement, finding that use of punishment-based methods resulted in less satisfaction with a pet’s behavior, which can be damaging to the bond.1

The word “repair” means to restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken or to restore to a sound or healthy state. How can we repair a nearly broken human-animal bond?  The role of a veterinary technician or assistant can be crucial in mending and strengthening this bond.

A skilled veterinary behavior professional should be able to demonstrate the prescribed behavioral therapy plans, coach the client through them, and be flexible with both pet and owner learning styles.2 In my practice, I describe my role as “case manager”:  the person with whom each client is in contact with most frequently. It is my job to relay information clearly and effectively to the veterinarian and be sure that the entire behavior team (veterinarian, trainer, and owner) are working toward the common goal of restoring the bond.

Counseling aspects of behavioral medicine and marriage/family therapy have many commonalities.3 One of the most profound similarities is how change occurs in the context of treatment. In behavior medicine, our clients may come in with negative thoughts, anger, and fears associated with their pet. The veterinary technician or assistant’s role in the behavior team is to change the emotional experience of the pet along with that of the pet owner. When a family walks into our practice and their pet has been displaying owner-related aggression, my first questions are the following:

  • How are you feeling about your pet?
  • Do you feel safe in your home?
  • What is your current relationship with the pet?

The client needs to express their concerns if treatment is going to be attempted. Behavioral therapy is essential, but the context and triggers of the problem are less important until people can form a more positive association with the pet. After the veterinarian discusses the behavioral diagnosis, I typically break down the information in a more down to earth fashion so the entire family can understand the mental concerns their pet has developed. In this way, the family can begin to relate to the pet and see things through their eyes, and this can jump-start the process of rebuilding the bond.

A second similarity to human-based therapy is the difficulties and barriers associated with clients.4 Most of our clients walk into the consultation room and expect to be told they did something wrong. They may be defensive, anxious, and closed off, reluctant to give a detailed behavioral history, which can impact treatment.

Sometimes clients are fearful about sharing a pet’s aggressive behaviors because they do not want to euthanize their pet. They feel as if they will be judged and forced to make an unwanted decision. One of my strongest skills as a behavior team member is gaining the trust of clients and building a strong rapport early on. I want each client and pet to have a wonderful experience with our clinic, but I also want to have a strong connection with that client, share empathy, and understand each issue from their perspective.

Clients may be at the end of their rope, but usually there is an inch of that rope left to work with. I think of the rope as the bond between owner and pet. Hang on to that tiny piece as it is still technically intact! Each client walks into the practice for a reason even if there is only a tiny strand of the bond remaining. If you can open them up, connect, and gain their trust, you can begin to reshape the negativity they feel toward their pet and repair the relationship.

One of the most important terms when repairing the human-animal bond is “empathy,” the ability to have a deep emotional understanding of another’s feelings and experiences.5 For veterinary behavior team members, this ability is crucial for success with any client or patient.  They should be able to identify and empathize with the fear and anxiety the pet and client may be experiencing. This is the first step in modifying the behavior of both. Psychologist Marshall Rosenberg stated it best: “When we understand the needs that motivate ourselves and others’ behaviors, we have no enemies.” 6

I think this is important to recognize when working to rebuild or strengthen a human-animal bond. It is important for the client and veterinary behavior team to see things from the pet’s perspective. The client can then learn that the pet is not their enemy. The pet is not performing these behaviors to spite them. The pet is fearful, stressed, or anxious and may be trying to keep themselves safe.  Being able to take a walk in someone else’s shoes, or paws, is a vital step in deepening the human-animal bond.

Mending the human-animal bond is not an easy task. It takes the expertise of a strong, educated, and skilled veterinary behavior team to even begin to reunite and mend the connection between client and pet. When working in a general practice, any sign that the human-animal bond is deteriorating between a client and patient should be brought to the team’s attention so the veterinarian can make a referral to a veterinary behavior practice.

As veterinary team members, we all want to save the lives of pets. This begins with keeping a strong bond between client and pet. Giving appropriate, science-based recommendations on training and behavioral therapy can be the first step in this process, starting with puppy and kitten visits. If we all work toward a common goal, we can make a difference.

