While service dogs have traditionally been provided to assist veterans with physical disabilities, there has been a growing interest in using service dogs to improve the quality of life of veterans suffering from mental health disorders. This article will explore some of the most recent research on the impact of service dogs in the treatment of PTSD.
An Emerging Complementary Treatment
Although PTSD awareness and treatments greatly improved in recent decades, U.S. military personnel have been encountering unprecedented stressors, resulting in an elevated risk of developing PTSD. Soldiers who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF) were exposed to the constant threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the strain of multiple deployments. These warfare conditions have contributed to PTSD cases that are often more severe than those observed following the Vietnam War.
29% of Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom veterans develop PTSD.
2024
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
A 2015 meta-analysis of the studies involving OEF/OIF veterans estimated that approximately 23% of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan had PTSD [1]. The current estimate recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a 29% PTSD rate for the veterans who participated in the operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Consequently, the demand for effective PTSD treatments for veterans has remained high, possibly surpassing that of any previous era in U.S. military history.
The VA has been providing a range of psychotherapies for PTSD treatment that can be broadly classified into two categories: trauma-focused and non-trauma-focused therapies. Trauma-focused therapies directly address traumatic experiences, requiring patients to actively engage with trauma-related memories, beliefs, and triggers. These therapies utilize various strategies, including behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and emotion-focused approaches. In contrast, non-trauma-focused therapies avoid direct engagement with traumatic events, instead concentrating on building support, empathy, insight, and adaptive coping mechanisms.
Research has consistently demonstrated that trauma-focused therapies are significantly more effective. Therefore, the VA primarily offers two trauma-focused psychotherapies: Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). These treatments have a remarkable efficacy in reducing PTSD symptoms and have benefited many veterans. However, their effectiveness hinges on the patient’s consistent and active participation over an extended period, often involving emotionally and practically demanding tasks. Such high level of commitment poses a persistent challenge for many veterans engaging in PE and CPT. [2]
Analysis of recent studies has shown that trauma-focused treatments have an average dropout rate of 27.1% among enlisted service members [3]. This could be even higher in uncontrolled conditions. Maguen et al.’s (2019) research of a single Veteran’s Health Administration facility under typical conditions, spanning from October 2001 to September 2015, found that only 22.8% of veterans initiated evidence-based psychotherapies like PE or CPT [4]. More concerningly, a mere 9.1% of this group completed the treatment, translating to an attrition rate exceeding 60%.
Recent research has explored the potential of non-trauma focused interventions that encourage patient engagement and retention while addressing PTSD symptoms. One promising adjunct intervention is the use of specially trained psychiatric service dogs. These dogs are distinct from emotional support, therapy, or companion animals in that they are specifically trained to perform tasks tailored to the psychiatric needs of their handlers, such as interrupting anxiety episodes, waking them from nightmares, or providing a buffer in crowded public settings.
Note: the VA does not currently provide or support service dogs for mental health conditions, including PTSD, and is still studying the potential benefits of such interventions.
Veterans’ Voices: Interest in PTSD Service Dogs
In August 2024, Hill & Ponton polled its audience to gauge the level of interest and access to PTSD service dogs. The 678 veterans who answered provide a snapshot of the current landscape regarding PTSD service dogs:
8.25% have at some point had a PTSD service dog
2.80% applied to get one but didn’t get it or are still waiting
44.39% never had one but would like a PTSD service dog
19.32% don’t want or need one
25.22% don’t know enough about PTSD service dogs
The answers suggest that there is significant interest among veterans for PTSD service dogs, coupled with a lack of access. Moreover, a quarter of those polled lacked information about this type of treatment.
Comments received from Veterans include:
A private psychologist did testing to support my PTSD claim and recommended that I get a service dog to help me deal with PTSD issues. Archie has been my angel service dog, and truly helps me daily living with PTSD and migraines.
A social worker said a service dog would benefit me but that was a couple years ago, and nothing has been said to me since then.
My personal dog goes everywhere possible with me and can tell when I’m getting uncomfortable. He will get on my lap, paw at me, get my attention. I would love to get him trained and certified to travel with me more places. Would love to get more info on the subject.
I don’t know how to even begin to seek receiving a service dog.
I attended several nonprofit organizations that provide PTSD Service dogs to veterans without success as the dogs were not properly trained. I purchased my own puppy and paid to acquire great training from a for profit organization. My dog is now trained for mobility, PTSD, scent detection, tracking and personal security. She is better than any dog I could get from a non profit for PTSD. Alot of it is because I put skin in the game and was totally committed. I am training another puppy for when my current service dog retires.
Recent Research Shows the Benefits of PTSD Service Dogs
Multiple studies utilizing the PTSD Checklist (PCL), a standardized self-report scale, have found that being partnered with a service dog is associated with significantly lower PTSD symptom severity compared to not having a service dog.
Rodriguez et al. (2018) compared 45 veterans with service dogs to 28 on a waitlist and found those with dogs scored significantly lower on the PCL. [5]
Most recently, Leighton et al. 2024 nonrandomized controlled trial of 156 veterans and military members [6], which is the largest nationwide study to date to compare the use of PTSD service dogs with usual care alone, measured PTSD symptoms after 3 months, with the following results:
The PCL-5 test
Service dog group average score: 41.9
Control group average score: 51.7
The CAPS-5 test
Service dog group average score: 30.2
Control group average score: 36.9
The service dog group’s lower scores represent significantly lower PTSD symptom severity. The researchers also looked at how many people still met the criteria for PTSD after 3 months:
In the service dog group, 75% (51 people) still had PTSD
In the control group, 85% (56 people) still had PTSD
Beyond subjective self-report measures, biological markers also point to the therapeutic effects of service dogs. Rodriguez et al. (2018) examined the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in veterans with and without service dogs. The study found that veterans with service dogs had a bigger morning spike in cortisol compared to those without, which would indicate a healthier response to stress. This biological evidence supports the notion that service dogs may help restore balance to veterans’ stress response systems.
In 2024 a 3 month clinical trial drew similar conclusions, suggesting that service dog placement could help boost veterans’ morning cortisol response. [7]
These consistent findings across multiple studies provide strong evidence for the efficacy of service dogs in reducing PTSD symptom severity among veterans.
PTSD Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Dogs
The Richerson et al. (2023) study, titled “Therapeutic and Economic Benefits of Service Dogs Versus Emotional Support Dogs for Veterans With PTSD,” [8] is one of the most comprehensive investigations to date. The researchers conducted a multicenter trial with 227 veterans with PTSD over 18 months, randomly assigning them to receive either a service dog or an emotional support dog.
Results:
PTSD Symptoms: Participants with service dogs had a 3.7-point greater reduction in PTSD symptoms compared to those with emotional support dogs.
Medication Adherence: Veterans with service dogs had an increase of 10 percentage points in antidepressant adherence compared with those with emotional support dogs.
This study provides strong evidence for the specific benefits of service dogs over emotional support dogs in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving medication adherence.
Specific Tasks Performed by Service Dogs
To understand how service dogs alleviate PTSD symptoms, Rodriguez et al. (2020) surveyed a group of veterans’ perceived importance of the trained tasks performed by service dogs:
Interrupt/alert – The dog lets the veteran know when they are feeling anxious and interrupts with a nose bump, placing head in lap, or some other behavior.
Calm/comfort anxiety – The dog performs a calming behavior such as making physical contact (laying on top of handler, placing head in lap, gently leaning against the body) when the veteran feels distress or anxiety.
