Experts discuss normal pet behaviors and when to seek professional help

DELMARVA – Bringing home a new furry friend comes with an adjustment period for everyone.

Mike Kaviani with the Brandywine Valley SPCA says there are many things new pet owners find themselves working through. A new environment can be tough on a cat or dog, and he says one of the most common early behavioral issues happens when pets are put into situations they’re not ready for too quickly, such as meeting other family pets.

“If you have a cat at home, keep them separate. If you have another dog at home, do short sweet interactions with them and don’t throw a bunch of other unknown animals at them.”

Teaching them what is and isn’t a toy and where to go to the bathroom can help suppress other common behavior issues.

If your pet is exhibiting behaviors that affect their qualify of life or yours, Kaviani says that’s when it might be best to consider seeking professional help. For example, anxiety that doesn’t seem to be improving, especially when your pet is left alone.

But every situation is different, and Kaviani says it’s really up to you and whether you feel your pet needs extra attention.

“Ultimately it’s what are you struggling with? What’s the behavior that you’re seeing that is causing the concern? Is it something that you can fairly easily manage, or is it something that you think is so generalized or prevalent in your life that you do need to find training to resolve.”