References: 

  1. Kwan Y. Jennifer, Bain J. Melissa. Owner Attachment and Problem Behaviors Related to Relinquishment and Training Techniques of Dogs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science. 2013; 168-183. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2013.768923

2-6.  Shaw K. Julie, Martin Debbie.  Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. 1st edition.  John Wiley; 2015.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Rachel Lees, an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, is a veterinary technician specialist in behavior, a KPA certified training partner, and lead veterinary behavior technician at The Behavior Clinic in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. She loves helping people create and maintain a strong human-animal bond.
 
 

What to Know About Recognizing Signs of FAS in Avian Patients

Fear Free

Specific signals of fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) differ slightly by species, but what remains constant for delivering Fear Free care is to attend to what animals communicate through their body language.

For exotic animal veterinarian Alicia McLaughlin, who practices at the Center for Bird and Exotic Animal Medicine in Bothell, Washington, paying close, constant attention to body language signals throughout interactions and care is vital for protecting the emotional experience and safety of her animal patients and the veterinary team.

In the case of Dr. McLaughlin’s exotic animal patients, signs of FAS may be slightly different and adjusted to depending upon the species. Avians in particular can be challenging for most people to read. But with practice, reading their signs of FAS becomes second nature.

Some signs of increasing fear, anxiety, and stress McLaughlin watches for in avian patients include eyes appearing more round as opposed to soft and almond-shaped. Stressed birds also do not preen themselves and are unwilling to eat even favorite treats. Birds may stand taller on their perch and lean away from a scary object or person, with feathers slicked and held close to the body. If these body language cues are ignored, birds may attempt to fly away or vocalize, or FAS may progress to defensive gesturing, with the bird opening the mouth, lunging, and threatening to bite.

Another aspect of body language to watch for is overexcitement.

“Overexcitement can lead to aggression quickly,” McLaughlin says.

Signs of overexcitement include feathers ruffling on the nape of the neck. A parrot may fan out tail feathers. Parrots have voluntary control over their pupils and can dilate and constrict them rapidly in what is referred to as eye pinning, another sign of overexcitement and a red flag for potential aggression.

Carefully and continually monitoring for signs of FAS throughout preparatory visits and actual veterinary care is protective both for the ability to handle patients in the immediate situation and for building their long-term comfort with care.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

The Link Between Pain and Problem Behavior

Linda LombardiFor some animal behavior issues, the need for a medical workup is clear. While a cat who stops using the litter box certainly may be under stress or have social problems in the household, the first step is to rule out bladder or kidney issues.

But there are also medical issues where a potential connection to a behavior problem may be less obvious. One that can be tricky to diagnose and that affects behavior in a wide range of ways is pain.

A recent article published in the journal Animals reviewed records of 100 dogs seen by the 13 coauthors and found that conservatively, a third of them involved some form of pain, and in some cases possibly up to 80 percent.

Coauthor and board-certified veterinary behaviorist Margaret E. Gruen, DVM, Ph.D., of North Carolina State University says, “We want to raise the consciousness that there are a lot of things where pain can be a contributor.” When clients come in with behavior issues, she says, “we want to be really specifically looking for discomfort, even if it’s behavior where we’re not immediately thinking, oh, that could be pain.”

It can be tricky, because pain in animals is not always obvious. “Unless you are really well versed in pain, it can be hard to pick up a painful animal in the exam room,” says Mike Petty, DVM, CVPM. “They put on a show about how well they feel. We will see dogs limp across the parking lot and then quit limping when they hit the front door.”

This means that knowing how to look for it is critical. “Primary care providers must keep an open mind that absolutely any change in their patients’ behavior that the client reports can be related in some way to pain. That means doing a good pain palpation as a part of every examination,” says Robin Downing, DVM, DACVSMR. “Only by including a pain palpation in every examination will a practitioner become proficient in identifying even subtle pain in patients.”