Block (create space) – The dog positions itself horizontally in front of the veteran to create personal space.
Block (guard/protect) – The dog positions itself horizontally in front of veteran to guard/protect.
Cover (watch back) – Dog positions itself directly behind the veteran to “watch” the veteran’s back.
Social greeting – The dog helps greet people in public by sitting/offering a paw.
Wake up from nightmare – The dog recognizes that the veteran is having a nightmare and gently wakes them up.
The study found that the task most frequently performed by service dogs was to calm/comfort anxiety, reported in 52% of daily check-ins. [9] The “cover” or “watch my back” task was the second most frequently used, averaging 4.1 times daily. This task mimics military camaraderie, where soldiers guard each other’s blind spots in combat. Veterans report that this helps them share the burden of being constantly alert in public.
The social greeting task, while less broadly applicable to PTSD symptoms, was still considered moderately important. It’s especially useful in public interactions and may contribute to reduced social isolation and increased participation observed in veterans with service dogs.
The nightmare wake-up task specifically targets intrusive memories, nightmares, and sleep disturbances. 57% of veterans found this helpful for trauma-related nightmares, making it a crucial aspect of the service dog intervention for many.
The two versions of the “block” task – creating personal space and guarding/protecting – were rated similarly by veterans. While some mental health professionals worry this task might reinforce avoidance behaviors, veterans found it moderately to quite important for their PTSD.
Overall, service dog tasks addressed almost every DSM-5 PTSD symptom, with intrusion symptoms benefiting from the most tasks, particularly calm/comfort and interrupt/alert. The dogs’ calming presence and interrupting behaviors appear to help ground veterans during flashbacks and provide relief from distress.
In Veterans’ Own Words
The most helpful thing the dog does for one veteran is to “be able to walk through life knowing that if I were to have an anxiety attack it wouldn’t be the end of the world, I would have my battle buddy [service dog] to get through it.” [10]
For others, a service dog:
“reminds me to take my medication because he senses my mood and work [quality] deteriorates if I don’t take my medication. “
“gets me motivated, to get up and get outside” [11]
“[gives] constant companionship, I know he is always by my side. We are always together.”
“sleeps with me and wakes me up from nightmares”
“has allowed me to go to crowded public places to support my children’s activities that I previously would not have gone to”
“blocks people from getting too close and forces me to focus on her when I have rage episodes”
“has allowed me to become the father and husband I am supposed to be”
“has definitely improved my life in so many ways and has given me a better outlook overall” [10]
For these veterans, service dogs are more than just a treatment option. Their unconditional love and devoted companionship sets service dogs apart from other interventions and enables profound transformation of veterans’ lives.
Conclusion
The use of service dogs for veterans with PTSD shows promise as a complementary intervention. Current evidence suggests that service dogs can contribute to reduced PTSD symptoms and enhanced social functioning for many veterans. The high level of interest in PTSD service dogs among veterans underscores the need for continued research, education, and support.
References
Fulton, J.J.; Calhoun, P.S.; Wagner, H.R.; Schry, A.R.; Hair, L.P.; Feeling, N.; Elbogen, E.; Beckham, J.C. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans: A meta-analysis. J. Anxiety Disord. 2015, 31, 98–107. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0887618515000262
Lee, A.J.; LaFreniere, L.S. Addressing Attrition from Psychotherapy for PTSD in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Trauma Care 2023, 3, 274-293 https://www.mdpi.com/2673-866X/3/4/24
Edwards-Stewart, A.; Smolenski, D.J.; Bush, N.E.; Cyr, B.-A.; Beech, E.H.; Skopp, N.A.; Belsher, B.E. Posttraumatic stress disorder treatment dropout among military and veteran populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Trauma. Stress 2021, 34, 808–818. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33524199/
Maguen, S.; Li, Y.; Madden, E.; Seal, K.H.; Neylan, T.C.; Patterson, O.V.; DuVall, S.L.; Lujan, C.; Shiner, B. Factors associated with completing evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD among veterans in a national healthcare system. Psychiatry Res. 2019, 274, 112–128. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30784780/
O’Haire, M. E. & Rodriguez, K. E. Preliminary efficacy of service dogs as a complementary treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in military members and veterans. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 86, 179–188 (2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29369663/
Nieforth LO, Rodriguez KE, Zhuang R, et al. The cortisol awakening response in a 3 month clinical trial of service dogs for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):1664 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38238350/
Richerson JT, Wagner TH, Abrams T, et al. Therapeutic and economic benefits of service dogs versus emotional support dogs for veterans with PTSD. Psychiatr Serv. 2023;74(8):790-800 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36718602/
Rodriguez KE, LaFollette MR, Hediger K, Ogata N, O’Haire ME. Defining the PTSD Service Dog Intervention: Perceived Importance, Usage, and Symptom Specificity of Psychiatric Service Dogs for Military Veterans. Front Psychol. 2020 Jul 21;11:1638. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32849004/
Nieforth LO, Rodriguez KE, O’Haire ME. Expectations versus experiences of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) service dogs: An inductive conventional content analysis. Psychol Trauma. 2022 Mar;14(3):347-356 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33630635/
Crowe, T. K., Nguyen, M. T., Tryon, B. G., Barger, S., & Sanchez, V. (2018). How Service Dogs Enhance Veterans’ Occupational Performance in the Home: A Qualitative Perspective. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(3). https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/ojot/vol6/iss3/12/
September 15, 2024
by
The Animal Health Foundation
One day a few weeks ago, Ashley Bettencourt came home from her job as a pre-school teacher and found her tabby cat Cheeto in distress.
“He wasn’t himself,” she said. “He wasn’t eating. He was lethargic and was lying on the tile in the hallway. He wasn’t moving. Nothing worked that I knew would make him excited.
“I thought maybe he was constipated but I pressed on his belly and it was really hard. It made me nervous. So I called the Cat Care Clinic where my in-laws take their cats. After taking him in for an examination, I was told that he had a blocked bladder – he wasn’t able to urinate.”
That was on a Friday. Dr. Maggie Mills treated Cheeto. “They didn’t have to do surgery but they kept him in the hospital the whole weekend so they could keep an eye on him,” Ashley said. “They put in a catheter. But they said he took it out himself. So they put the tubes back in and he didn’t fight them again.
“When I took him in to the clinic, I wasn’t expecting what was coming,” she said. “I thought he was constipated and they would fix it and I would take him home. So when it came time to pay I was like, ‘I can’t do this.’
But the staff at Cat Care was understanding and helpful. April, the assistant practice manager, “was so sweet and nice,” Ashley said. “She printed me out a list of foundations that could help and she pointed out who to call and told me what to do. Angel Fund was the first to say, ‘We’ll help you.’ I had never done something like that before. It was overwhelming in a good way.
“I went home and I cried that night. I thought what happened was amazing. I couldn’t believe it.” She said that she found another charitable group that helped pay her bill. And the Cat Care Clinic found some money from another fund and they used that to help as well, she said.
“They said (at Cat Care) that, if we couldn’t do this, they would have had to euthanize Cheeto. He always had been such a healthy cat that is horrible to even think about. I love that Angel Fund and the veterinary association are letting people know about this. I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for Dr. Mills and April.”
Cheeto recovered quickly. “Now, he is good, he’s happy,” Ashley said. “He’s lost a lot of weight. But he’s eating well. He’s drinking a lot of water. And he’s fine, he’s active and he’s playing with our other cats.”
