Behavioral Counseling

Is unwanted behavior driving a wedge between you and your pet?

Whether it’s a basic house-training issue or something more concerning, like aggression, unwanted pet behavior can be stressful for everyone. The experienced team at Smyrna Animal Hospital can help restore peace and balance back into your home.

Understanding the Problem

The key to overcoming animal behavior issues lies in identifying the exact problem. First, we must rule out any potential medical causes. Some health conditions have symptoms that can be mistaken for bad behavior. For instance, a cat that urinates outside the litter box may not be acting out, but actually be experiencing a health issue.

Once we’ve established a clean bill of health, the next step is pinpointing the precise behavior we’re dealing with. This is critical because in many cases, a bigger issue may manifest itself in smaller ways. For example, destructive behavior when left alone could actually be a symptom of separation anxiety. We’ll work with you to determine exactly what the situation is so we can address it most effectively.

Some of the common behavior problems we can assist with include:

• House training
• Excessive barking
• Jumping
• Digging
• Biting
• Destructive behavior
• Aggression
• Fear/anxiety

A Plan That Gets Results

With an accurate diagnosis in hand, the last step is developing a strategy for overcoming the problem behavior once and for all. There are a number of different ways we can approach a behavior issue. Whether it’s positive reinforcement, rewards, training, or something else, we’ll work with you to create a customized plan that gets results.

Don’t let unwanted behavior stand in the way of bonding with your pet. Contact Smyrna Animal Hospital and let us help you enjoy the loving, peaceful relationship you both deserve.