Meeting the Behavioral Needs of Cats and Dogs (NYVET2025)

Presented by Vanessa Spano

As the number of households owning pets in the United States increases each year, so does the number of cats and dogs abandoned or relinquished to our over-populated shelters. Behavior is continuously one of the top reasons cited for surrendering pets. Specifically, some of the problems reported include digging, pulling on lead, and high energy for dogs, and scratching, soiling, and high energy level for cats – all normal cat and dog behaviors. As the veterinary clinic is one of first stops for owners upon welcoming pets into their households, veterinary professionals can take this opportunity to educate owners not just about physical wellness for their new family members but also about behavioral wellness, in an effort to comprehensively address a pet’s mental state. This lecture will start out by summarizing current research on the benefits of pre-adoption counseling and behavioral counseling at the first veterinary appointment. We will delve into setting appropriate pet-parent expectations by discussing normal cat and dog behavior, including neurodevelopment throughout different stages of puppy- and kitten- hood, body language education, and breed-specific environmental enrichment. Appropriate training methodologies will also be addressed. Ensuring that our furry family members’ needs are met is crucial both in providing them a good quality-of-life and in preventing failed adoptions.