In 1692, Sarah and Samuel Wardwell lived in the center of Andover, near what is today the border between Andover and North Andover. Samuel was a known fortune teller, which made him a prime suspect for witchcraft accusations.
Fear and stress during veterinary visits alter physiological measurements, potentially leading to misdiagnosis.
Solution: Low-Stress Handling® techniques (e.g., towel wraps, feline-friendly restraint, cooperative care training) reduce stress artifacts and improve examination quality. Fear and stress during veterinary visits alter physiological
Veterinary science has borrowed heavily from human psychiatry, but with crucial modifications. Today, a growing pharmacopeia exists for managing animal behavior disorders: Solution: Low-Stress Handling® techniques (e
| Drug Class | Common Use in Animals | Behavioral Indication | | --- | --- | --- | | SSRIs (Fluoxetine) | Dogs & Cats | Separation anxiety, compulsive tail chasing, inter-cat aggression | | TCAs (Clomipramine) | Dogs | Canine compulsive disorder (flank sucking, shadow chasing) | | Benzodiazepines (Alprazolam) | Cats & Dogs | Panic disorder, thunderstorm phobias (short-term) | | Alpha-2 agonists (Dexmedetomidine) | Veterinary clinic use | Acute situational anxiety for nail trims or radiographs | Solution: Low-Stress Handling® techniques (e.g.
Crucially, behavior-modifying drugs are rarely a standalone solution. The ACVB emphasizes a "multi-modal" approach: pharmaceuticals plus environmental enrichment and positive reinforcement training.
A core veterinary skill is distinguishing primary behavioral disorders from medical conditions presenting as behavior problems: | Behavioral Presentation | Potential Medical Cause | |------------------------|-------------------------| | Night-time howling (dog) | Canine cognitive dysfunction, pain | | House-soiling (cat) | Lower urinary tract disease, renal insufficiency | | Sudden aggression (any species) | Brain tumor, hypothyroidism, rabies | | Compulsive tail-chasing | Seizure disorder, neuropathic pain |
Clinical takeaway: A complete diagnostic workup must precede a behavioral diagnosis.