10/21/2023
Please, for the love of all things holy, choose who you ask for help with your dog, wisely.
If you have a dog that starts exhibiting behavioral changes/problems, I always, always, always, suggest making an appointment to have your doggo examined by their veterinarian.
This exam is extremely important, as it can rule out any overt physical/medical reasons for the behavior change.
👉 Hold on cuz Imma put my nerd hat on for a sec...
A study was conducted that followed and reviewed the cases of 100 dogs whose owners brought them in for examinations due to behavioral concerns.
The study showed that conservatively, one third of those cases involved some kind of painful condition, but that number could be as high as 80%!
The variance is due to the possible dismissal of symptoms as being pain related because they are common/typical for the breed of dog in question.
Regardless of if it's 33.3%, or higher - that's A LOT of behavior issues explained by a physical problem!
BUT, PAWRENT BEWARE...
Unless your veterinarian is a board certified veterinary behaviorist, (which, FYI, there are less than 100 worldwide), please do not just assume that behavioral advice they may give, is appropriate, helpful, accurate, or even what is currently being taught!
While in vet school, veterinarians are taught VERY little about behavior.
When I say very little, I literally mean a class or two. That's it.
In my dog experiences, both before working in the veterinary field, and definitely after, I have bore witness to some pretty terrible things with regards to veterinarians not staying in their lane, and giving some downright horrible behavioral advice.
I have literally seen veterinarians either not notice, unable to recognize, or even dismiss entirely, ridiculously clear stress signals from dogs.
In fact, several years ago, and nowhere local, I was in an exam room with a rescue dog that was very new to us, and who showed some wonky behaviors, but who did well if you went slow.
While I was telling this to the veterinarian, she rushed the dog, which caused the dog, and I to back up. The dog was throwing stress signals like brats throw tantrums.
I told the vet to wait, stop, back off, but she kept coming. She ended up cornering me and the dog. Then, as I was physically trying to get us out of the corner, the vet reached around the dog's head to try to look in her ear.
Of course the dog snapped at the vet, and then I gave her a verbal tongue lashing about being dismissive, reckless and utterly incompetent!
Thankfully it didn't turn out bad, but can you imagine that veterinarian giving out advice on behavior, which, let's be f**king for real, is rooted in understanding body language, and subtle cues?!?!?!
Know your expert!
I'm not saying that you shouldn't discuss behavioral things with your vet; you absolutely should!
I just urge you to do your due diligence in getting the buy in of a behavior professional as well.
Think of it like this:
Ladies, you are at you gyno, getting your annual plumbing inspection. You mention that you have been experiencing intermittent pain in your right calf. Your OBGYN checks it out and suggests amputation. Would you just go ahead and make appointment to have your leg lopped off, or would you consult a specialist first?
The best experts will be unafraid to say, "I don't know, but I can refer you to ______; they are better equipped to help you with that."
Know your expert!