It’s also important to be aware of the many demonstrated connections. An increasing number of behavioral effects of pain and discomfort are being found in research. As more of these are studied, what’s “obvious” changes. “Compulsive licking in cats is a fantastic example,” says Dr. Gruen. While this was once commonly assumed to be a result of stress, after research revealed that approximately three-quarters of cats with compulsive licking actually had an underlying dermatological issue, such cats are now more likely to be treated correctly.

A less well-known example involves compulsive behaviors such as stargazing, fly-snapping, and pica. Research has shown that these can result from gastrointestinal problems in dogs.

And while inappropriate elimination as possible evidence of pain is well known in cats, it’s perhaps less frequently considered that pain can also be connected to housesoiling in dogs. “Oftentimes it’s too much effort for the dog to go and find their owner, or they dread going down the three steps into the backyard,” says Dr. Petty. “So they will sometimes go to the door and urinate or defecate there, or sometimes won’t even go to the door and just do it wherever they are.”

Problems of Aging

It’s often not easy to tell the difference between pain and cognitive decline, both of which can happen as pets age — and the two can interact as well.

“If a dog is acting weird, it might not be simple cognitive decline; it might be cognitive decline driven by pain,” says Petty. “Sometimes animals are in so much pain they can’t even think straight, so they’re much more likely to have behavioral issues.”

A sign such as apparent disorientation could be due to physical issues: a dog who seems to be stuck standing on a rug might be reluctant to cross a slippery floor because walking on it hurts. An apparent decrease in sociability could also be due to undiagnosed pain: “If you’re getting up and moving around the house, they’re less likely to follow you from room to room,” says Petty. “I always say to these clients, let’s make sure there isn’t a pain issue that pushing your dog over the edge, while we look at this cognitive issue.”

Petty thinks that teasing apart these potential causes is especially important because they often push people toward the decision to euthanize, since the dog doesn’t seem to be enjoying life and the pet-owner bond can be affected. Treating pain can help, as well as encouraging owners to modify their expectations for an aging pet. It may not be that the dog doesn’t enjoy his favorite activities anymore so much as they need to be modified: say, rolling the ball a short way instead of throwing it across the yard. He tells clients, “Think of what the dog used to like to do and tone it down.”

Looking for Changes

Because pain isn’t always obvious on examination, listening to the owner’s observations is crucial — but these may also need to be guided.

“When I speak with my clients about the possibility of pain in their pets, I alert them that any changes in behavior must lead us to at least consider pain as the culprit,” says Dr. Downing. “So, this means changes in eating and drinking, changes in getting onto furniture/beds, reluctance to ascend or descend stairs, decreased grooming (cats), restlessness at night (or the converse – – sleeping excessively), decreased interaction with human or animal family members, “grouchiness,” any changes in housetraining or litter pan use, objections to petting/brushing, decreased stamina on walks, or any other changes they may witness.”

But even for owners, these changes can also creep up so slowly that they almost don’t notice them. “It’s very common with chronic pain issues that once they’re treated, the owner says, ‘I just realized it’s been two years since he jumped on a couch,” Petty says. He strongly recommends using a questionnaire such as the Canine Brief Pain Inventory starting when pets are six or seven years old. “If you give this to every dog owner that walks in for their annual exam and have them answer these questions, you’ll be amazed at the red flags that come up.”

Lack of change where it can reasonably be expected can also be a hint, where behavior modification isn’t working. “If we have a patient who is working with someone, and they’re doing lots of appropriate things and not making progress, that’s when you want to think, let’s look even closer,” says Gruen. “Are we seeing anything that could be pain?”

Treating Both

Finally, it’s also important to remember that even when an underlying medical issue is identified, both medical and behavioral treatment may be needed.

“We need to know what the medical conditions are but that doesn’t necessarily mean treating that will solve the behavior problem,” says Gruen. “A good example is noise phobia.” In a dog who has some pain along with some fear of fireworks, for example, tensing up at the frightening noise may also cause physical discomfort. “That gets associated with the noise, so worsens the behavior problem.”

