Pet therapist to the rescue for frazzled dog owners
Leashing in troubled pets
It might sound a bit crazy to send Fido to a shrink. After all, dogs can’t talk about their feelings – although they might enjoy lounging on a psychoanalyst’s couch. But according to pet therapist Michelle Posage, animals have complex emotional lives that sometimes need outside intervention, even pet pills like anti-depressants. Posage is a Merrimack, N.H.,-based veterinary behaviorist who accepts referrals from other veterinarians and animal trainers to treat serious behavior issues in dogs and cats. “Dogs will be dogs, but it’s not easy to live with a pet that is aggressive, obsessive, anxious, traumatized, or any number of anti-social headaches,” said Posage. She spoke with Globe correspondent Cindy Atoji Keene about why neurotic dogs and compulsive cats are not anthropomorphic fantasies but real-life mental health crises.
“Many of the patients I see are stray dogs from the south that bred among themselves or are genetically predisposed to difficulties. They didn’t have a great start in life, especially since we know that the initial socialization period – between four and 12 months of age – is crucial. There are also certain breeds who have a genetic disposition for compulsive behavior; Doberman Pinschers, for example, are prone to OCD and might suck on their flank. Other breeds can wander, spin, tail-chase incessantly, or even practice self-mutilation. Last Friday, for example, I saw a case of separation anxiety in a mixed breed dog adopted from a shelter. The dog was anxious when left alone, but when the family recently moved to a new house, the problem got worse. The dog broke out of his crate and chewed through a door knob and door frame; he even broke his canine teeth, hooking them on the bars of the crate. Due to the animal’s severe anxiety, I prescribed medication, and had the owners practice departures, gradually conditioning the dog to being alone. I’ve also seen incidents where dogs even chew through dry wall or jump out of windows. I work with clients who are very dedicated to doing whatever it takes to help a pet instead of just abandoning them or letting them suffer. Whether it’s biting, fear, or house soiling, it’s usually never appropriate to say a dog is “cured” but rather that the situation is being “managed.” The tragedy of not intervening successfully in a problem like aggression is that the dog can pay the price with his life. It’s my goal to prevent that from happening. That’s why I initially got involved with therapeutic behavioral approaches – I was working at a shelter and saw a lot of problematic dogs and cats euthanized. But given the opportunity, I thought they actually could have been helped to change their behavior. What can be done? I work with owners to figure out a diagnosis; develop a multi-faceted plan that might include medication and environmental changes, and apply lots of behavior modification using training and positive reinforcement. Technology is also a component: Owners can download an app that allows them to monitor their canine friend remotely; I also ask them to video their pets so they can share information. Of course, I understand that no dog is perfect. I have two dogs myself, a Wheaten Terrier and a yellow Lab mix; the Terrier came with typical issues of reactive barking and jumping up on guests. With two kids and a busy life, he did this for a while before we addressed it, but it’s finally under control. Or so I hope.”
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