Cheeto is the father of the other cats, Roxy, Khola Man and Sprinkles – all named by Ashley’s daughters. There is also a dog in the family, Benny a miniature Doberman, with whom Cheeto is a best buddy. “We are a house that loves our fur babies,” Ashley said.
Cheeto became a member of the family after Ashley’s husband found him hiding among tires at the warehouse where he worked. He was a three-week-old kitten at the time and had to be bottle fed.
Ashley is a single parent to three daughters: Bella, 13; Skylar, 11 and Audrina, 7. She loves her job as a pre-school teacher. “It’s challenging but I love it. my students are four and five. They talk fast but they’re willing to learn and they love it.”
For many people entering rehab, the inability to find someone to care for their pets while they are away is often difficult and painful. An organization in Colorado called PAWsitive Recovery has stepped up to help fill that void by taking care of pets for people going through treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. (AP video by Thomas Peipert)
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Simon Rubick, who sought help from PAWsitive Recovery while he was recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, holds his rescue dog Tonks in Aurora, Colo., on Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)
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Simon Rubick, who sought help from PAWsitive Recovery while he was recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, holds his rescue dog Tonks in Aurora, Colo., on Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)
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Ben Cochell, a volunteer for PAWsitive Recovery, lets his foster dog Dexter lick his face at his home in Denver on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)
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=Ben Cochell, a volunteer for PAWsitive Recovery, walks his foster dog Dexter with his family in Denver on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)
By THOMAS PEIPERTUpdated 8:39 AM PDT, September 1, 2024Share
DENVER (AP) — Simon Rubick had lost almost everything to decades of alcoholism and drug addiction.
In 2022, he found himself without a vehicle and without a home, which forced his two teenage children to move in with friends. He had burned bridges with friends and family and it took a drug-induced stint in the hospital for him to realize his cocaine addiction was going to be a “death sentence.”
Rubick, who lives in the Denver suburb of Arvada, Colorado, knew he needed help. But first he had to figure out what to do with one of the only sources of unconditional love and support he had left: his beloved German shepherd rescue, Tonks.
Most residential rehab centers in the United States don’t allow patients to bring their pets along, said Rubick, 51. So when his brother could no longer help care for the dog, Rubick thought he would have to make the excruciating decision to give up Tonks.
“It basically came down to being able to take care of my dog or being able to take care of myself,” he said.
Rubick — who has been sober for more than two years and is now an addiction recovery coach — was connected to the group PAWsitive Recovery, which fosters animals while their owners receive treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, and for people dealing with domestic violence or mental health crises.
“People that are trying to get into recovery sometimes have lost their families, their children, any kind of support system that they have had,” said Serena Saunders, the organization’s program manager. “You’re not going to compound trauma that you’ve already had by giving up the one thing that hasn’t given up on you, and that’s people’s animals.”
Saunders founded PAWsitive Recovery in Denver three years ago. Since then, it’s helped more than 180 people and their pets, and Saunders said the group has looked to expand nationally after it became a part of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International. The organization, whose largest foster network is in Colorado but accepts applications nationwide, is one of just a few programs in the U.S. that cares for the pets of people seeking treatment for substance abuse.
Saunders’ own experience with drug and alcohol addiction has helped her tailor the program. She said she had a “pretty broken childhood,” with her mother being schizophrenic and addicted to methamphetamine and her father also struggling with addiction. She sought comfort in alcohol when she was about 12 and was using hard drugs by the time she was 14.
“Addiction just gave me trauma after trauma,” said Saunders, now 41.
Saunders was seeing a therapist for her depression and PTSD when a fortuitous session planted the seed of PAWsitive Recovery. With a background in veterinary and shelter medicine, which focuses on caring for homeless animals, she told her therapist she wanted to incorporate her love of dogs in her recovery.
“And that’s what we did,” said Saunders, who fostered Tonks for several months while Rubick was in treatment and facilitated visits between the two best friends.
“To see a broken person when we’re meeting them in a parking lot, when they have nothing left to live for but their animal. And to see how broken and how desperate they are in that moment, and then to circle back around six months later and see them completely turn their lives around is just so special. It’s amazing,” said Saunders, who has been sober for 3 1/2 years.
That sentiment is echoed by the organization’s volunteer foster families, some of whom are drawn to the program because of their own experiences with addiction.
Denver resident Ben Cochell, 41, who has been sober from alcohol for more than seven years, has two dogs of his own and has fostered several more.
“One of my favorite parts about fostering in this program is the ability to teach my kids some life lessons in how to help others and how to care for animals and be kind, be loving. And to just give of yourself,” he said. “That’s what you have. Your time and your energy. And you can give that away freely.”
If not for PAWsitive Recovery, Rubick said he probably would have ended up living on the streets with his dog and trying to figure out recovery on his own. But as it turned out, by being able to keep his rescue dog, Tonks ended up rescuing Rubick, he said.
“It’s that connection, caring for another creature and having something else care for you the way that animals do,” Rubick said. “It’s just unconditional, and sometimes that’s one of the things that people in recovery really need to be able to feel.”
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Associated Press writer Colleen Slevin contributed to this report.
Prevention is key. And there are a variety of things that can be done to help prevent separation anxiety in pets.
By Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
September 4, 2024
Separation anxiety occurs when an animal — most commonly a dog, though some cats may experience this type of anxiety as well — becomes upset due to being apart from their owner or any individual to whom the pet has grown attached.Getty Images
If you have ever lived in a household alongside a pet that excessively howls, scratches at the door, or exhibits an overall sense of panic when a loved one leaves the home, it can be beneficial to speak with a veterinarian about the potential diagnosis of separation anxiety.
Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, unpacks the actions linked to separation anxiety with methods of how to alleviate the pet’s stress and behavioral responses associated with it.
Unwelcome Changes
Separation anxiety occurs when an animal — most commonly a dog, though some cats may experience this type of anxiety as well — becomes upset due to being apart from their owner or any individual to whom the pet has grown attached.
While anxiety, in general, has many triggers and is frequently multifactorial, Teller said there are specific life-events or experiences that may contribute to a dog’s development of separation anxiety, including:
Abandonment when young
Poor socialization, especially when young
Lack of training to be left alone and to entertain itself
Divorce of a family member
Death of a family member
Sudden change in work or school schedules
According to Teller, a dog’s personality may also contribute to separation anxiety, as some dogs may be naturally more clingy than others.
Stage-Five Clinger
Because anxiety looks different for every pet, it is important to differentiate excitement or a lack of training from anxiety.
Several identifiable canine behaviors that signal separation anxiety are:
Pacing
Whining
Shaking
Excessive barking, drooling, or panting
Destructive behavior, including digging out of the yard, or urinating and defecating in the house
Cats also experience stress when there are major changes in their lives or in the household, but they express it differently. Signs that a cat is experiencing separation anxiety may include:
Urinating in inappropriate locations
Lack of appetite
Loud, excessive meowing
If you have concerns about behaviors your pet is displaying, Teller says it’s important to discuss those with your veterinarian. Videos of the behavior can be helpful in determining what is going on.
Prescribed Chill Pills
Teller says treating separation anxiety requires more than a little “chill pill.”
“Medications alone will not resolve separation anxiety,” Teller said. “There are a variety of medications that are used to help alleviate anxiety and make it easier to institute a behavior modification plan.
“Your veterinarian will work with you to create a behavior modification plan to help eliminate undesirable behaviors and replace them with more appropriate ones,” she said.
