Source: CVC IN SAN DIEGO PROCEEDINGS
November 1, 2010
By:
Gary Wilkes, DVM
In the world of modern behavior therapy, there are two popular mainstays – gradual desensitization and counter conditioning. If a dog is terrified of thunderstorms, one plays back a sound recording of thunder at very low volume and "desensitizes" the dog to the thunder over a long period of time.
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Source: CVC IN SAN DIEGO PROCEEDINGS
November 1, 2010
By:
Petra A. Mertens, DVM, MSW, DECVBM, CAAB, DACVB, LGSW
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.
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Source: CVC IN SAN DIEGO PROCEEDINGS
November 1, 2010
By:
Petra A. Mertens, DVM, MSW, DECVBM, CAAB, DACVB, LGSW
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.
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Source: CVC IN SAN DIEGO PROCEEDINGS
November 1, 2010
By:
Gary Wilkes, DVM
A discussion of the ethics of behavioral treatment begins with some important topics. First, can you stick to the ethics of veterinary medicine and still be on firm footing with behavioral issues? Second, what does "do no harm" mean in the context of behavioral therapy? Third, how will you provide your clients with effective training and behavioral therapy?
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Source: CVC IN SAN DIEGO PROCEEDINGS
November 1, 2010
By:
Gary Wilkes, DVM
Within the study of psychology are several sub-disciplines that focus on animal behavior. One of these fields is called behavior analysis. Unlike ethology, the study of how animals behave in their natural habitat, behavior analysis deals primarily with the way behavior is changed by the environment. This field is also called the experimental analysis of behavior.
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Source: CVC IN SAN DIEGO PROCEEDINGS
November 1, 2010
By:
Gary Wilkes, DVM
The term idiopathic is usually attached to behaviors such as acral lick dermatitis, pica, psychogenic alopecia and cribbing to denote an undetermined origin. While these behaviors are technically unexplained, they have correlations that hint at causality. The three factors that each of these behaviors share are selective breeding, the absence of culling through natural selection and close confinement.
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Source: CVC IN SAN DIEGO PROCEEDINGS
November 1, 2010
By:
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.
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Source: CVC IN SAN DIEGO PROCEEDINGS
November 1, 2010
By:
Petra A. Mertens, DVM, MSW, DECVBM, CAAB, DACVB, LGSW
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.
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Source: CVC IN SAN DIEGO PROCEEDINGS
November 1, 2010
By:
Gary Wilkes, DVM
The first thing to appreciate about animal behavior services is the lack of specific credentials that assure competence. Currently there are at least three scientifically oriented groups attempting to set standards for the business of animal behavior modification and training.
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