Sharing results from a study on canine aggression treatment protocols, Bonnie V. Beaver, DVM, MS, DSc (Hon), DPNAP, DACVB, DACAW, shares the importance of asking pet owners about possible behavior problems during routine examinations. She highlights data from the study showing dogs seen by a clinician were diagnosed with a contributing medical condition. These data raise suspicion that some dogs not seen by a clinician may have had an undiagnosed contributing medical condition.
Source: Clinician’s Brief, March 2022. Link. Key pearls to put into practice:
- During routine examinations, it is important to ask dog owners whether the dog is developing unwanted behaviors . . .
- Behavior modification in the form of desensitization and counterconditioning can be useful for managing aggressive dogs.
- Short behavior modification and training sessions are more successful than longer sessions.
INSIGHTS: This article reinforces the ongoing need to interact collaboratively with animal owners bringing their daily experiences with their animals into consideration during exams. Simple questions such as the ones below by all team members may uncover an issue.
- Has Muffin always pulled away when you touch her ears?
- Does Scout normally yip when his tail is touched?