Another way to help your pet is that when you know a big change is coming, helping them prepare by introducing activities to their routine also may help prevent anxiety when that big change eventually comes.
“Prevention is key, and there are a variety of things that can be done to help prevent separation anxiety in pets,” Teller said. “Pets need to learn that it is OK to be alone and to entertain themselves, even when someone is home.”
When dealing with an anxious dog, crates can offer an enclosed sense of security in their distress.
Introducing puzzle toys, food-stuffed toys, and long-lasting chews are options that can help to replace that comfort person with a comfort item. And for sense-based comfort, playing the radio and keeping consistent pheromone diffusers in use can create a safe and recognizable space without their favorite human by their side.
According to Teller, another method to potentially reduce anxiety is to encourage your pet to exercise and release some energy prior to leaving for your day at school or work. A long walk or run or game of fetch may do. Through exercise, a dog trades morning stress-filled yelps with a morning nap instead.
Comfort In Confinement
Finally, when dealing with an anxious dog, crates can offer an enclosed sense of security in their distress.
“When putting a dog in a crate, use lots of praise and make sure the dog has a puzzle toy or chew treat when it goes into the crate,” Teller said. “As a dog feels more comfortable, you can gradually increase the amount of space it has access to — moving from the crate to a room and then hopefully to most of the house. It is important that a dog learns from early on that a crate is a safe place. Some dogs may not be amenable to crate training until their separation anxiety has lessened.”
Likewise, cats also need safe places, though usually not crates. These safe spaces can include a room with perches at different levels or nooks where they can hide, Teller says.
“If you notice a change in your dog’s or cat’s behavior, speak with your veterinarian, have a complete physical done, and be sure to let your veterinarian know that there have been changes in the pet’s lifestyle or household,” Teller said.
It is important to recognize that separation anxiety is a medical condition and needs to be treated appropriately. By encouraging your pet’s independence, and working with a veterinarian, as necessary, owners can help instill in their beloved companions behaviors that allow them to thrive on their own.
When Dr. Julie Ryan-Johnson learned that she had been chosen to receive the Animal Health Foundation’s 2024 Cortese-Lippincott Award, “it was a huge surprise and quite an emotional moment for me,” she said.
That moment took Dr. Ryan back to her first job when, at the age of 11 she worked at the practice of Dr. Joe Cortese. “I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian,” she said. “That’s why I wanted to work for him. I wanted to learn. And he was like a dad to me.”
That also inspired her interest in charitable work “because at the time Dr. Cortese was doing a lot of feral cat spaying and neutering. And one of his clients started an organization to help animals. He was very involved in that.”
The honor also was entirely appropriate for her. The award is presented annually to someone who has “gone above and beyond” to make the world a better place for humans and animals, who excels in community service and education in the veterinary community and who supports the human-animal bond.
Dr. Ryan, who has worked at Boehringer-Ingelheim more than 13 years, runs the shelter and nonprofit programs by providing support of nonprofits with programs involving everything from infectious disease consulting to fund-raising to organizational development.”
It is a job she loves and hopes to continue well into the future. “I really enjoy what I’m doing,” she said. “I love my job. I get to do so much give-back. My company is so supportive and generous with philanthropy.”
Giving back, however, does not stop there, for Dr. Ryan. She also uses her vacation time to do charitable work abroad as well as in the United States. “When I go, I usually go for a week or 10 days. Unfortunately my trips are sometimes determined by disaster situations.” One such trip took her to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion in 2022 with their pets.
“I was working with an organization called IFAW – International Foundation of Animal Welfare – through Greater Good Charities,” she said. “Helping pet owners ensure that the animals were healthy enough to take on the next part of their journey was one small thing we could do to help ease their stress and pain. We had helped hydrate, care for travel wounds and then supplied them with everything from pet food to harnesses and leashes. Our tent was open 24/7 with veterinarians and translators.”
Dr. Ryan is the vice chair of Greater Good Charities, and, through the organization, she is able to take such purposeful trips, she said.
The work is rewarding, she said. “It’s wonderful. You’re with a lot of like-minded people who just want to contribute any way they can. These are definitely not glamorous trips – but I love the people I am with.”
Dr. Ryan was nominated for the Cortese-Lippincott Award by Dr. Laura Weatherford and Vivien Flockhart of Boehringer-Ingelheim.
‘The idea for the nomination came from Vivien, who is on the Animal Health Foundation board with me,” Dr. Weatherford said. “Also a co-worker with Julie, Vivien thought she would be a great person to receive the award. But Vivien was busy so I filled out the nomination form based on what she told me and some web searches about Julie.”
Dr. Weatherford said Dr. Ryan was nominated “for all she has done to help people and their pets – and for the greater good of animals.” When she went to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees, Dr. Laura said, “she examined, treated and helped find new homes for pets that owners couldn’t keep.
“She also went to Maui after the 2023 fires to bring donated medications and supplies and to return with several hundred pets from the Maui shelter so there would be room for owned pets on the island.”
Dr Weatherford also noted that – as leader of the BI shelter group – Dr. Ryan helps animal shelters across the country get grants for equipment or to provide care for underserved communities. “We think she is a wonderful role model for our profession.”
“From my perspective,” Vivien added, “Julie is a force of nature for good. She is a bright light in a dark place for countless animals and an equal number of people.”
Dr. Ryan was born at UCLA and raised in Orange County. Her father was a professor at Irvine Valley Community College and her mother was a nurse and later a school principal. She grew up in San Juan Capistrano and earned her undergraduate degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She attended veterinary school at the University of Wisconsin and did an internship at Virginia Tech.
After receiving her DVM degree, she worked in small animal and equine practices in Southern California, then moved to the Orange County Animal Shelter. She left there for a stint at Mars Petcare, then returned as shelter director.
She met her husband, Dr. Gary Johnson, at an SCVMA chapter meeting. He founded Dana Niguel Veterinary Hospital in Dana Point in 1982 and is now retired.
The Ryan-Johnson household includes three dogs, a horse and a male cat named Madam George that Dr. Ryan brought back to Southern California from her trip to Ukraine.
This is not just a “large breed dog,” she is FAT. Her backbone is indented by the excess flesh on her ribs. She’s at high risk of muscle and ligament injuries, anal gland problems, diabetes, and a host of other health problems due to being overweight.
A professional organization called the Association for Pet Obesity’s Prevention (APOP) recently released a report stating that most of the dogs in the U.S. are overweight, their owners don’t know it, and their veterinarians don’t feel comfortable talking to their clients about it. This feels like crazyland to me!
I think I have to agree with the premise that most people really don’t recognize their dogs’ weight problem. When I attempt to have conversations with the owners of fat larger breed dogs, nine times out of 10, the owner will say, “Well, his mother and father both weighed over 100 pounds, these are just a large breed!” Or, “He’s in the weight range for the breed standard!” Ignoring the fact that the dog has no waist whatsoever and is literally covered with fat rolls.
Small dog owners often just think their dogs are cute. And as long as they can pick them up, they don’t think the weight is a problem.
My own sister didn’t get serious about reducing the weight of her little dogs until Dinah, a presumed Chihuahua/Dachshund-mix, got so obese that she couldn’t maintain the hygiene of her own nether end and developed serious anal gland issues. WARNING: This is exceedingly gross to contemplate. Skip the next paragraph if you are easily grossed out!