Similarly, when cats have urinary tract issues or pain that causes them to start avoiding the litter box, simply solving the medical problem may not be enough. “You can treat the infection, but the aversion is set up and persists,” she says.

Likewise, simply treating the behavior isn’t going to work if an underlying medical issue has been missed. “Making changes in those other pillars of the treatment plan is important and will be helpful, but it’s an uphill battle if you have an untreated medical concern,” says Gruen. “Particularly if it’s pain and discomfort, because that affect so many things.”

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Linda Lombardi writes about the animals that share our planet and our homes for magazines including The Bark, websites including National Geographic and Mongabay.com, and for the Associated Press. Her most recent book, co-authored with Deirdre Franklin, is The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lover’s Companion.

Prevention and Management: The Girdle Beneath the Glamour

Rachel Lees, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)Teaching cued behaviors, working through desensitization and classical counterconditioning, and clicker training are the glamorous gowns of training plans or behavioral treatment plans. They’re rewarding because this is where owners and veterinary behavior team members can begin to see improvements in the patient.

But preventing and managing undesirable or unwanted behaviors are the foundation garments beneath the fancy dress of behavior modification. Prevention, safety, and management aren’t glamorous, but they are an important part of the plan. If the patient continues to engage in unwanted behaviors, the behaviors will continue to be reinforced (negatively or positively). To avoid this dynamic, the veterinary behavior team must coach clients as much as possible to set the patient up for success and manage any panic, stress, or anxiety present.

Avoiding Triggers and Controlling the Environment

Learning occurs with every interaction. This can work to our advantage when we can strengthen behaviors we like by adding positive outcomes. The goal with prevention is to control the environment and regulate the patient so we can prevent the patient from learning undesirable behaviors during non-training times. An example might be use of crates and playpens to eliminate urine accidents in the home.

Prevention includes setting each animal up for success and manipulating the environment to promote and reinforce desired behaviors. This can be as general as setting a puppy up for success using crate training for assist with elimination training or working with a puppy or kitten during the socialization period to promote positive experiences for lifelong learning.

Prevention can also be as detailed as using white noise to create a sound buffer for a storm-phobic patient or placing an opaque window treatment on front windows to eliminate displays at passersby. Below is a chart with some common behavioral diagnoses and types of prevention that can be recommended for these conditions until appropriate training and behavior modification have been taught and implemented. Some prevention techniques might be temporary, and others might be long-term.

Behavioral Concern Types of Prevention
Aggression during Grooming and Husbandry Behaviors (Familiar and Unfamiliar People) Discontinue all forms of grooming and medical care. If medical or grooming care must be performed (in an emergency) the veterinary team should use sedation to prevent increasing fear, stress, and anxiety during these situations
Inter-Dog Aggression Keep all patients 100% separated to eliminate practice of aggression in any or all potential situations.
Redirected Aggression to a Canine Housemate Eliminate and manage all triggers that may create arousal, aggression, and frustration.  This may include opaque window treatments to eliminate the display at passersby or may include full separation between patients if triggers are unclear.
Fear-Based Aggression to Unfamiliar People Discontinue walks and keep the patient away during all guest visits. This may include using a crate in a place where the patient cannot see visitors. This will help keep the patient as safe and comfortable as possible while the guest is in the home.
Coprophagia Pick up stool immediately after elimination to prevent the patient from ingesting the stool later.

Management: Outlets to Minimize FAS While Practicing Prevention

Providing healthy forms of behavioral management can be helpful in creating a calmer and more confident pet. Providing mental, physical, and environmental enrichment can improve any domesticated animal’s overall wellbeing. Providing enrichment can help pets find appropriate outlets for innate behaviors and physical activity. Enrichment can also help to alleviate tension or any fear, stress, or anxiety the pet may be feeling. Enrichment may be used to eliminate unwanted behaviors such as chewing and destruction by young puppies or to decrease or eliminate barking in the crate during guests’ visits. Below is a short list of different forms of enrichment that can be used together or separately as needed:

