logoPROFESSIONAL VERSION

Prognosis of Behavior Problems in Animals

ByKatherine Pankratz, DVM, DACVB
Reviewed/Revised Sept 2024

    If animals with behavioral disorders are to improve, client understanding and compliance are critical. The strategy to modify undesirable behavior requires the owner to be prepared and capable of identifying each situation that elicits the undesirable behavior, assessing risk, maintaining safety, and substituting a more desirable behavioral response. Therefore, avoiding or preventing the provocative situation, especially initially, is important.

    Important prognostic and risk considerations to review with the owner include the following:

    • severity of the problem

    • predictability of the problem

    • ability of the owners to implement initial preventive strategies

    • expectations as to what might be achieved

    • pet's temperament

    • how the pet’s behavior will need to be modified over time

    • practicality of implementing the program considering the environment, family, and pet

    In addition, special consideration will need to be given in cases of aggression to evaluate risk and ensure safety. For guidelines on risk factor assessment, see the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology (ESVCE) website.

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