When lick their own butts, it helps keep the anal glands in working order. Big dogs have fewer problems with their glands than small dogs partly because they have bigger, stronger tongues, which help massage and empty the glands when they lick their butts. When dogs like Dinah get too fat to reach their bottoms with their tongues, the glands can become impacted and infected unless the owner is aware of this and makes sure to either empty the glands or take the dog to a groomer or vet occasional to have the glands checked and emptied.
Anyway, to me, the most shocking part of the report is the allegation that 84% of the veterinarians who responded to the survey said they don’t want to upset their clients by talking about their dogs’ weight. But health and weight are so linked in dogs! I think that if a vet fails to discuss a dog’s overweight it’s a total dereliction of their veterinary duty! The problems associated with or directly caused by obesity in dogs are legion!
And yet, I get it. A vet only gets so much time with a client, and it probably often feels like there isn’t enough time to talk about the dog’s more pressing health issues and the overweight condition—even if the obesity may have contributed to the problem. Even at well-pet visits, people often spend more time discussing flea and heartworm preventives, vaccines, and the like.
My friend Tim Steele, a gifted dog trainer (who broke my heart by moving from my area to Florida a couple years ago), once told me that he never talks directly to dog owners about their dogs’ weight problems; he addresses his concerns to the dog—in front of the owner, obviously! He’ll say, “Oh my goodness, who is measuring your food? Or are you sneaking into the refrigerator at night?! I think you need to get on a little diet!” Often, he reports, the owner will join the “conversation” at that point, saying something like, “Do you really think he needs to be on a diet?” instead of feeling directly confronted. I think that’s a genius approach—and perhaps one I can recommend to veterinarians!
My appreciation to reporter Tim Wall of Petfood Industry for being the first to cover the APOP’s 2023 survey.
For some of us, coconuts conjure up images of palm trees and tropical locales. For others, they take us back to mouth-watering memories of our mother’s home-baked coconut cream pie – or even the sweet, gooey center of our favorite childhood candy bar! But did you know that besides tasting delicious, the oil pressed from the meat of the coconut contains numerous health benefits, for people and companion animals? Let’s take a closer look at coconut oil and why you should consider adding some to your pet’s diet.
If it’s saturated, isn’t it bad?
Fats are made up of fatty acids that fall into three categories – monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated. Saturated fats, which are predominantly found in animal products such as meat and dairy and are solid at room temperature, have been linked to a host of health issues in people such as obesity, high cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease. As a plant-based saturated fat, coconut oil was once grouped with other unhealthy fats, and people were advised to avoid consuming it.
However, even though coconut oil is a saturated fat, it is not unhealthy. In fact, it contains numerous health benefits!
The chemical structure in coconut oil is quite different from the fat found in, say, a steak or a slab of butter – and that difference has huge implications for our health and our pets’ health.
Whereas most saturated fats are comprised of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), coconut oil is comprised mainly of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). Our bodies metabolize (break down) and recognize medium chain fatty acids differently than long chain fatty acids, producing a very different effect.
Benefits of Coconut Oil
There are many reasons to let your pet indulge in some coconut oil every day. For example, we now know that, unlike animal-based saturated fats that contribute to heart disease, coconut oil is actually heart healthy!
Coconut oil also contains lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid that converts in the body to monolaurin, a monoglyceride compound with numerous beneficial properties, including anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-protozoal. Lauric acid actually destroys lipid-coated bacteria, fungus and viruses such as herpes, the measles, influenza, hepatitis C and HIV, ringworm and athlete’s foot.
In addition, studies show that MCTs such as those found in coconut oil provide a wide range of health benefits, including:
Help with weight loss (MCTs increase metabolism, send signals of satiety and cannot be stored as fat)
Improve digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Benefit the skin and coat
Provide a rapid form of non-carbohydrate energy
Coconut Oil: The new “brain food”
But of all these benefits, my favorite is that coconut oil is scientifically proven to improve brain function in older dogs – findings that have important implications for people and animals.
In one study, 24 senior Beagles fed a diet supplemented with 5.5% MCTs showed significant improvement in cognitive ability within just one month. The study’s authors concluded that the MCTs (as contained in coconut oil) provided an alternative source of brain energy for the senior dogs.
As the body’s “supercomputer”, the brain requires a lot of energy, most of which is satisfied when our bodies metabolize glucose from the foods we eat. However, as we age, we metabolize glucose less efficiently, leaving a “gap” in the brain’s energy requirement. When this occurs, alternative sources of fuel become important to fill this gap and provide much-needed energy to the brain. This is where MCTs such as those contained in coconut oil can help save the day:
Unlike regular fats (which the body metabolizes slowly), MCTs break down and absorb rapidly into the bloodstream, providing a quick source of non-carbohydrate energy.
MCTs readily cross the blood-brain barrier, supplying up to 20% of a normal brain’s energy requirement.
MCTs are important for ketone production, which serve as an additional source of “brain food”.
MCTs help the body use omega-3 fatty acids more efficiently and increase omega-3 fatty acid concentrations in the brain (a good reason to give your dog both omega-3s and coconut oil)
What to Look for
When purchasing coconut oil, opt for unrefined, cold-pressed varieties. If possible, choose organic brands to avoid potential contamination from pesticides. Coconut oil does not need to be stored in the refrigerator, but since it is light sensitive (like all oils), it’s best to keep it in a dark cupboard. Dark glass containers are excellent storage choices, as they protect the oil from light while also ensuring that no BPAs (harmful chemicals found in many plastic containers), leach into the product.
How Much
Studies show that coconut oil fed as 10% or less of your dog’s diet poses no digestive or other health issues. The agreed-upon amount to start is 1/4 teaspoon for dogs less than 15 pounds and 1 tablespoon for larger dogs. You will need to balance coconut oil for weight management.
If your companion dog is doing well and not exhibiting any side effects such as weight gain, the standard threshold is 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight per day.
Since too much coconut oil can cause diarrhea, I advise exercising common sense and introducing it to your pet slowly.
References
Aldrich, G, 2009, “MCTs an overlooked tool in dog nutrition”. Feedstuffs, 81(35) :10.
Pan, Y, Larson, B, Araujo, JA, Lau, W et al, 2010, “Dietary supplementation with medium-chain TAG has long-lasting cognition-enhancing effects in aged dogs”. Brit J Nutr, 103 (12): 1746-1754, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20141643/.
Dr. Jeremy Prupas, chief veterinarian for the Los Angeles City Department of Animal Services, helped launch a service called AlignCare in 2019, which aids needy pet owners with veterinary bills they often cannot pay.
“The goal is not just to help the animal. It’s to help the whole family. The idea is that if someone is having problems paying for a pet’s care, there are probably other things going on in that family’s life that they need help with. So AlignCare has [focused on] the human side of this problem.
“That’s really what got my attention at the very beginning. This is really the One Health approach to try to get help for everybody who needs it.”
The concept originated with Dr. Michael Blackwell, a veterinarian at the University of Tennessee veterinary school. “I became friends with him in one of the [veterinary] groups I was in,” Dr. Prupas said. “I learned a lot about AlignCare from him. And I said to him: ‘You know what, Michael, let’s try it. I don’t know why we can’t make it work in LA.’”
The Los Angeles project – the first community trying to implement the program from the ground up. It initially is focused on South Los Angeles, where Downtown Dog Rescue is a major player in pet welfare.
“Basically, the idea is that you form a partnership with community veterinarians, and they agree that they will discount their prices. They submit their invoices on the internet and AlignCare pays them directly.”
