Synergy Veterinary Behavior

Synergy Veterinary Behavior Creating harmony between people and their pets

We are a veterinary behavior referral practice dedicated to bringing happiness to the Portland-area's people and their pets by providing supportive and comprehensive programs for diagnosis and treatment of problem behaviors.

🎆 Setting up your pet's "Zen Den" for July 4th 🎇Fireworks can be fun for us, but for many pets, they’re anything but. If...
07/02/2025

🎆 Setting up your pet's "Zen Den" for July 4th 🎇

Fireworks can be fun for us, but for many pets, they’re anything but. If your furry friend struggles during loud celebrations, you're not alone. Let's help keep them calm, safe, and as stress-free as possible this July 4th. 💥🐾

1. Pick a quiet area of your home. This can be a bedroom, bathroom, or office space. Make sure your pet has spent time in here beforehand.
2. Cover any windows with curtains or blankets. This will block visuals of the fireworks, but can also provide some noise-buffering.
3. Set up a speaker or white noise machine. If you choose to play music, go for classical, reggae, or bioacoustics.
4. Provide enrichment throughout the time they will spend here if they will eat. Aim for higher-value items like frozen Toppls, a long-lasting chew, or snufflemats/treat-dispensing toys.
5. Provide access to food, water, their favorite beds and blankets, and any other items they may find comforting.

Be sure to give any medications for stress as directed by your pet's vet ahead of time. Some of you may need to start these medications a few days before the 4th if you're in an area that expects multiple fireworks shows.

⭐️ Preparation for next year: ⭐️
If your pet experiences stress from the 4th, start working on playing firework noises at a low volume while they are doing something they enjoy (playing, getting treats, receiving enrichment). Start at a low enough volume where they do not show any signs of fear/stress, and gradually increase the volume over time. Practice this for a few minutes every day until you can have it on "full blast" (ha) without them minding. If the volume worries your pet, decrease it back to a level they can handle or end the practice session by tossing some treats around them. For extreme phobias, you may need professional help. If that's the case, please reach out to us! 💙

07/02/2025

Does your pet become stressed by the sound of fireworks. Are you getting stressed thinking about how the next few nights are going to be? Dr. Valli is talking about some tips, tricks and strategies to help with this week's festivities, and how to prepare your pet for next year.

📖 Behavior Term Tuesday ➡ ➡ Flehmen ResponseDoes your cat ever make that "stink face" after smelling something suspiciou...
07/01/2025

📖 Behavior Term Tuesday ➡ ➡ Flehmen Response

Does your cat ever make that "stink face" after smelling something suspicious?

The flehmen response is seen in many mammals, where they curl back their upper lip, lift their head, and pause after smelling something. This behavior helps them draw scent into the vomeronasal (or Jacobson’s) organ, which detects pheromones and other chemical signals.

Dogs, cats, horses, and goats all perform the Flehmen response, often after smelling the urine of another animal and/or a female in heat. Do you know other animals that do?

07/01/2025

A new study explores just why cats might scratch where we don’t want them to By Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado Click HERE for original post Scratching behavior – so natural for cats, so frustrating for some cat owners. Scratching serves multiple functions for cats including marking their territory (wit...

06/30/2025

Leave pets at home on hot days! Even with the window cracked, the temperature inside a car can quickly climb to more than 110 degrees. Heatstroke is life-threatening for animals. If not caught in its earliest stages, heatstroke can be fatal.

Symptoms of heatstroke include:
* Panting
* Dehydration
* Excessive drooling
* Increased body temperature - above 103° F (39° C)
* Reddened gums and moist tissues of the body
* Production of only small amounts of urine or no urine
* Rapid heart rate

To avoid heatstroke, it's best to leave your pet at home.

Are you and your pets prepared for July 4th? 🎆Join Dr. Valli Parthasarathy, PhD, DVM, DACVB, during our next Facebook Li...
06/30/2025

Are you and your pets prepared for July 4th? 🎆

Join Dr. Valli Parthasarathy, PhD, DVM, DACVB, during our next Facebook Live
TOMORROW, July 1st, at 5:00 PM PDT

Tune in with Dr. Valli as she covers ways to help your pets feel safer and more at ease during the loud and hectic Fourth of July week.

See you there!

Has your pet with behavioral issues been making you feel...Trapped?Frustrated?Guilty?Embarrassed?Exhausted?We know how t...
06/29/2025

Has your pet with behavioral issues been making you feel...
Trapped?
Frustrated?
Guilty?
Embarrassed?
Exhausted?

