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Published on 04/07/1999 All articles from this issue

Is your pet crazy? Are drugs the answer?

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By Glynn Echerd

Pet Pause

In recent years, new drugs have become available for the treatment of behavior problems in pets. There seems to be a lot of misinformation among pet owners about how these drugs are used in veterinary medicine.

Last year, one of the television news magazines ran a story on separation anxiety in dogs. They used a hidden videotape camera to film what really happened when the pet owners left home and the family dog went to work redecorating their living room. It was very entertaining television.

They then proceeded to put the doggie on drugs and repeated the process. The dog was somewhat less destructive and the owners were pleased.

Shows like these, however, leave viewers with the incorrect notion that drugs will solve even the most severe behavior problems in pets. In my experience, drugs are rarely required.

That's the good news. The bad news is that solving a behavior problem requires more effort than many pet owners are willing to invest.

Drugs can be useful in these cases. Drugs can accelerate the pet's progress initially and this early improvement encourages pet owners to keep working on a behavior program. The longer a pet owner keeps working on a behavior program, with or without drugs, the more likely they are to be successful. Drugs should never be the sole solution to a behavior problem.

The best way to deal with a behavior problem is to start before you ever bring the pet home. Educate yourself. Learn how different pets are likely to behave in your household. I am amazed at how few pet owners actually call for advice when selecting a pet. I usually hear from them about a month later, once a problem has developed and they are thinking about getting rid of the animal.

Once a pet has been selected, have a veterinarian check it out for temperament right away. I've flunked quite a few cute puppies because they were a bad match with a particular owner. Read books or take puppy classes. It's much easier to get started on the right foot than to later try to change a problem behavior.

If you see a problem, call the vet right away. I think most behavior problems take about as long to overcome as they take to develop. Veterinarians can usually diagnose and treat most behavior problems without drugs. Don't delay. If you are having a pet behavior problem, call the vet.

Echerd is the veterinarian and owner of Kindness Pet Hospital at 440 First Street in downtown Los Altos. He can be reached at (650) 948-8287.