  • Puzzle Toys: Puzzle toys that dispense treats or kibble provide human-approved outlets of stimulation, can double as meal opportunities, and can manage and prevent unwanted behaviors such as barking and other attention-seeking behaviors. This type of enrichment can be more mentally stimulating than a 5-mile walk. Advise clients to give these to patients ideally in anticipation of unwanted behavior or after unwanted behaviors have been interrupted. This can set patients up for success, so they do not continue to perform the undesirable behavior.
  • Sound Enrichment: Whether clients are away from home or looking to create a sound buffer to help prevent unwanted behaviors, their pets can be enriched through sound in a variety of ways. “Through a Dog’s Ear” CDs or iCalm units provide patients with biorhythmic classical music. Studies have shown that classical music can help to reduce respiration and blood pressure. DOGTV is another form of enrichment that can give dogs visual stimulation while also providing different forms of classical and calming sounds. White noise machines can be another buffer to eliminate sounds happening outside the pet’s home environment.
  • Enrichment Walks: These walks are an outlet to burn off energy while also allowing the dog to sniff and learn about the environment. In the text “From Fearful to Fear Free,” this type of sniffing is described as a form of social media for your pet. Think “Nosebook” and “Pee Mail.” This same type of enrichment can be used for cats who have learned to walk comfortably in a harness and leash. For patients who have been diagnosed with fear-based aggression issues on walks, enrichment walks can be performed in a space with limited human and dog contact such as industrial parkways.

There are many different forms of prevention and management. This article discusses only a few of the options for some diagnosable behavioral issues. This is something that can be recommended by any veterinary team member if a client and patient are waiting to be seen by a veterinary behaviorist. Suggestions such as using baby gates at doorways to prevent dog fights or keeping a patient leashed to a person can be lifesaving recommendations. Stating some of these more obvious recommendations is essential because not every client or dog trainer understands the importance of management and prevention.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Rachel Lees, an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, is a veterinary technician specialist in behavior, a KPA certified training partner, and lead veterinary behavior technician at The Behavior Clinic in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. She loves helping people create and maintain a strong human-animal bond.

As Seen on TV? A Brief Discussion of Punishment and Dominance (Part 2)

Rachel Lees, RVT, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior)We’ve all seen the many animal-training programs on cable TV and streaming networks. Some of the concepts depicted in these programs are appropriate for veterinary behavior cases and some are questionable. This article will discuss the learning theories and training philosophies demonstrated in these programs and review why veterinary behavior professionals are using alternative protocols.

Whether you are a veterinary team member working in general practice or interested in behavior, it is important to recommend up-to-date Fear Free information for patients and clients. Giving outdated information can potentially damage the human-animal bond and potentially end with the patient being rehomed or even euthanized.

The first part of this blog post looked at punishment. Punishment is not recommended in treatment as it can slow learning and cognition, suppress behavior, increase fear and fear-based aggression, create damaging and unintended associations with owners and other environmental stimuli, and damage the human-animal bond.

This blog post discusses “dominance” theory,  a commonly used training philosophy recommended by many traditional trainers. We will dive into the origins of this concept and discuss current recommendations.

Do You Really Need to Be Alpha?

The word “dominance” is one of the most misunderstood terms in veterinary behavior. The dictionary defines dominance as “the predominance of one or more species in an animal community.” The word predominance is defined as “possession or exertion of control.” When reviewing these definitions, it is hard to imagine that some trainers use them to describe how to train domestic animals. When an owner shows “exertion of control” over a pet, it increases the likelihood of behavior suppression, increased fear and anxiety, and can make owners and their actions conflicting to the pet.  This can damage the human-animal bond and even increase owner-related aggression.

