Bay Area Vet Behavior

13/07/2025

Heading to AVMA/WVAC in Washington, D.C. next week?

📅 Join me on July 18th for a full day of veterinary behavior!

I'm excited to be presenting a series of lectures focused on some of the most important and challenging topics in behavioral medicine. Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding or gain practical tools for your practice, there’s something for everyone.

🧠 Topics include:

Understanding anxiety and phobias in dogs

Managing aggression

The role of nutraceuticals in behavior treatment

Providing compassionate care for our senior pets with behavioral changes

Let’s explore how we can better support the emotional and mental wellbeing of our patients together. I hope to see you there!

05/07/2025

I learned something new today. There are breeds of dogs with a forked or split nose, such as Turkish Pointers—or Catalburun, the Spanish Pachón Navarro and the Bolivian Andean Tiger Hound. The forked nose is due to a mutation of the gene PDFGRA. Researchers are looking to see if there is a connection with this gene mutation to people with cleft lip or palate. Fascinating! Now I want to see one of these breeds in person!

It's not entirely understood why some children are born with orofacial clefts, such as cleft lip or palate. But a new study suggests a genetic clue may be found in a rare breed of hunting dog.

04/07/2025

Please use the following tips to help your pets get through the fireworks!

🎆 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! 💙

04/07/2025

Please use the following tips to help your pets get through the fireworks!

01/07/2025

Another interesting finding: Scientists have found that animals living at 1000 meter or higher elevations have a 23% reduction in genes related to smell and an average of an 18% size reduction of the olfactory bulb. Theory is that animals have more difficulty smelling odors in higher elevations due to difficulties in breathing, increased nasal congestion and hypoxia. The scent molecules also have a more difficult time traveling in the air.

A recent study published in Current Biology has found that animals living at elevations of 1,000 meters and higher have a reduction in genes related to smell and a smaller olfactory bulb than similar low-altitude species.

30/06/2025

Here is an interesting finding: researchers have reported on cats' preference for which side they sleep on. According to these researchers that studied videos of cats sleeping, cats that sleep on their left side are at an advantage. Upon waking up, information perceived by the left visual field are processed by the right hemisphere. This side of the brain excels in processing threat-related stimuli and coordinates rapid escape movements. "Sleeping on the left side can therefore be a survival strategy" according to the researchers.
Lateralized sleeping positions in domestic cats. Current Biology, 2025; 35 (12): R597 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.043 https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00507-X?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS096098222500507X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

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28/06/2025

28/06/2025

Want to give your indoor cat a taste of the outdoors? From window watching and catios to leash walks and adventure backpacks, there are safe, enriching ways to let your indoor cat explore without the risks. Check out our tips for safe, fun outdoor adventures with your indoor cat: https://joybound.org/blog/outside-time-for-indoor-cats/

14/06/2025

Practitioners can use these handy acronyms to help diagnose CDS in aging pets.

The full article can be accessed at https://go.navc.com/4ft1oVK.

31/05/2025

Researcher looked at the the association between traits like purring and variation in the androgen receptor gene in the domestic cat. Cats carrying the short type androgen receptor gene had higher “purring” scores. Short-type male cats showed higher “directed calls/vocalizations” scores, whereas females with short-type alleles showed higher “stranger-directed aggression” scores. These results indicate that genetic data can be used to improve our understanding of cat communication and the cat-human bond.

Cats (Felis catus) are companions familiar to people worldwide. Despite their popularity, few studies have investigated the genetic background of their behavior. This study aimed to explore the relationship between candidate gene genotypes and behavioral traits in cats. Behavioral traits were assess...

29/05/2025

Nobody should have to choose between caring for their pet and caring for themselves. Whether it's free pet food, free pet vaccinations, low-cost veterinary assistance, behavior advice, or anything in between, Joybound's Community Solutions team is ready to be the lifeline you may need.
https://joybound.org/services/get-help/

17/02/2025

Find out what cat loafing looks like and what the common feline behavior means with help from veterinarians.