Behavior and Nutritional Counseling

APPOINTMENT

Behavior Counseling

Even with the right training and lots of attention and love, your dog or cat can develop bad habits or unwanted behaviors. Please don’t make the mistake of believing that you and your family must live with these problems, or worse, consider giving up your pet.

Critter Doctor Animal Hospital offers Kirkland pet behavior counseling for many of your pet’s problems including inappropriate urination or defecation, urine marking, aggression, nipping and biting, separation anxiety, inappropriate chewing and barking, digging, chewing and introduction of new pets into the household.

Pet Behavior Factors
Causes of behavior problems can be environmental, such as a schedule change or introduction of a new baby or pet; learned, as a result of unintentional positive reinforcement; or genetic. Furthermore, any painful disease or condition, or degenerative changes associated with aging, can cause or contribute to behavior problems.

For example, a pet that is fearful of children may become more reactive, irritable and aggressive as conditions such as dental problems, arthritis or an infection make him or her more uncomfortable or less mobile. Addressing the underlying medical problem or providing pain relief, along with behavior modification techniques, can often resolve some of these problems.

Pet Behavioral Assessment
Our assessment begins with your pet’s clinical history and a thorough medical examination. Before beginning pet behavior therapy, any medical problems that have been diagnosed will be treated. If our veterinarians and technical staff members cannot help with your pet’s behavior problem, we can refer you to a board-certified animal behavior specialist.

Pet Nutrition

Proper nutrition and a balanced diet, along with fresh water, is an essential ingredient for your pet’s overall good health. As your pet’s caregiver, nutrition is the most significant health variable that you control.

Feeding your pet the highest-quality food you can afford is one of the best ways to contribute to his or her health and vitality. Although the differences between premium and budget varieties may not be apparent on their nutrition labels, they are in the quality of the ingredients. Both may contain the same amount of protein but be very different when it comes to digestibility and nutritional value. Making the best nutritional choices for your dog or cat not only effects general health, but will improve the quality and length of your pet’s life.

To support your efforts, the doctors at Critter Doctor Animal Hospital perform a thorough body condition evaluation during every physical examination, and give recommendations. We can also provide you with important information on proper serving size, nutrient needs and feeding strategies for your individual pet and help you navigate pet food claims so you can make the best choices.

Prescription Diets
Some pets have serious nutritional challenges or chronic conditions that benefit from a special diet. When that is the case, we may recommend feeding a special prescription diet. Making this change can have a significant positive impact on your pet’s overall health and well-being.

Prescription diets benefit medical conditions such as liver disease, bladder and kidney disease, digestive problems, renal failure, food allergies, diabetes, and more. Critter Doctor Animal Hospital in Kirkland carries a diverse inventory of prescription foods and high-quality nutritional products. If your pet requires a prescription diet we do not have in stock, we can easily order it for you.

Caring for pets and their people.

At Critter Doctor Animal Hospital, expect exceptional care and service for your furry friends.

Contact

Location

11828 Slater Ave NE
Kirkland, WA 98034
Click here for directions.

Hours

Mon-Fri: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Sat: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Sun: Closed

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