I write about behavior issues frequently on the Blog. It's an area of interest for me and I try to stay up to date on the latest and greatest developments in the area. It's also an area of concern for many pet owners. In my other job over on Yahoo Answers, about half of the questions I get involve behavior.
In fact, behavior problems taken together are the main reason dogs and cats end up in shelters. Many of these pets end up being euthanized due to their particular behavior issue. Whether it is aggression or separation anxiety in dogs or litter box issues in cats it's really a big deal and a sad deal if you are a pet lover.
There are a number of new and old medications that can be effective in helping control behavior. These products work best if they are used in conjunction with appropriate behavior modification therapy. It may also surprise many pet lovers to know that there is a specialty group of veterinarians with post graduate education in the area of animal behavior and behavior modification.
Most bigger metropolitan areas have one or more of these specialists and they are often associated with large referral practices where you can find internal medicine, dermatology and surgical specialists, as well.
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists is the specialty group who's members are board certified veterinary behavior specialists. These veterinarians have completed additional education beyond the DVM degree that allows them to specialize in this critical area.
There are a number of trainers out there who will tell you they can deal with behavior problems, and many of them can do a fine job, I'm sure, but for my money, I'd rely on a veterinarian to help provide the latest in research backed behavior modification techniques.
If you need their help ask your primary care veterinarian for a referral. They can help point you in the right direction. Your first visit will most likely involve a detailed medical and behavior history that can point to causes and potential treatment goals for your pet. Some behavior specialists will visit you in your own home and demonstrate the proper application of behavior modification for you and other family members that are responsible for the pet.
As you might imagine, this type of therapy can be costly. At the same time it may be the only solution that will allow you to keep your pet in the family. If you have pet health insurance for your pet, in some cases it can help significantly. Make sure you know the details of your policy. Some companies say they cover behavior, but they may only pay a certain amount that will only cover a small portion of the entire diagnostic and therapeutic effort.
Some PurinaCare policies cover behavior just like any other medical condition. If the therapy is done by a licensed veterinarian in a clinical setting (or home visit by a qualified veterinarian) you would qualify for the same benefits as you would for any other illness of accident subject to the terms of the policy in general. If your PurinaCare policy provides behavior benefits you don't need a referral to see a specialist.
If you would like to know more about which PurinaCare policies provide the most comprehensive behavior related benefits, call one of our representatives at 1-877-878-7462 or visit the website.