Petra A. Mertens, DVM, MSW, DECVBM, CAAB, DACVB, LGSW

For many years, we taught clients who live with dogs who bite that the problem is likely 'dominance' – the dog is possessing over space, food or other resources to establish a hierarchical position. While some aggressive reactions may be due to the dog's perceived need to guard a resource, there is no evidence that interactions with humans aim at establishing rank.

Cats who eliminate outside the litter box pose serious problems for owners that may force the family to place, surrender or euthanize the cat. In many cases, treatment is highly effective with resolution rates between 80-90% if the problem has been properly diagnosed.

Aggression to family members or persons who are familiar with the aggressive dog accounts for the majority of cases presented to veterinary behaviorists. Causes for this behavior vary greatly and may include competitive aggression, fear aggression, pain induced aggression or maternal aggression.

One of my dear friends and colleagues – a veterinary cardiologist – often teases me that behavior can't really be that hard. She thinks that a behaviorist's work rarely exceeds the advice to add another litter box. While it's true that implanting a pace maker is more impressive than 'adding a litter box', I like to emphasize that I'm able to keep more pets in their families and alive when we compare our case outcomes. This hasn't always been the case.

Even the best veterinarian will eventually face a client who is disappointed, angry or frustrated. In this session we will discuss examples that you bring to the table, such as 'Rocky', a ten year old male Springer Spaniel had bitten the clients' two year old daughter.

Free ranging cats have the freedom to choose their preferred elimination location. They would prefer to avoid eliminating in a spot another cat has used (unless they are marking it). Free ranging cats will not urinate and defecate in the same area, and they do not like to eliminate in public places or cave-like settings.

For many years, we taught clients who live with dogs who bite that the problem is likely 'dominance' – the dog is possessing over space, food or other resources to establish a hierarchical position. While some aggressive reactions may be due to the dog's perceived need to guard a resource, there is no evidence that interactions with humans aim at establishing rank.

In many cases, we ask our clients to change their ways, adapt new strategies, and adjust their interactions with their pet. Clients are at different stages of readiness to make changes.

Even the best veterinarian will eventually face a client who is disappointed, angry or frustrated.

In conversation, the terms 'anxiety,' 'fear,' and 'phobia' are commonly used synonymously. In the context of behavior medicine it is important to be mindful of their respective definition and differences between the conditions since they vary not only in presentation, but also in treatment and prognosis.

Cats who eliminate outside the litter box pose serious problems for owners that may force the family to place, surrender or euthanize the cat. In many cases, treatment is highly effective with resolution rates between 80-90% if the problem has been properly diagnosed.

Cats who eliminate outside the litter box pose serious problems for owners that may force the family to place, surrender or euthanize the cat. In many cases, treatment is highly effective with resolution rates between 80-90% if the problem has been properly diagnosed.

We will review the meaning and principles or reinforcement and punishment, using the 'Law of Effect".

Veterinarians celebrate the strengthening of the human-animal bond because it frequently allows us to provide improved medical care for our patients. However, this bond may also make handling a pet's death or deciding on the extent of an animal's treatment difficult for clients.