Pet insurance - Tips & Advice - Your pet's wellbeing

To many people, the fact that a dog or cat might need a ‘pet shrink’ seems all too American – conjuring up visions of eccentric Californian pet owners rushing their furry companion off to be treated on the couch. But the reality is that some pets display what their owners would describe as irrational behaviour for which there is no apparent cause or solution.

Cause of the problem
Many if not most vets these days recognise that an animal’s psychological make-up is an important part of how it will behave in its domestic situation. If a dog or cat is behaving in a disordered fashion, there is likely to be a clear cause – quite often this can be lack of stimulation, inappropriate stimulation or over stimulation, These can lead to unwanted behaviours and sometimes physical diseases.

There is also the fact that a pet that has been treated badly, abused or subject to violence previously may well demonstrate certain behaviours linked to that abuse. We have all heard tales of a dog that is either scared or gets aggressive when approached by strangers.

Getting help
It’s easy to think that a dog or cat is behaving in a certain way because that’s what animals do, but it’s possible that a pet’s behaviour can become disruptive.

The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors  (APBC) is a UK organisation that sets out to provide affordable treatments to help with pet behavioural problems. The issues they deal with include: aggression, destructiveness, toileting problems, marking, spraying, self-mutilation, vocal behaviour, nervousness, car travel, livestock chasing and general control.

The APBC does indicate that a lot of problems with pet behaviour can be caused by lack of appropriate training – making sure your dog or cat knows its boundaries, is properly socialised and has the right level of stimulation. Getting this right can possibly help avoid problems in the future. Their website provides helpful hints for cat and dog lovers to help try and achieve this.

And if you are concerned about your pet’s behaviour, the APBC operates on referrals from your vet, so it is advisable to speak to them in the first instance. Correcting antisocial or inappropriate behaviour from your companion can help create a far more harmonious home environment.

Related information:
Victoria Stilwell’s blog – If you’ve got a question about your dog’s behaviour, why not check out the blog of one of the world’s leading dog trainers
Moving house with your pet – the disruption of moving house can have a big effect on your pets – make sure you know how to deal with this and help them readjust in their new surroundings
Alternative health for pets – as well as trying to get psychological treatment for pets, alternative therapies are also becoming increasingly popular. Just ensure that you find a reputable practitioner first.