Here is the question veterinary professionals and owners have asked for years: If this training is so aversive, why did we start using it in the first place? In 1947, a Swiss scientist, Rudolph Schenkel, published a paper suggesting parallels between domestic dog behavior and that of wolves. In 1970, wildlife biologist L. David Mech built on that notion in his book “The Wolf: The Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species,” reinforcing the “alpha wolf” idea Schenkel had promoted (a concept Mech recanted later in his career after studying wolves in the wild). The adapted theory had gone as far as to assume that the human family makes up the dog’s pack, and if behavior problems are present, it is because dogs are working to raise their social rank in the “pack.” But as science has advanced, so has our understanding of canine behavior.  Schenkel’s and Mech’s research had significant flaws, including the following:

  • Their original research was based on captive wolves. These captive social groups show little resemblance to the normal behavior of free-living wolves. Free-living wolves are all related to each other, which is quite different from artificial colonies of captive wolves.
  • Dogs and wolves may be from the same “genus” but are not the same. When these theories were published, they did not take into account the 15,000 years of domestication that separate modern dogs and wolves. These theories were generalized to the human-dog relationship and resulted in increased human-related aggression and behavioral problems. Comparing a dog to a wolf is like comparing a human to an ape. We are similar but not the same.
  • The original ritualistic body language displays were misinterpreted as forcible dominance displays. For example, it was reported that the “dominant” wolf will place the subordinate onto the ground. In reality, the subordinate or more fearful wolf will voluntarily assume this position to avoid conflict in a ritualistic appeasement behavior, which is the opposite of the original findings.

Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB, at Ohio State University, published research concluding that use of forceful techniques can increase the likelihood of aggression toward owners. Unfortunately, the conflict inherent in the alpha-dog theory makes for appealing television, so the idea has been widely disseminated. Veterinary behavior professionals are now working to teach updated concepts that will enhance the bond between humans and dogs instead of putting a barrier between them.

As veterinary professionals it is important that we ask questions about training recommendations and behavioral concerns at each physical exam to confirm that clients are getting the most up-to-date behavior and training information. Clients value your opinion and recommendations and your advice can be lifesaving. Observe training classes you may recommend to ensure that they use Fear Free techniques.

Recommended Reading for Owners or Veterinary Professionals 

  • From Fearful to Fear Free
    • Author(s): Marty Becker, Lisa Radosta, Wailani Sung, and Mikkel Becker
  • Decoding Your Dog
    • Author(s): The American College of Veterinary Behavior
  • Dog Sense
    • Author: John Bradshaw

Other Resources 

Herron, Meghan E. Shofer, Frances. Reisner, Illana R.  2009. Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired

Shaw, Julie K.  Martin, Debbie. Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses.  John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2015.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Rachel Lees, an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional, is a veterinary technician specialist in behavior, a KPA certified training partner, and lead veterinary behavior technician at The Behavior Clinic in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. She loves helping people create and maintain a strong human-animal bond.

Fear Free Success Stories: Patience for the Win

Kim Campbell Thornton
Whether they are going through training or learning to overcome previous fears, dogs do best when people give them time and space, in tandem with management and—if needed—medication, to develop confidence.

Body Language Messages

I’ve been a volunteer puppy raiser for Summit Assistance Dogs for about seven years. Each year I’ve raised a pup following Summit’s training guidelines based on positive reinforcement and what puppies can handle at each developmental stage. Each pup explores the world in tiny increments based on what they tell me through body language about how the new environment feels to them. Sometimes we don’t even get out of the car if the pup seems to be hesitant. If they’re not ready for a new place, we go somewhere they have already been to build confidence. Each pup is born with unique strengths and levels of confidence. The big and bold ones move through environments more quickly than timid pups. My current pup, Jazz, came to me at 11 months of age. She was timid about change, so we moved slowly and calmly. We joined a scent work class, which allows the dogs to move freely at their own pace. This built her confidence quickly and now she rocks in almost any setting. Watching what your pet tells you through body language (relaxed, happy, withdrawn, cowering) is key to a truly Fear Free companion.

Anne Campbell, Greenbank, Washington

Muzzle, Medication, Management, Magic

Alaska is a three-and-a-half-year-old white German Shepherd, who was adopted from a pet store when she was three months old. Early veterinary visits had caused her to become fearful. Medication didn’t help and she required heavy restraint. Her pet parents called our clinic about taking her on as it had been suggested that she might prefer a female veterinarian.

