Behavioral Medicine

Does your pet have some bad habits, like jumping on guests, scratching up furniture, or peeing in the house?

Or, do they suffer from anxiety? Do they get stressed when you leave the home, or hide during fireworks or thunderstorms?

Whatever questions you may have about your furry best friend’s behavior…we’re here to help you gain a deeper understanding of why they do the things they do, and also to provide advice on how to make things better.

Note that for all behaviors in question, it’s better to address them sooner rather than later — because once the behavior becomes a learned habit, it’s harder to change.

Here are some of the pet behaviors we get the most questions about here at Angel Animal Hospital...

General training for adults

Is your furry best friend a bit rambunctious, always jumping on guests or chewing up items around the home? Or, do you have a cat who’s climbing curtains and scratching up the couch?

We’ll give you some pointers on how to help change these behaviors.

Urinating and defecating in the home

If your pet is having “accidents,” we’ll help you figure out why, so you can prevent it as well as possible.

Note, in this case, we’ll want to be sure it’s not a medical cause at the root of the problem, too.

Puppy training and potty training

A new puppy is a wonderful addition to the family! But sometimes, they’re a lot of work when you first adopt them and help them adapt to their new lifestyle.

Again, we’re here to help! When we meet you and your new puppy, we’ll give you some tips on how to make the transition as smooth as possible, so that you and your puppy can enjoy your time together!

Separation anxiety

If your pet gets very upset when you try to leave the home — if they whimper, hide, or even panic and destroy household items — then they might have separation anxiety.

This condition can range from mild to very serious, and it’s better to seek help early on rather than waiting.

Noise phobias

Does your dog or cat tremble or hide under the bed during thunderstorms or fireworks?

Sometimes this condition is mild, but in some cases it can be severe and your pet might even try to run away if their fear gets the better of them.

Let us help you figure out a safe zone in the home for them during loud noises, and also the best way to comfort them so these times aren’t so stressful.

Aggression

While any behavioral issue can be stressful… aggression is one that should be taken very seriously. It presents a danger to humans, especially children.

We can help guide you with some tips for training… but in many cases, due to the risk of bites to humans, we’ll recommend working with a professional trainer.

Working with a trainer

In addition to providing you with advice and a plan to help with any behavioral problems your pet may have, we also have recommendations for trainers here in Tampa, FL who can work with you and your pet with a more in-depth, customized, one-on-one plan.

They can even come to your home and guide you step-by-step, which can help your pet learn faster.

We only recommend trainers who are qualified, effective, and ethical, so you know you’ll be working with an expert who loves animals and is interested in helping you and your furry best friend live happily together.

Should I schedule an appointment

To schedule a behavioral consult, give us a call at 239-221-8444, or request an appointment time online.

Be sure to include a quick summary of which behaviors you’d like addressed, so we can prepare any information you’ll need.

And, if you have any videos of your pet’s behavior, bring those along to your visit, too! It will help us get to the root of the problem — and an effective plan — more quickly.

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