Agria supports the 2006 Animal Welfare Act, and is delighted to partner Veterinary Behaviourist Sophie White in her quest to highlight the link between pain and unwanted behaviour in dogs.
Research suggests underlying pain is likely to cause 33-80% of all referred behaviour cases, without even accounting for all those cases which don’t reach referral. The tragedy lies when untreated pain causes an animal to become aggressive or uncontrollable to the point the owner can no longer live with them, and euthanasia becomes an option.
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of chronic pain in dogs, but other culprits are:
- Food allergies/IBD
- Gastric reflux
- Ear infections
- Skin disease
- Eye conditions
- Anal gland issues
We need to look carefully for clues as to what is causing certain behaviours as dogs aren’t able to tell us and may give out misleading signals. You know your dog best, understand what is normal for them and then consult your vet and behavioural specialist should there be any changes. The sooner the problem is addressed, the sooner it will start to improve and the sooner you can work towards a safe and happy household.
For more information please visit www.agriapet.co.uk
