If you suspect your pet has a medical issue causing a behavioral change, schedule an appointment with your primary care veterinarian immediately. Do not attempt to train away a medical problem.
For decades, veterinary science treated behavior as a secondary, almost frivolous, concern—the realm of “trainers” rather than doctors. We prescribed antibiotics for a bacterial infection and surgery for a cruciate tear. But when a dog growled at a child, we called it dominance; when a cat urinated outside the litter box, we called it spite. This was a profound failure of clinical reasoning. A growl is not a moral failing; it is a warning signal, often rooted in pain. A cat’s inappropriate elimination is rarely revenge; it is frequently the first sign of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) or degenerative joint disease. In the new frontier of integrated medicine, the behaviorist and the veterinarian must share the same seat at the roundtable.
Animals cannot verbally communicate physical discomfort. Instead, they communicate through changes in their daily routines, postures, and actions. For veterinary professionals and observant owners, a shift in behavior is often the very first clinical sign of an underlying medical issue. Pain and Aggression
Clinics use separate waiting areas for dogs and cats. Feliway (feline) and Adaptil (canine) pheromone diffusers are used to create a calming olfactory environment.