May 3, 2013 " Lenexa, Kan. " Whether the problem is a dog afraid to be left home alone, or a cat scratching the furniture, pet owners often get frustrated with their pet’s problem behavior. Without proper advice, people often make the problem worse by punishing their pets or inadvertently reinforcing the bad behavior. The last resort is for pet owners to abandon or surrender their cat or dog to a shelter. Eventually, thousands of pets die needlessly each year because such behavior problems go untreated.
Here are 10 common behavior problems, 5 in dogs and 5 in cats:
- In Cats:
- Aggression
- Stress
- Urine marking
- Scratching
- Tension in multi-cat households
In Dogs:
- Aggression
- Separation anxiety
- Fear and phobias
- Jumping up
- House soiling
“Pet owners need to discuss these and any other behavior issues with their veterinarian sooner rather than later,” said Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, a veterinarian and diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. “Veterinarians can help diagnose the problem and offer medically sound treatment options so pet owners address the behavior issue before it becomes overwhelming.”
Dr. Horwitz serves as spokesperson for the Keep the L.O.V.E. Alive Behavior Express Tour 2013 campaign. The nine-city tour is focused on raising awareness that there are solutions to behavioral issues for beloved dogs and cats.
Ceva Animal Health has partnered with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists to launch the public awareness campaign. Ceva makes Feliway® and Adaptil™, scientifically proven pheromone behavior products that reduce stress and anxiety in cats and dogs.
About the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB): Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB) are veterinarians who are specialists in the field. These specialists have completed a residency or training program in the discipline of veterinary behavioral medicine. As part of this program they have studied topics including: sociobiology; psychology of learning; behavioral genetics; behavioral physiology; psychopharmacology; ethology; and behavioral endocrinology. Visit www.dacvb.org.
About Ceva Animal Health: Ceva Animal Health’s key companion animal products include the Vectra® line of parasiticides, Adaptil® and Feliway® pheromone behavior aids, Senilife® for treating cognitive impairment in aging dogs and Altresyn® (altrenogest) for equine reproduction. The company’s North American headquarters is in Lenexa, Kansas. Visit www.ceva.us.
About Ceva Santé Animale: Ceva’s parent company is a global veterinary health company focused on the research, development, production and marketing of pharmaceutical products and vaccines for pets, livestock, swine and poultry. Its headquarters is in Libourne, France. Visit www.ceva.com.