Behavior Problems 1.3

Behavior Problems 1.3

1. Common Behavior Problems in Dogs and Cats

   • Canine Separation Anxiety
     • Usually Young Dogs
     • Dogs from Shelters are more prone
     • Important to rule out medical issues, Fear Responses, and Territorial behaviors
     • Excessive Vocalization, Destructive Behavior Inappropriate Elimination, Anorexia, Hyperactivity, Inactivity, V/D
   • Aggression
     • Conflict Related Aggression
       • Animal is expossed to an uncomfortable situation
         • Aggression allows avoidance
         • Lessen Fear
         • Avodance Conditioning
       • Arrises in an inconsistent environment that uses punishment based training
     • Fear Induced Aggression
       • Most Common seen @ Vet
       • An animal is in a position it can not escape
         • Loud Noises
         • Children
         • Specific People
       • Can Be Unintentionally inforced
         • People withdraw from the animal while it shows the aggression
     • Predatory Aggression
       • Animal Won't give warning
       • Stalk its pray then pounce
       • Most Common in Cats
     • Pain- Induced
       • Protective Instinct
         • A hurt dog has a natural tendency to bite
       • Aggression behind Dogfights
         • Also, punishment given when trying to break up a dogfight may actually intensify the fight
     • Inter-male Aggression
       • Males show aggression to other males
         • Castration can help in most cases
     • Territorial Aggression
       • Dogs
         • More territorial towards humans not apart of their households
       • Cats
         • More territorial towards other cats
       • Often Confused with Conflict-Related Aggression
     • Other Aggressive Behaviors
       • Maternal Aggression is Rare
         • Can occur in Postparturition Period
           • Protect Young from Danger
   • Eliminating
     • House Soiling
       • Might be Medical
         • Internal Parasites
         • UTI
       • Being indoors too much, or Submissive in Nature
     • Spraying
       • Male Dogs
         • Spray when they reach sexual maturity
           • Mark Territory
           • Call attention to themselves
           • Neuter to Eliminate
       • Female Dogs
         • When Introduced to new pets or people

2. Behavior Problems in Exotic Pets

   • Birds
     • Screaming or Squawking
       • Naturally birds do this at dusk and dawn
       • Used to signal distress
         • Stress of environmental noise
         • When they don't have food or water
     • Biting
       • Fear
         • Environmental Stress
           • Usually stops when stress is removed
       • Excitement
         • Environmental Stress
           • Usually stops when stress is removed
       • Aggression
         • If they are not socialized to humans or suffered abuse
   • Rodents
     • Biting
       • When handled too quickly or roughly
         • Introduce hands slowly and gently
       • Out of Curiosity
     • Aggression towards other rodents
       • Hampsters can rarely be kept in the same cage
         • Males
           • If they are from the same litter and are raised together they can make peaceful cage mates
         • Famales
           • NEVER put two females in the same cage. They will fight to the death