FAQ's

How can I get behavior help from Dr. Nichol?

Dr. Nichol: The most effective treatment I can provide involves a 2 hour personal consultation with you and your pet. To schedule you can call my office at 505-792-5131. Our staff will gather basic information and then email, fax or mail you a behavior questionnaire. The details you provide will give me a running start so the 2 hours we spend together will be as productive as possible.

What goes on in a behavior consultation?

Dr. Nichol: I’ll start by getting as clear as I can on the details of your pet’s behavioral and medical history. I’ll conduct a thorough exam to find any subtle physical influences. If a recent lab profile has not been done I may suggest drawing blood and urine at the time.

Once I fully understand the behavioral and physical issues I will give you a full explanation of what’s going on and why. I will then explain the specific research-based instructions for your pet’s behavior modification. For the best chance of success I will custom-fit these methods to you and your pet, to your family, and to the realities and limitations of your life and home. Behavior medications may also be helpful. I encourage people to ask plenty of questions. One hour follow-up consultations in several weeks are valuable in many cases.

After you leave the office I will email you the same instructions we discussed during our consultation in easy-to-follow written form. I’ll also call your regular veterinarian and mail the doctor a report. As you put our behavior plan to work at home you may face bottle necks or questions. You are welcome to email me your concerns anytime. I want your pet to improve as much as possible.

I don't think my pet's behavior problem is that bad. Is there a way of getting shorter, cheaper advice?

Dr. Nichol: Most behavior disorders in pets are a complex mix of multiple behavioral and environmental factors. Simple solutions based on corrections and punishments are prone to fail because they don’t address the underlying causes. For many dogs and cats these punitive methods increase their fear and damage their relationship with their owners.

But there are some behaviors that are less complex. To address these concerns, and for people who are unsure if they want to invest in a full consultation, I offer dog and cat specific behavior classes several times a year.

Common behaviors I treat

  • The following 1st steps can help you manage your pet until I can give you a longer term plan.
  • Nothing in behavior medicine is guaranteed.
  • Be careful and be kind.

1st steps

Biting people

  • There can be many reasons.
    • Forget dominance; it’s very rare.
    • Fear is the most common cause.
  • Never allow anyone to approach, reach for, lean over, or stare at a dog with a history of aggression.
    • Instead squat, turn your side and invite the pet to come to you.
    • Speak quietly. Use food.

Fighting among family pets

  • Until the risks can be significantly reduced, these dogs should be kept in separate areas, not even seeing each other.
    • If one dog is outside you should prevent the swapping of subtle body signals across your glass door by covering the lower portions with paper or window film.
    • Cover a baby gate.
  • Never reach into a fight, severe human injuries can result.
    • Leave a leash attached to each dog’s harness, just in case they somehow get together.
    • Grab this “drag line” to safely and quickly separate them.
  • The sooner these pets can be treated the better.
    • Bite wounds worsen the outlook.
    • Never let these dogs “fight it out.”

Biting/fighting/lunging at other dogs

  • Avoidance of your dog’s reactive aggression is best.
    • Leash walk at times and places where encountering other dogs would be unlikely.
    • For your dog, avoid prong collars and electric shock collars. These worsen fear.
  • At the earliest sighting of another dog, quickly create distance and duck behind a visual obstacle.
    • Never reach into a dog fight.
    • Carry aerosol citronella spray (Spray shield) in case a loose dog needs to be safely discouraged.
  • An accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause will be essential in reaching improvement.
    • There are effective management and behavior modification methods for this type of aggression.
    • Some dogs have barrier (leash) frustration.
    • Your dog may do fine at an off-leash dog park or doggy daycare.

Destructive behavior

  • Chewing is natural for dogs, especially puppies.
    • Damaging furniture, walls, and carpets suggests a behavior disorder.
    • Adult dogs who damage the home may have separation anxiety (see below).
  • Keep valuable items away and replace them with food-dispensing toys and food puzzles.
    • Provide all of your dog’s food this way so he/she can follow innate canine scavenging behavior.
    • Eliminate the food bowl.
  • If destructive chewing continues, you will know that your dog isn’t a happy camper.
    • An in-depth behavior consultation will reveal the cause.
    • To provide valuable detail you can shoot a couple of brief videos of your dog with your present and when he/she is home alone.
  • Correcting or chasing a dog who steals items would only validate the behavior.
    • You can trade for treats using one of these methods.
      • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndTiVOCNY4M&t=11s
      • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItvPnaYUZeo&t=4sPlease be kind.
    • Reliably teaching these requires repetition and patience.