We requested that they start to get Alaska comfortable with a muzzle at home and to do drop-in visits when our clinic wasn’t busy. They did all this over the course of a month. For the first visit, we asked Alaska’s previous vet to write her a prescription for Trazodone and advised her owner to give it on an empty stomach 12 hours and two hours before the exam, because of the hepatic first pass effect of the drug.

We booked out extra time for the visit. We took down preliminary info like diet, likes and dislikes, activity, allergies, etc., from mom while dad waited outside with Alaska. Her mom told us that at the previous vet, the exam room was small and that Alaska didn’t like being confined, so we pushed our rolling exam table against the counter, leaving an open space in the exam room. We had already started the lavender diffuser and Baby Einstein classical music.

To mask any hospital odor, the tech, assistant, and I washed our hands and exposed arms, dried them thoroughly, and applied Bath and Body Works Stress Relief Eucalyptus and Spearmint body lotion. The pet parents walked a muzzled Alaska into the room and we gave her space to walk and investigate. The assistant crouched to her level, and I sat on the lowered rolling table. We stretched out our arms for her to sniff….no growls! However, her ears were flat back. I called that to everyone’s attention and explained to her parents that she was wary, stressed, and afraid, and that we needed to move cautiously and slowly. As she made her rounds to us and looked us in the face, we closed our eyes or turned away, so we weren’t staring at her, while we talked to her gently and started to stroke her.

We started feeding her peanut butter, and I was able to look at her eyes from an angle, and slowly went to her ears, but she raised her lip at the otoscope, so I stopped and let her regroup. Mom then said she didn’t like ears, feet, or back touched. Eventually, Alaska’ s ears came from flat to sideways elevated to straight up. She nudged the assistant for attention, and I was able to palpate her abdomen, examine her haircoat, and auscultate her heart and lungs. The assistant continued with the peanut butter, mom with bits of chicken, and lots of neck rubs and sweet talk, and I was able to give her four vaccinations. We paused at that point, as she needed to have blood drawn for a heartworm test.

I wish I had grabbed my cell phone; Alaska was lying in the middle of the floor, back legs curled around, front feet outstretched, ears straight up, and if it weren’t for the panting, looking completely relaxed as if she were at home. The parents were amazed and happy; this had never happened before.

While they wanted to get everything done in one visit, I persuaded them that we should stop at this point so she would have a positive visit to build on. (I had squirted some alcohol on a lateral saphenous vein to see how she would take it, and while she didn’t growl, she didn’t like it, so more peanut butter to the rescue.) The owners concurred, and I had them take some Solliquin to start her on, and advised them to come back in a month. In all likelihood we will have to give some IM dexdormitor to draw the blood, but I think we can build on today’s visit. The pet parents couldn’t stop thanking us for taking the time and making the extra effort to understand their beloved dog. I love Fear Free!

Cathy Grey, DVM, Oakdale Animal Hospital, Oakdale, New York

Caring for Canasta

Canasta is fearful of strangers and handling, which makes veterinary visits difficult for both Canasta and her caregiver. I recently started working with Canasta on basket muzzle training and being more comfortable with strangers, but she was in need of bloodwork immediately. Her veterinarian prescribed pre-visit pharmaceuticals, and I worked with the technician to create a handling plan and came to the visit to assist. When Canasta walked in wearing her basket muzzle, I used gentle control to restrain her while the technician drew blood. Canasta even took a treat from the technician when we were done, which is a huge win! Her mother was crying, knowing her dog did so well, and I will continue to work on cooperative care with the caregiver and Canasta.

Tabitha Kucera RVT, CCBC, KPA-CTP, Chirrups and Chatter Cat and Dog Behavior Consulting and Training, and Lyndhurst Animal Clinic, Lyndhurst, Ohio

Want to be featured? Submit your success story here!This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Kim Campbell Thornton is content manager for Fear Free Pets and is a Level 3 Fear Free Certified Professional. She has been writing about dogs, cats, wildlife, and marine life since 1985.

Even Mild Fear of Noise in Dogs Has Broad Effects

Linda Lombardi
Mild cases of noise reactivity in dogs are often not considered problematic enough to treat. However, in a recently published study, even mild noise sensitivity was associated with lower performance on a puzzle test. This suggests that these dogs have impaired functioning even when noise is not present and that more screening and treatment is called for.