Participating hospitals are asked to lower their fees as much as they can, Dr. Prupas said. “I think AlignCare asks them for a 20% cut. But the hospitals decide what they’re going to charge. AlignCare doesn’t interfere with the decisions of the vets or the practice owners.”
The pet owner is responsible for 20 percent of the discounted bill, he said, “so they
still have a stake in it. But it’s a way for the pet hospital to feel that it will get paid. And the veterinarian makes the decisions with the pet owner on what kind of care they’re going to provide.”
“The goal is that if any pet owner comes into a vet hospital or to a shelter asking for help, they’re going to be referred to AlignCare. They would go online and fill out an application. It’s very simple. Basically, the pet owner would just have to prove that he or she is on some form of assistance. If you can prove that it’s almost automatic that you’re accepted into the program. Then the pet owner is told of the hospitals that are part of the program and chooses which hospital to visit.”
He said that AlignCare includes a national team of veterinary “social workers” who will help families by referring them to whatever social services they need and helping them converse with their veterinary teams if there are any issues. There are also “human support coordinators” who can help pet owners sign up for the program and make necessary arrangements such as appointments and arranging transportation to the hospital.
The challenge, he said, can be in where the money comes from to pay the AlignCare part of the bill. “The idea behind it is that the community donates the money to pay the bills. For instance, in LA we’ve been talking to several different animal welfare organizations.
“Making it sustainable is really what keeps me up at night. How will we be able to raise enough money to keep this going as we expand? That’s why we decided to start slow and small.”
And, he pointed out, there are major benefits for pet families who get financial help. Besides helping them avoid the strain on the family budget of a large expenditure, it can prevent the mental – sometimes physical – trauma of losing their pets and it can keep the family structure intact.
The next step for Los Angeles AlignCare will be to expand beyond South Los Angeles and to get more veterinarians involved, Dr. Prupas said. We’re looking for more veterinary hospitals that might want to join. We’ll also need to expand in a way that doesn’t make us run out of money.”
Dr. Prupas has served as chief veterinarian for Los Angeles Animal Services for nearly 14 years. He supervises six shelters that employ six veterinarians and 22 RVTs. He earned his veterinary degree at the University of Pennsylvania and has practiced in Connecticut and San Diego, where he owned a feline practice.
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CCD) is a gradual and common degenerative disease in dogs due to changes in the brain.
Four decades ago, we would have thought that CCD is a part of “the normal aging process” in a companion dog. It can be. However, research has revealed that CCD is analogous to dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease in humans.
Similar to other degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis, CCD is the interplay of genetics, environment, nutrition, and lifestyle that continues to be unraveled. Fortunately, research has given us diagnostic tools, signs, and treatment options to delay or lessen disease progression.
Signs of CCD
Signs of CCD can be so gradual that companion pet parents may not even notice them because they adapt to them or excuse them.
Disorientation
Behavioral changes – ex. irritability
Interaction – ex. nonrecognition of familiar people or pets
Sleep pattern changes
House-soiling
Activity level changes
Anxiety
Learning changes
Of course, the signs could be due entirely to something else. For instance, house-soiling. Did the companion dog’s environment change due to a move, urinary tract infection (UTI), weather, addition or loss of a companion, new baby or child in the home, CCD, or a combination of two or more? Fortunately, tests are available to gauge the level of CCD.
Testing
Hemopet’s CellBIO test does not directly diagnose cognitive decline. CellBIO measures cellular oxidative damage, which has been proven to be associated with cognitive decline.
Veterinarians will also need to rule in or out other potential causes of the signs such as UTIs or hypothyroidism, and have a few other tests available to diagnose CCD such as the Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating Scale (CCDR) or Canine Dementia Scale (CADES).
Both of these tests rely on observations, which can be subjective. So, the best method is to complete one of the tests every six months or so on any dog of any age (particularly seven years or older). You can do this at home. Doing it on a scheduled basis instead of daily or weekly gives the room needed to account for seasonal changes, or “good days” and “bad days.”
The researchers that developed CADES performed comparisons every six months to validate their test. Sadly, they found that the rate of conversion at the 6-months follow-up of normal aging to mild cognitive impairment was 42%, while conversion rate of mild to moderate cognitive impairment was 24%. At twelve months, the conversion rates almost doubled to 71.45% and 50%, respectively.
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating Scale (CCDR)
Instructions: Circle the number that corresponds to your dog’s behavior based on frequency, transfer number to score, multiply where needed, add to calculate total.
Questions
Never
Once/Month
Once/Week
Once/Day
>Once/Day
Score
How often does your dog pace up and down, walk in circles and/or wander with no direction or purpose?
1
2
3
4
5
How often does your dog stare blankly at the walls or floor?
1
2
3
4
5
How often does your dog get stuck behind objects and is unable to get around?
1
2
3
4
5
How often does your dog fail to recognize familiar people or pets?
1
2
3
4
5
How often does your dog walk away while, or avoid being petted?
1
2
3
4
5
Questions
Never
1-30% times
31-60% times
61-99% times
Always
Score
How often does your dog have difficulty finding food dropped on the floor?
1
2
3
4
5
Questions
Much Less
Slightly Less
The Same
Slightly More
Much More
Score
Compared with 6 months ago, does your dog now pace up and down, walk in circles and/or wander with no direction or purpose?
1
2
3
4
5
Compared with 6 months ago, does your dog now stare blankly at the walls or floor?
1
2
3
4
5
Compared with 6 months ago, does your dog have difficulty finding food dropped on the floor?
1
2
3
4
5
(Multiply by 2)
Compared with 6 months ago, does your dog fail to recognize familiar people or pets?
1
2
3
4
5
(Multiply by 3)
Compared with 6 months ago, is the amount of time your dog spends active?
1
2
3
4
5
0-39 = Normal; 40-49 = At Risk; 50+ = CCD
Total
Score
Canine Dementia Scale (CADES)
Circle the number that corresponds to your companion dog’s behavior or signs, calculate the category score, and add all the category scores.
A. Spatial Orientation
Abnormal behavior of the dog was never observed
Abnormal behavior of the dog was detected at least once in the last 6 months
Abnormal behavior appeared at least once per month
Abnormal behavior was seen 2–4 times per month
Abnormal behavior was observed several times a week
Score
Disorientation in a familiar environment (inside/outside)
0
2
3
4
5
Failure to recognize familiar people and animals inside or outside the house/apartment
0
2
3
4
5
Abnormally responds to familiar objects (a chair, a wastebasket)
0
2
3
4
5
Aimlessly wandering (motorically restless during day)
1
2
3
4
5
A reduced ability to do previously learned task
1
2
3
4
5
Total
0-25:
B. Social Interaction
Abnormal behavior of the dog was never observed
Abnormal behavior of the dog was detected at least once in the last 6 months
Abnormal behavior appeared at least once per month
Abnormal behavior was seen 2–4 times per month
Abnormal behavior was observed several times a week
Score
Changes in interaction with a man/dog, dog/other dog (playing, petting, welcoming)
0
2
3
4
5
Changes in individual behavior of dog (exploration behavior, play, performance)
0
2
3
4
5
Response to commands and ability to learn new task
0
2
3
4
5
Irritable
0
2
3
4
5
Expression of Aggression
0
2
3
4
5
Total
0-25:
C. Sleep-Wake Cycles
Abnormal behavior of the dog was never observed
Abnormal behavior of the dog was detected at least once in the last 6 months
Abnormal behavior appeared at least once per month
Abnormal behavior was seen 2–4 times per month
Abnormal behavior was observed several times a week
Score
Abnormally responds in the night (wandering, vocalization, motorically restless)
0
2
3
4
5
Switches over from insomnia to hypersomnia
0
2
3
4
5
Total
Score X 2 (0-20):
D. House Soiling
Abnormal behavior of the dog was never observed
Abnormal behavior of the dog was detected at least once in the last 6 months
Abnormal behavior appeared at least once per month
Abnormal behavior was seen 2–4 times per month
Abnormal behavior was observed several times a week
Score
Eliminates at home in random locations
0
2
3
4
5
Eliminates in its kennel or sleeping area
0
2
3
4
5
Changes in signalization for elimination activity
0
2
3
4
5
Eliminates indoors after a recent walk outside
1
2
3
4
5
Eliminates at uncommon locations (grass, concrete)
No cure exists for CCD, but there are many tools available to slow its progression.
