Posts in Category: Training & Behavior

We know that our companion animals boost our own mental health states, and we can often see the positive effect this can have on them. They make us feel happy and are satisfied in return. 

While pets are eager to please, they can be affected by mental health struggles of their own. Pet depression is a very real threat to overall wellness, requiring a steady approach to balance symptoms. As with anything related to your pet’s health, we’re always here to assess, treat, and ease their suffering.

It can be very confusing to know what’s going on with a cat. They may act like they despise you only to rub against your calves a minute later. They might chatter at you incessantly only to ignore you moments later. What’s an owner to do?

Their elusive personality traits can clue an owner into subtle health issues. For example, a normally quiet or aloof cat that starts to vocalize might be trying to say something important. A suddenly clingy cat might also need immediate help.

Healthy Oversight

An understanding of your cat’s behavior helps with their essential needs. Knowing how they might react to certain stimuli can lead you to reducing or eliminating it altogether. Being able to deliver exactly what they like and need builds their trust and facilitates a closer human-feline relationship. 

Feel like you’re being watched—like, really watched by your dog? He stares intently as you take a bite of your cheeseburger, or when you’re relaxing on the couch, or when, heaven forbid, you’re paying attention to another animal or human! Whatever the case, dogs are usually staring at us to communicate. 

When a pet decides to urinate somewhere that he or she isn’t supposed to, it can be very frustrating. It is even more frustrating when you are pretty sure that they are doing it to mark their territory. After all, your pet probably has nothing to defend from roving packs of enemy dogs.

Long Animal Hospital wants to help pet owners understand more about why your dog marking his territory is a natural thing and what you can do to prevent it from affecting your relationship. 

Dogs salivate sometimes when they’re content, sometimes when they’re hungry, and sometimes for seemingly no reason. While a certain amount of doggy drool is normal, some dogs salivate more than others because of certain behavioral and medical conditions that contribute to excessive salivation. Some breeds also drool more than others, while others kiss with an ample amount of slobber. The question of “why does my dog drool so much” is one we get asked often at Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center. 

If your dog is dealing with uncool drool, let’s look closer at the causes and conditions of excessive salivation.

We all know how it feels to worry about paying a bill, look at that mile-long to-do list, or have a last minute assignment dumped on our lap. Stress is known to have negative effects on our overall well-being and health, and it’s no fun.

At Long Animal Hospital we see the negative effects of stress in dogs, too. While they may not experience the same sources of worry and anxiety that you might, stress in dogs is a real and detrimental thing that we can work to help.

Have you ever come home after a long day to find that your dog has chewed the couch, pooped in the house, or even escaped? You may chalk this up to doggy boredom, or perhaps spite if you think your pup is mad at you for being gone all day. 

These are common beliefs about dog behavior, but it isn’t about being “bad”. Instead, these behaviors signal that your dog is feeling fear, anxiety and stress. And if these behaviors happen when you’re gone, it equals separation anxiety

What is Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety in pets is more common than we might think. In fact, up to 15% of dogs may suffer from it, according to veterinary behavioral specialists.