If you are worried about your animal’s behavior, you do not have to figure it out alone. These are the steps Dr. Calder recommends, in order.
1. Start with your veterinarian
Many behavior changes have a medical cause. Pain, skin problems, stomach or bladder problems, thyroid disease, and age-related changes can all affect how an animal acts. A cat who stops using the litter box or a dog who suddenly growls when touched may be in pain. Your veterinarian can examine your animal, look for medical problems, and talk with you about next steps, including medication when it would help.
If your animal is injured, having trouble breathing, or in distress, contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic right away.
2. Keep everyone safe while you wait
If your animal has bitten, scratched, or fought with another animal, avoid the situations that lead to it until you have help. Use gates, closed doors, leashes, or separate rooms as needed. Do not punish growling, hissing, or other warning signals. Those signals tell you your animal is uncomfortable, and punishing them can make a bite more likely without warning.
3. Ask about a Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist (DACVB)
A board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB) is a veterinarian who has completed advanced training in animal behavior and passed a board exam. They can diagnose behavioral conditions, look at medical and behavioral causes together, prescribe medication, and create a treatment plan. You can search the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists directory for one near you.
4. Other options to consider
These professionals are listed as options only. AskPetVet and Dr. Calder are not affiliated with them.
- In-person behavior consultations for cats and dogs: Dr. Shannon Emmons, Eliot Veterinary Hospital
- Triage, behavior modification, training, and virtual consultations: Haulin’ Aus, Inc., Pat Koven, LVT, KPA-CTP, a licensed veterinary technician and certified trainer, and the other trainers on her team
When choosing a trainer, look for someone who is certified, uses reward-based methods, and is willing to work with your veterinarian. See How To Choose a Trainer.
For veterinarians
Dr. Calder offers behavior case consultations for veterinarians who would like help with a patient. Learn more at Calder Veterinary Behavior Services.
Dr. Calder cannot give advice about individual animals through this website or by email. Advice about a specific animal requires a veterinarian who knows that animal and their history, otherwise known as a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). Please contact your veterinarian with any questions, or schedule an appointment with the Haulin’ Aus team, Dr. Shannon Emmons, or both. AskPetVet and Calder Veterinary Behavior Services, P.C., are not affiliated with Dr. Shannon Emmons, Eliot Veterinary Hospital, or Haulin’ Aus, Inc.