Researchers analyzed three types of data collected as part of a larger study of pet dogs. Dogs were evaluated for noise sensitivity via a questionnaire and a score was calculated based on the number of categories of noise that caused a reaction, the behaviors indicative of fear and anxiety that were exhibited, and the intensity of the reaction. Dogs were also tested for noise sensitivity using a custom noise recording that was played starting at a low volume and gradually turned up.

Learning Affected

Dogs were then evaluated for their performance on a puzzle-box test. The clear plastic puzzle box had nine holes on top and one at the end. A tennis ball was rolled into the box and dogs were given five minutes to try to get it out. If they succeeded in under two minutes, they repeated the test, up to three times in total. While attempting the puzzle, the dogs were wearing a device that recorded their movements.

Comparing data from 17 noise-reactive dogs and 11 non-noise-reactive dogs, those who were sensitive to noise performed worse on the puzzle box. Movement recordings also showed a difference, says lead author Karen Overall. “The ones who did the best moved very efficiently and very quickly. Their movements counted. The dogs who reacted to noise and who did more poorly, or could not solve the test, had very jagged and inconsistent movements.”

These dogs did not seem to be able to move in a deliberate, coordinated manner in response to how the ball acted when they tried to manipulate it. “They have to correct their behavior according to the movement of the object that they see,” she says. “These dogs couldn’t do that.”

Some of the noise-reactive dogs did not perform well enough to repeat the test, but when they did, they also differed. “Unlike the dogs who didn’t react to noise, the dogs who did react to noise couldn’t learn from their previous tests and didn’t improve their scores,” she says.

Sound Effects

While it’s understood that being in a state of anxiety interferes with functioning, the results show that being noise-sensitive has more wide-reaching effects. Even in a relatively low-stress situation where noise was not an issue, these dogs showed impaired performance: “The room is quiet, they’re getting food treats, their people are there, but they still can’t learn.”

Overall says it’s important to understand that this was not a clinical population of noise-fearful dogs. “Largely they were fairly mild, and yet they still couldn’t do this,” she says.

They also were not generally fearful, which was screened for. “The dog who was the worst in the test, the only dog for whom we had to turn off the recording, she was the meet-and-greet queen of the universe,” she says. “She was charming and social and lovely until you played noise, and then she was broken.”

“Moderate to severe noise sensitivity in dogs is a well-known behavior problem. A connection between separation anxiety and noise sensitivity has also been recognized before. What has not been appreciated until Dr. Overall and her colleagues published this research is the impact that noise sensitivity has on the general anxiety levels and learning ability of affected dogs,” says Bonnie Beaver, DVM, DACVB, of Texas A&M University. “These changes exist even in mildly affected dogs, impacting their daily lives with ever-present stress.”

Screening and Treatment

Overall concludes that even mild fear of noises needs to be aggressively screened for and treated.

“I think we don’t realize how much these dogs are suffering,” she says. “This shows that you’ve got dogs who are afraid of noises and it’s impairing other parts of their life that people haven’t looked at. It’s impairing their ability to get information from the environment and their ability to problem solve.” This has a broad impact on their social functioning and their fundamental ability to enjoy life.

Overall now believes dogs should be screened for noise reactivity on every vet visit and that it’s particularly critical to screen young dogs. “I want vets to see dogs three or four times a year in the first two years of life, when their brains are developing, and subject them to standard screening tests,” she says.

This is important because early diagnosis and treatment can make a huge difference. “The rodent literature has shown that if you’re anxious and fearful and from a genetically fearful line, and they treat you as a baby, your brain develops normally,” she says. “And what wouldn’t we give for that? There’s too much suffering; I want these dogs to have joy.”

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Linda Lombardi writes about the animals that share our planet and our homes for magazines including The Bark, websites including National Geographic and Mongabay.com, and for the Associated Press. Her most recent book, co-authored with Deirdre Franklin, is The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lover’s Companion.
 

 

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