The dvm360® behavior page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on companion animal traits and behavior. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos, and research on the latest discoveries and treatments for behavior, and more.
May 17th 2024
A veterinary behaviorist discusses this common challenge during the Day 1 keynote presentation at Fetch Nashville
Have You Heard? Why pet dogs bite children (3:20)
November 16th 2007Behavioral assessments and medical records of dogs evaluated at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine for human-directed aggression provide much-needed data regarding the circumstances surrounding dog bites in children.
Assist owners in selecting the best pets for their lifestyles
October 1st 2007Although it is obvious to veterinarians that a Border collie and a 96-year-old woman likely make a poor pet-owner match, it may not be obvious to a potential owner who has never been around Border collies. Indeed, one reason healthy animals wind up in shelters, says Gail Golab, PhD, DVM, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) interim director for animal welfare, is because people "acquire a pet with an expectation the pet doesn't fulfill."
Practical Matters: Use caution when prescribing transdermal medications for feline behavior problems
September 1st 2007Medicating a headstrong cat can be a challenge. However, compounding pharmacies have made the task easier by preparing many medications as flavored liquids, chewable treats, or transdermal gels.
Lunar cycle may be linked to more veterinary visits, CSU study says
July 19th 2007Fort Collins, Colo. - 7/19/2007 - There may be a link between an increase in emergency room visits for dogs and cats and lunar cycle days when the moon is near or at its fullest, according to a study by colleagues at Colorado State University's (CSU) College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
How I treat food-related aggression in dogs
April 1st 2007Diagnosing food-related aggression in dogs is fairly straightforward--the history reveals that a dog in possession or proximity of a food item directs a threat or harmful action toward another with the intent of backing that individual away from the food item.
Canine housetraining challenges
April 1st 2007A well-housetrained dog is a requirement for most pet owners. In fact, behavior problems are a common cause of relinquishment to animal shelters, and inappropriate elimination has been reported to make up 15% to 24% of the behavior problems seen in veterinary behavior clinics.
Ensuring a behaviorally healthy pet-child relationship
October 1st 2006Veterinarians should encourage pet owners to turn to them for expert advice and assistance. Let clients know that you, not the pet store employee or the self-proclaimed master dog trainer, are the best source for reliable behavior recommendations.
Watching the cues will help unlock clues to feline communication
February 1st 2006The third column in this continuing series on feline communication will focus on overall body posturing and the behavioral information it provides. Because no signaling system can be removed from the context of the entire animal, using what we have learned from observation of behavioral cues from felines' faces and tails can be extremely useful when we look at the cat in its relevant social context.
Feline communication: Listen to the tail's tale
November 1st 2005The second column in this series on feline communication will focus on the information provided by cat tails. While no signaling system can be removed from the context of the entire animal and correctly interpreted, it can be very useful to look at what information can be communicated by each body part involved in signaling. Then, we can take these observations and look for congruence or lack of it between other signaling systems (e.g., the eyes, voice, body, etc.) The only system closed to our understanding, for now, is the olfactory.
Self-directed behaviors in dogs and cats
March 1st 2005Although the prevalence of self-directed behaviors is not well-documented in dogs or cats, it is likely underappreciated because animals are not typically presented for evaluation of such behaviors unless the clients think their pets are manifesting a behavior problem or some degree of injury as a consequence of the behavior.