When to call a vet (not a trainer first):
What to do before the vet visit:
Historically, there was a stigma against using psychiatric medication in animals. It was viewed as "doping" the pet or a failure of training. The modern view, supported by neuroscience, is that many behavioral disorders have a neurochemical basis. When to call a vet (not a trainer first):
Ironically, the way we used to practice veterinary medicine created a public health crisis. The "bulldog grip" and "scruffing" of the 1990s created a generation of pets who hate the vet. What to do before the vet visit:
The Statistics: Studies show that 50% of dogs and 58% of cats show significant stress during a veterinary visit. More importantly, owners delay care because of their pet's previous behavior. "I can't bring Fluffy in because she bites the vet," an owner says. Consequently, dental disease, renal failure, and cancer go undiagnosed until it is too late. Historically, there was a stigma against using psychiatric
By shifting to "cooperative care"—training animals to voluntarily participate in blood draws or nail trims using positive reinforcement (a behavior science technique called "husbandry training")—veterinary science is saving lives. A horse trained to stand for an ultrasound without sedation is a horse whose liver disease is caught early.
