Pet Behavior Problems: the role of anxiety

Two elegant behavior studies are reported in the November 15, 2006 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). The studies examined changes in cat and dog behavior problems over the last 10 years. Researchers found:

• Males cats (even neutered) are more likely to have behavior problems than are female cats.
• Adopted cats engage in pica the first two months after adoption. For many pets with pica, enzymes, minerals, and good nutrition decrease the tendency toward pica.
• Dog aggression is greatest toward owners. Dog aggression is also directed toward strangers and other animals.
• Cat aggression is usually directed toward other cats, but lately there has been an increase in the number of cats that are aggressive with owners.
• Males dogs are more likely to be aggressive and female dogs are more likely to be phobic.
• When female dogs are aggressive, it is toward other pets in the house. When male dogs are aggressive it is toward humans, strangers and pets outside the house.
• The number of dogs being treated by behaviorists is increasing, but the number of cats being treated by behaviorists is decreasing.
• The use of anti-psychotic meds and pheromones are believed to be responsible for the decrease in cat problems brought to behaviorists.

Some behaviors are linked so that pets tend to have both behavior problems. For example:

• Dogs that have separation anxiety and general anxiety also tend to behave aggressively.
• Dogs that are noise phobic also tend to have separation anxiety.
• Cats that house soil also tend to behave aggressively.

Your veterinarian can help you change your pet's behavior and choose the right medications to help you move more quickly toward that goal.