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BEHAVIOR: CAUSES AND DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEMS
What makes a pet misbehave? Behavior problems can be due to medical or behavioral causes, or both. A clinical history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing will determine if there are underlying medical conditions contributing to the problem. Although there may be a single cause for a behavior problem it is often the combined effect of the environment and learning on the pet’s mental and physical health that determines behavior. For example, the pet that is fearful of children, may begin to become more reactive, irritable, and aggressive as diseases such as dental problems or arthritis make it more uncomfortable, painful or less mobile. Another example is the cat that had been exposed to other cats roaming across its territory, but only began to mark when it developed an overactive thyroid at 10 years of age. Correcting the thyroid problem as well as behavior modification techniques resolved the problem. What are some behavioral causes of behavior problems? What tests can be done to determine a behavioral cause? What medical conditions can cause or contribute to behavior problems? What tests need to be done to determine if my pet’s behavior problem is due to a medical condition? Clinical history and physical examination Medical, surgical, dietary or pharmacologic treatment
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