We know how tough it can be to care for a pet with behavior challenges—and while we’re here to support your pet, your well-being matters, too.

Veterinary Social Workers are uniquely equipped to help people coping with the emotional toll of caring for animals with behavior concerns.

That’s why we’re sharing this fantastic resource from Insight Animal Behavior Services, created for pet owners, veterinary professionals, and anyone navigating the emotional weight that can come with this journey.

Resources: https://www.insightfulanimals.com/veterinary-social-work

❓ QUESTION FOR REACTIVE DOG OWNERS:What is your biggest frustration when encountering people/dogs on walks, that you wis...
06/26/2025

❓ QUESTION FOR REACTIVE DOG OWNERS:

What is your biggest frustration when encountering people/dogs on walks, that you wish others didn't do or that you wish others considered a common courtesy?

Non-reactive dog owners: Do you have any frustrations with others on walks, especially those in more densely populated areas?

We want to gather information to post more educational content, and would love to hear what you have to say!

How can you help ensure a successful vet visit for your kitten? 🐱1. Bring treats. High-value treats for rewards and dist...
06/25/2025

How can you help ensure a successful vet visit for your kitten? 🐱

1. Bring treats. High-value treats for rewards and distractions. Churu and other lickable treats are great too!
2. Practice gentle restraint and examinations at home. Practice holding them for brief periods while offering treats. Keep practices short and enjoyable. Stop if they start struggling. Check their ears, feet, mouth, etc, while you're at it. Handling and cooperative care-based training while young can make future vet visits much easier for everyone! If you plan to trim your kitten's nails at home or at the vet, this is even more important!
3. Advocate for your kitten. Ask for procedures and exams to be done in the room, whenever possible. If you notice your kitten becomes fearful, ask for a break and for them to try again unless it becomes too stressful.
4. Bring your kitten in for happy visits! You can bring them in for weight checks and let them say hi to the vet team. Or just practice traveling somewhere. They can have a good time without anything scary being done to them. Always ask your clinic first before visiting.
5. Start carrier training ASAP. Get them comfortable and confident spending time in the carrier at home, in the car, and while moving in the car. This is something you should continuously practice throughout your cat's life to make vet visits and other travel less stressful on everyone!

If you've recently brought home a kitten and are struggling, please reach out to schedule a Pawsitive Beginnings: Kitten Problem-Solving and Prevention consult! We would be happy to help 💙

06/24/2025

Dog trainer certifications- what do they mean and how do trainers obtain them?

📖 Behavior Term Tuesday ➡ ➡ Conflict-Related AggressionConflict-related aggression in dogs occurs when a dog experiences...
06/24/2025

📖 Behavior Term Tuesday ➡ ➡ Conflict-Related Aggression

Conflict-related aggression in dogs occurs when a dog experiences mixed or competing emotions in a situation. Conflict-related aggression toward family members is often misattributed to dominance, but this type of aggression usually reflects poor emotional coping skills, inconsistent communication, or prior negative experiences.

An example of conflict-related aggression could be a dog that wants attention from or to be near their human, but doesn't want to be petted. When the person reaches out to pet them, the dog responds by snapping, growling, or biting. Even though the dog wants to be near, they may also be feeling fearful, threatened, or unsure of the person or interaction.

Dogs that exhibit behaviors associated with conflict-related aggression can often show improvements with predictability, clear cues, and behavior modification. Please reach out if this is something your pup is struggling with, we'd be happy to help!

🎥 Synergy Facebook Live TOMORROW, June 24th @ 4:30pm Pacific Time Did you know that dog training is a completely unregul...
06/23/2025

🎥 Synergy Facebook Live TOMORROW, June 24th @ 4:30pm Pacific Time

Did you know that dog training is a completely unregulated industry?
What does this mean for you and your dog?
How can you avoid hiring professionals who might do more harm than good?
And what do all those letters actually stand for after a trainer's name?!

Join Synergy's trainers, Lorenzo (FDM, SAPT, PDT, CCUI) and Amber (CDBC, CPDT-KA, FDM), during our Facebook Live tomorrow, as they wade through the sometimes confusing and often overwhelming types of certifications many trainers hold or claim to hold, and what they may or may not tell you about a trainer's qualifications and ability to help you achieve your goals.

Address

2127 NW York Street
Portland, OR
97210

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 6:30pm
Sunday 9am - 6:30pm

Telephone

+15033361202

Website

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