Prescription Medications – There are prescription medications available. Instead of resorting to those immediately, talk to your veterinarian about trying the other methods mentioned below.
Activity, Activity, Activity! – We cannot stress enough the need for physical activity such as a walk and interactive toys.
Berries/cherries (supply anthocyanins, antioxidants, vitamins C and E). In fact, you can use them as treats.
Omega 3 fatty acids (are anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory) – Fish oil is an example. We prefer smaller fish such as sardines and anchovies. These fish do not have a build-up of mercury in their systems. The high DHA contains higher concentrations of vitamin E, taurine, choline, and l-carnitine, which can also play a positive role in healthy cognitive function. Whatever fish oil you choose, please ensure your companion dog does not have a food sensitivity or intolerance to it as revealed by NutriScan.
Nuts (supply omega fatty acids, vitamins E and B-6, folate, magnesium); but not macadamia, walnuts, hickory nuts or black walnuts, pecans and Brazil nuts for dogs
Medium-Chain Triglycerides – An excellent example of this is unrefined, expeller pressed coconut oil. The agreed-upon amount to start is 1/4 teaspoon for dogs less than 15 pounds and 1 tablespoon for larger dogs. You will need to balance coconut oil for weight management. If your companion dog is doing well and not exhibiting any side effects such as diarrhea and weight gain, the standard threshold is 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight per day. Coconut oil is high in fat and can cause diarrhea if too much is given.
Melatonin
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM-e)
Phosphatidylserine – Is found in many cognitive support blends. Two well-known examples are Senilife and Aktivait.
References
Bray, Emily E et al. “Associations between physical activity and cognitive dysfunction in older companion dogs: results from the Dog Aging Project.” GeroScience vol. 45,2 (2023): 645-661. doi:10.1007/s11357-022-00655-8, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9886770/.
Madari, Aladar, et al. “Assessment of severity and progression of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome using the canine dementia scale (cades).” Applied Animal Behaviour Science, vol. 171, Oct. 2015, pp. 138–145, doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.08.034, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159115002373?via%3Dihub.
Skoumalova, A et al. “The role of free radicals in canine counterpart of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.” Experimental gerontology vol. 38,6 (2003): 711-9. doi:10.1016/s0531-5565(03)00071-8, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12814808/.
Yarborough, Sarah et al. “Evaluation of cognitive function in the Dog Aging Project: associations with baseline canine characteristics.” Scientific reports vol. 12,1 13316. 25 Aug. 2022, doi:10.1038/s41598-022-15837-9, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9411588/.Post navigation
When neither your dog trainer nor your veterinarian have been able to solve your dog’s problem behavior – such as aggression, extreme fear, obsessive/compulsive behavior, or separation anxiety – a consultation with a board certified veterinary behaviorist is advisable.
All experts approach problems from the perspective of their education and experience. Given a dog with problematic behavior, a trainer may recommend equipment changes, behavior modification, and management steps. A veterinarian may prescribe medications that reduce anxiety and increase social behavior.
Aggression, self-mutilation, phobic or extreme fear, obsessive or compulsive behaviors, and severe separation anxiety are the behaviors that most frequently prompt a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist.
However, behavioral problems can result from neurochemical imbalances, medical conditions, past life experiences, current living conditions, and every combination of these. Veterinary behaviorists are uniquely positioned to use tools from both medicine and behavior science to most accurately diagnose and efficiently treat dogs with severely problematic behavior, such as aggression, self-mutilation, phobic or extremely fearful behavior, obsessive or compulsive behaviors, and severe separation anxiety.
One of the most valuable benefits of working with a veterinary behaviorist is their extensive knowledge of how psychotropic medications can further your dog’s behavior modification program. (By law, only veterinarians can prescribe or give you prescription medication for your dog.)
Some owners are resistant to using behavior medication for their dogs. Sometimes their resistance stems from working with a veterinarian who wasn’t experienced enough with behavior-modifying medications to tweak the dog’s prescriptions for the best results. The client’s dog may have been given medication that was too strong (“I don’t want my dog to be a zombie!”) or too weak (“It didn’t do anything!”).
This is sad, because often medication can make the most impactful contribution to improving the dog’s quality of life. In many cases, the right medication(s) can make a good training professional’s behavior-modification program much more successful, much sooner. If you are working with a skilled training professional, the addition of the right medication might make the visit with the behaviorist unnecessary!
But if neither your trainer nor your vet have answers to your dog’s challenging behavior – or when they are failing to work together to provide an all-encompassing treatment plan for your dog – a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist is well worth the cost.
THE TERM “BEHAVIORIST” IS IN WIDE BUT VARIABLE USE
Would it surprise you to learn that literally anyone can call himself or herself a behaviorist? The title means nothing. There are any number of dog trainers – qualified and unqualified, educated and uneducated – who call themselves behaviorists. However, here are a few titles that include “behaviorist” that actually do mean something:
-Veterinary behaviorist. Only licensed veterinarians who have been certified by the can use the title of veterinary behaviorist. The formal term is Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB). You can find veterinary behaviorists at dacvb.org/search/.
-There is another professional organization that has “veterinary” and “behavior” in its title – the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) – but it does not provide certification of any kind. Veterinarians and persons holding a PhD in animal behavior or a related field may join this membership organization, but it does not confer certifications or presuppose a level of expertise in animal behavior. Behavior consultants who are members of AVSAB are listed on its website (avsab.org/directory/).
-Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB). These are scientists, educators, or other animal professionals with advanced academic backgrounds in the principles of animal behavior. Certification for these titles is provided by the Animal Behavior Society, which describes its certificants this way: “A professional applied animal behaviorist has demonstrated expertise in the principles of animal behavior, in the research methods of animal behavior, in the application of animal behavior principles to applied behavior problems, and in the dissemination of knowledge about animal behavior through teaching and research.” You can find these professionals at animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/committees-applied-behavior-directory.php.
-Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (CABC). These certifications are bestowed by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), which offers animal credentialing examinations for several animal species and specialties. Obtaining a CDBC credential indicates a superior level of knowledge as well as skill in practical application of behavior change principles following least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA)-based strategies.
What to Expect From a Veterinary Behaviorist Consultation
A particularly thorough medical and behavior history is the first prerequisite for any veterinary behaviorist consultation, with the behavior history being the longest and most detailed part of the intake form. When did the problematic behavior first start, how often does it happen, and how has it changed?
The behaviorist also needs to know what interventions have been tried and how the dog responded to those treatments. The intake form will also ask the owner, “What are your goals for your dog? What outcome do you hope for?”