House soiling (over age 6 months)

  • Some dogs aren’t fully house trained; others may have urinary or intestinal disorders.
  • Dogs are programmed to earn a jaunt off-territory if they eliminate outside their living area.
    • Take your dog outside often, then immediately reward with a brief walk off-property.
    • If you catch your dog in the act you should immediately lead him/her to the yard, then go for a brief walk.
  • Reprimands/punishments won’t teach your dog where you want them to eliminate.
    • Spite is a human failing; it’s never a factor with pets.
    • Confusion is common.
    • Correcting your pet after the fact can only damage your trusting relationship.
    • Your dog or cat won’t make the connection.
  • Cats need plenty of clean litter pans.
    • Stress from other pets in the home is a frequent cause.
    • Cats suffering from separation anxiety are prone to urine soil.
  • My job is to help with physical and behavioral diagnosis to uncover and treat behavioral causes.

Older pet behavior changes

  • 28% of dogs aged 12-14 years struggle with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (dementia).
    • Confusion, pacing, pointless barking, house soiling, and changed relationships are common symptoms.
    • Nighttime sleep problems are often an early indicator.
    • Disorders of internal organs and brain lesions can cloud the diagnosis.
  • These pets can be stabilized and even improve with proper treatment but, sadly, all will ultimately succumb.
    • Early diagnosis and treatment makes a big difference.
    • Cats can also get dementia, often at older ages than dogs.
  • I have authored research papers on this problem.

Compulsive disorders/self-injury

  • Spinning, tail chasing, self-mutilation, air snapping, light chasing, flank sucking, and rear end checking are a few examples.
    • Interrupting these events slow the advancement of this serious disorder.
    • Instead of or in addition to behavioral causes, some pets have skin disease, anal gland impactions, or medication side effects.
  • These dogs and cats need carefully tailored medication in addition to targeted behavior modification.

Anxiety

  • Not every anxious pet has damaging symptoms like aggression, house soiling, or hiding.
    • Many are frequently agitated, attention-seeking, needy.
    • Daily trips to the dog park or doggy daycare (K9 Resorts is excellent) can help.
  • Play, scavenging from food-dispensing toys and/or puzzles, and dog sports like agility or rally obedience can be helpful.
    • Research-based management changes and targeted behavior modification make a big difference for these pets.
    • Antianxiety medication helps many dogs live more peaceful lives.

Fear

  • Reactions to sudden noises, unfamiliar people, or other pets are common in dogs and cats.
    • Some of these pets hide and may dribble urine.
    • Others may react aggressively if they feel threatened.
  • Never allow anyone to approach, reach for, lean over, or stare at a frightened dog.
    • Instead squat, turn your side and invite the pet to come to you.
    • Speak quietly. Use food.
  • Watch for the triggers and avoid them.
    • Always provide an escape route.
    • Research-based methods for teaching healthy alternative behaviors improve wellbeing.
    • Gentle medications can help many of these scared pets.
  • Never punish.

Separation behaviors

  • Some dogs pace and pant but only by video surveillance would we know they need help.
  • Others howl/bark, house soil, and damage furniture, walls, curtains, or carpet while trying to escape the house.
  • Confining these dogs to a crate causes them to feel trapped, often leading to injuries like broken teeth from frantic escape attempts.
    • Leave your dog at a good doggy daycare like K9 Resorts until our consultation.
    • Other short term solutions include hiring a pet sitter or dropping your dog off with a friend.

Travel anxiety

  • Dogs and cats who vocalize (bark, whine, howl or yowl) are seriously distressed.
    • Avoiding the car windows, staying low, or trying to climb on the driver are common anxiety symptoms.
    • Drooling, vomiting, or defecating are suggestive of motion sickness.
    • Agitated barking at creatures outside the car is often due to barrier (window) frustration.
  • Bonine (over the counter) or Cerenia (veterinary prescription medication) given prior to travel can help motion sickness.
  • Barrier (window) frustration and anxiety may improve if the dog or cat rides in a covered crate.
  • As-needed antianxiety meds can make a big difference.
  • These miserable pets need help right away; all of these causes of travel distress worsen with repetition.

Storm/noise phobias

  • These pets really struggle; they need serious help.
    • Many are genetically predisposed to feelings of overwhelm and panic.
    • Some try to get under furniture or escape the house and yard.
  • Turn off the TV; provide a dark, quiet area like a clothes closet.
  • Music that promotes calming alpha brain waves (Through a Dog’s Ear, Through a Cat’s Ear) can help.
  • Consider Mutt Muffs and/or a Happy Hoodie.
  • Safe, as-needed prescription Sileo (oral-mucosal) is a godsend for these pets.
  • Allowing this intense fear to repeat without treatment leads to worsening distress during noisy events.

Can CBD or cannabis help?

  • CBD is a supplement, not subject to strict FDA standards for safety and efficacy.
    • Among the many brands available, Elle Vet is well-researched, consistent and a helpful adjunct in some cases of pain management.
    • Unlike in humans, CBD has shown little value as an antianxiety in pets.
  • Cannabis (marijuana) is a psychoactive drug that our pets cannot understand.
    • Those who have taken it by eating gummies have become fearful/and or deeply sedated.
    • Cannabis should be avoided in pets.