Finding the Cause of Compulsive Behavior Problems in Petsby Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger 24 Mar 2009 08:09 AM When a pet is stuck in a compulsive behavior, it can be hard to figure out what set things off. Often, the farther a pet gets from the initial trigger, the harder it is to make the connection between compulsive behavior and trigger. The first thing your veterinarian may do is try to rule out a medical cause. Some spinal and neurological diseases can trigger repetitive behaviors -- the change of feeling in an animal's limbs may cause them to lick or chew the area. A medically-inspired behavior isn't actually a compulsive behavior. If a repetitive behavior truly is compulsive and not medical, it may be time to turn to a behavior specialist. The specialist may:
These things will help the veterinarian and behavior specialist determine if the pet truly has an anxiety disorder. If you do have a compulsive behavior on your hands, your vet will help you develop a way to deal with the behavior -- and situations that trigger the behavior. If, for example, the household dynamic has changed -- a new pet joins the family, or a family member departs the household -- a pet may exhibit compulsive behaviors as a coping mechanism. Maybe it's a particular sound or event that sets off the behavior. There are some pets who are just genetically predisposed to odd, repetitive behaviors. Some situations can exacerbate the problem... and sometimes, there's more than one factor at work. Once your veterinarian knows what is behind the behavior, you can work on a treatment plan. Learn more about Aimee Amodio  Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover... Relevantpets tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Discuss this article
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