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Pet Health Articles

Behavior & Training

  • Portuguese Water Dogs are intelligent and used to deciding for themselves if something is not right. The positive aspect of this behavior is that they are wonderful companions, take good care of the children in their families, and feel at home in the city, the country, or at the beach.

  • Guarding desired items can be a normal behavior in dogs, but when it escalates, the safety of both people and animals is compromised. Exercises to prevent and reverse guarding behavior can be beneficial to any dog. Professional guidance is needed for any dog who repeatedly conflicts with people or pets because of guarding behavior.

  • Using Reinforcement and Rewards to Train Your Pet

    La mejor forma de adiestrar un animal consiste en utilizar correctamente el refuerzo positivo, los premios y los castigos. Es necesario saber cuál de ellos utilizar, cuándo, cómo y qué sucede si se usan indebidamente. La finalidad del adiestramiento es enseñar la tarea o el comportamiento deseados.

  • Preparing your cat to travel to the vet is one of the most important investments you can make during the lifespan of your cat. Cats should visit the veterinary hospital at least once yearly. The smoother the experience goes, the least amount of stress both you and your cat will experience.

  • When families shelter together for extended periods, as occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, pets enjoy nearly constant companionship. As people resume an active lifestyle, pets are suddenly faced with being alone. They may experience distress related to this loss of companionship. Treatment is discussed, such as independence training and an incremental program of safe departures. If your pet shows continued signs of distress related to being alone, it is important to seek professional help to prevent escalation.

  • First Aid for Dogs - Shock, Rescue Breathing, and CPR

    Las urgencias pueden tener presentaciones muy diversas: atropellos, mordiscos, quemaduras, golpes de calor, envenenamientos o pérdidas de conciencia por mencionar sólo algunas.

  • Understanding learning principles and canine communication can set you and your dog up for success. Positive reinforcement can be used to create desired behavioral responses. Behavior modification techniques can be used to treat behavioral concerns such as fear.

  • The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene, if mutated, can contribute to increased body fat and body weight and increased food motivation in affected dogs. At this time, this gene mutation has only been found in the Labrador Retriever and Flat-coated Retriever and affects the majority of those working as service dogs. This handout explains how the POMC gene mutation was discovered, how it impacts affected dogs, and how you can support your dog if affected.

  • Behavior Counseling: Senior Pet Behavior Problems

    No es raro que aparezcan problemas de comportamiento en los animales de más edad. Muchas de las causas son las mismas que podemos encontrar en los animales jóvenes, ya que los cambios en la casa o en el ambiente pueden producir problemas a cualquier edad.

  • Dog Behavior Problems: House Soiling

    Hay muchas razones por las que un perro puede ensuciar la casa con orina o heces. Determinar la razón específica es esencial para desarrollar un programa de tratamiento eficaz.