If the problematic behavior is unlikely to be observed in a veterinary office setting, the owner will be asked to try to capture video of the dog while he’s displaying the troubling behavior. Video can often provide the most valuable clues to the causes or significant contributors to the dog’s behavior.
After reviewing all of the above, the veterinary behaviorist will then meet with the dog and owner in order to observe the dog’s behavior first hand (or at least via a video conference).
At the end of the first visit, the client is usually given some management strategies that can be implemented right away – especially if the dog’s behavior has the potential for endangering anyone.
Afterward, the veterinary behaviorist will prepare a comprehensive treatment plan for the dog’s owner, which is typically reviewed and discussed in a subsequent appointment. The plan may include a request for medical tests (or further medical tests) in order to diagnose or rule out medical contributors to the problematic behavior. Usually, it will also include recommendations for the owner to undertake behavior modification exercises under the guidance of a training professional working with or recommended by the veterinary behaviorist.
The treatment plan may also recommend the use of supportive therapies such as supplements, nutritional therapy, and/or prescription medications (when appropriate).
Because there are few veterinary behaviorists, it’s impossible for many dog owners to book an in-person consultation with one. That’s why most of these professionals also offer phone or video consultations with their clients’ veterinarians. Instead of seeing the dog and owner, they will review the veterinarian’s report of the dog’s issues and directly communicate with the dog’s veterinarian to offer suggestions for further medical testing, medication, and behavioral interventions.
HOW TO BECOME A VETERINARY BEHAVIORIST
Veterinary behaviorists are veterinarians who have achieved board certification in the specialty of veterinary behavior. Certification takes a minimum of three years of study and training after a candidate has obtained a veterinary graduate degree. The certifying board for this specialty is the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB); certificants, who are known as Diplomates, may use the initials DACVB along with DVM after their names.
To gain board certification, candidates must complete at least one year of internship or primary care practice. They must also undertake additional behavior-specific training, which includes at least three years of case supervision by an established DACVB. They must also conduct original behavior research that earns publication in a peer-reviewed journal, author three formal case reports that are approved by a review committee of Diplomates, and pass a rigorous two-day board examination administered by the ACVB.
There are only about 95 DACVBs located throughout the world (though other countries also certify veterinary behaviorists).
Some veterinary behaviorists have a solo practice, where they provide clients with support and referrals to other training or medical professionals as necessary. Others work in group practices, where other staff veterinarians can provide any diagnostic tests that the veterinary behaviorist recommends and staff trainers will work with the client and the client’s dog on behavior modification exercises.
Sample Case History
We asked a veterinary behaviorist to describe a typical case to illustrate how these professionals draw on their medical and behavioral expertise differently than their vet or trainer peers. Chris Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC, owner of the Animal Behavior Clinic in Portland, Oregon, accommodated us with a description of one of his veterinarian-to-veterinarian consultations.
The patient was a 3-year-old, intact male Labrador who had perpetrated a number of troubling episodes of what was described as unpredictable and unprovoked aggression in his home. His humans were highly experienced dog owners who were active in dog sports and had other dogs in the home, including additional dogs who would sometimes stay with them in a casual boarding scenario.
While the patient was usually a social butterfly with an affable temperament, the owners described a number of incidents where he had suddenly behaved aggressively. Fortunately, they had three of these incidents captured on video, thanks to their home security system.
One incident, where the patient became aggressive with his male owner, occurred in the backyard of the home when other dogs were present. In another incident, the dog aggressed toward that man’s mother when she moved a chair that was three or four feet from the dog. In the third incident captured on video, the patient aggressed toward a visiting dog.
Since the patient was perfectly social and appropriate in between these incidents – even in situations that were identical to the conditions in which he showed aggression – the owners brought the dog to their vet. About six months prior to the first aggressive incident, the dog had slipped and fallen with his front legs splayed out in an unnatural position. His owners were concerned that he might be experiencing pain that caused him to lash out at others.
On physical exam, their vet did find some pain and prescribed pain medication. The dog’s pain went away, but the troubling behavior did not. So, with the clients’ approval, the veterinarian scheduled a consultation with Dr. Pachel.
“It’s always necessary to have someone provide a thorough physical examination, but it doesn’t have to be me,” Dr. Pachel explains. In this case, he discussed the results of the primary care veterinarian’s physical exam, neurologic exam, and notes regarding the dog’s response to pain medication; he also read the behavior history and viewed the owner’s video clips.
From early on, Dr. Pachel suspected a medical cause for the aggression. “What stood out to me was the inconsistent relationship between the antecedents (things that happened around the dog prior to the aggression) and the behavior,” Dr. Pachel says.
“Seeing the variability and expression of those aggressive behaviors, and understanding that the dog has been in identical situations hundreds of times without eliciting any aggression – the most notable thing about the incidents were how inconsistent they were. That increased my level of suspicion that something internal, not external, was driving the incidents. The inconsistency also made me think about potential causes that have a waxing and waning, variable expression, such as hormonal issues or endocrine- related disorders.”
Dr. Pachel first suggested that the dog’s vet run a comprehensive thyroid profile (laboratory test). Dogs whose bodies produce too much or too little thyroid often experience changes in behavior and coping skills. However, the test results were normal.
Next, he considered endocrine conditions that could have an intermittent influence, impacting the dog’s ability to respond to mild provocations and stress. He suggested testing the dog for Addison’s disease – which may have appeared to the dog’s primary care vet as a stretch. “The dog had never had an Addisonian crisis (collapse, lethargy, dehydration), his electrolytes were normal – there were none of the hints in his bloodwork that would make you want to run an ACTH stim test (a test that demonstrates the capacity of the dog’s adrenal glands to produce cortisol),” describes Dr. Pachel. “It was the waxing and waning nature of the aberrant behavior and lack of response to other treatments that led me in that direction.”
While he may have thought the test was a shot in the dark, when the results came back, the dog’s primary care vet was happy to report that the picture was now clear: The dog had Addison’s disease, a deficiency of the hormones that regulate electrolytes, blood pressure, hydration, metabolism, and … stress responses! Addison’s patients require lifelong supplementation of those hormones, but thankfully, with treatment, the dog’s troubling behaviors stopped.
Is it just marketing?
It bears repeating: Anyone can call themselves a behaviorist. The term doesn’t guarantee that they are educated or experienced with complex behavior problems. When hiring a dog trainer, we recommend you choose a behavior professional who is certified by and/or a member of one of the organizations we list here: whole-dog-journal.com/training/find-the-best-trainer-for-you-and-your-dog.
Any ethical behavior professional will explore your dog’s behavior with you, help with behavior modification if they can, and refer you to a veterinary behaviorist if they realize your dog’s issues are beyond their experience and capabilities, or if their efforts to help are not successful.
Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, grew up in a family that was blessed with lots of animal companions: dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, goats, and more, and has maintained that model ever since. She spent the first 20 years of her professional life working at the Marin Humane Society in Marin County, California, for most of that time as a humane officer and director of operations. She continually studied the art and science of dog training and behavior during that time, and in 1996, left MHS to start her own training and behavior business, Peaceable Paws. Pat has earned a number of titles from various training organizations, including Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). She also founded Peaceable Paws Academies for teaching and credentialing dog training and behavior professionals, who can earn “Pat Miller Certified Trainer” certifications. She and her husband Paul and an ever-changing number of dogs, horses, and other animal companions live on their 80-acre farm in Fairplay, Maryland.
