Behavior Medicine

The Behavior Medicine Clinic at Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital is dedicated to helping pets and their owners live together comfortably and safely.

Learn more about our puppy training approach...

Our clinical team members are well qualified and experienced in addressing behavior problems with an approach that combines skills from the fields of behavioral medicine and other branches of veterinary medicine. We use a rigorous scientific approach to understand the regulating mechanisms behind animal behavior and its pathologies. This approach allows us to deliver an effective and welfare-friendly behavior treatment.

We see cats and dogs of all ages for behavior problems, ranging from house-training and litter box problems and destructive or self-injurious activity, to aggression towards people or towards other animals.

The Impact of Recent COVID-19-Related Lifestyle Changes on Our Pets

As we all try to cope with an unprecedented crisis in the health and economy of our country and the world, it is important to remember that the pets who share our lives are also affected by the drastic changes to our lives.

Read about how our pets are impacted by our changing schedules

Most pets do best in stable environments with predictable schedules and times of peace and solitude without constant social demands of interaction with their families.
Some pets with separation anxiety may do better with people at home most of the time. But others may find their family members' new and often changing schedules to be very stressful.
Even though people are absent less often, if the absences seem random, some pets can react with anxiety.
Pets may also find it difficult to be around many or all family members most of the time, when they used to have restful time to themselves during work and school hours.
This effect is increased by the stress of adults over work or job loss and of children isolated from school and from friends.
It may be helpful to try to make new schedules as regular and predictable as possible.
It may also be helpful to give pets time to themselves, and help children to understand that they do need to be left alone at times, particularly if they are not trying to interact with family members, but are instead off by themselves resting or sleeping.
If your pet is experiencing severe stress and anxiety during this time, Penn Vet Behavior is happy to help.