By Rachel Lees, LVMT, KPA CTP, FFCP, VTS (Behavior) Animal behavior is a crucial aspect of veterinary care. Whether your pet has pain or just “ain’t doing right,” the pet’s behavior, body language, and overall demeanor is part of obtaining a thorough and precise physical examination. Without this type of examination, symptoms and diagnoses may ..read more

By Pat Koven, LVT, KPA-CTP Teaching voluntary behaviors such as a chin rest can be useful when you want your dog to hold still and show you they are comfortable. A chin rest shows that your dog is willing to be an active participant in their care. Teaching a chin rest can be part of ..read more

By Sarah Nugen, Class of 2023; Sandra Robbins BS, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), CPDT-KSA, KPA-CTP; Katharine Schwarz, RVT, KPA CTP How to help your cat get used to having their nails trimmed: 1. Start by putting the trimmers in a common area like your living room where your cat can choose to explore them ..read more

By Sarah Nugen, Class of 2023; Sandra Robbins BS, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), CPDT-KSA, KPA-CTP; Katharine Schwarz, RVT, KPA CTP Fear in cats Just like us, cats feel fear and their behavior changes in response to it. What makes one cat fearful or anxious may not make another one feel that way. We observe ..read more

Written by Sarah Nugen, DVM Candidate Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2023, Sandra Robbins BS, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), CPDT-KSA, KPA-CTP, Katharine Schwarz, RVT, KPA CTP Many owners never learned to trim their kitten’s nails and struggle with nail trims for their adult cat. To prevent scratches to people and furniture, as ..read more

Written by Samantha Zurlinden, DVM Candidate North Carolina State University Class of 2023 What is Enrichment and Why is it Important for Senior Dogs?  Enrichment is offering experiences and opportunities to animals to encourage healthy natural behaviors and enhance physical and emotional welfare. Enrichment is often broken into two broad categories: environmental and social.  Environmental ..read more

Written by Sarah Nugen, DVM Candidate Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2023, Sandra Robbins BS, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia), CPDT-KSA, KPA-CTP, Katharine Schwarz, RVT, KPA CTP Many owners struggle with trimming their cat’s nails. Nail trims, however, are important for your cat’s health and to prevent scratches of your furniture or ..read more

Written by Samantha Zurlinden, DVM Candidate North Carolina State University Class of 2023 What is resource guarding and why does it occur? Resource guarding is a relatively common behavior problem in dogs. It is defined as a dog using avoidance, threatening, or aggressive behaviors to retain control of food or other items in front of ..read more

  Written by Katharine Schwarz, RVT, KPA CTP Why do dogs pull when leashed? Leash pulling is a common complaint among dog owners. Why do dogs pull? The world is an exciting place full of new scents, sights, sounds, playmates, etc. Leash pulling is a self-reinforcing behavior, which means that when the dog pulls, they ..read more

Written by Samantha Zurlinden, DVM Candidate North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2023 The Reality Animal training is a booming industry. We love our pets, and we want the best for them. We also want to live with them harmoniously. Many pet owners seek out professional pet behavior help on their ..read more