Recently, the doors to KAH remained closed for a day so that the entire staff could attend the Maryland Annual Behavioral Conference in Annapolis. The whole staff was in attendance so we can better assist you and your pets.

Dr. Karen Overall, an animal behaviorist from the University of Pennsylvania was the speaker for this meeting. Dr. Overall was one of the first animal behaviorists in the United States and has even seen patients from Kingsbrook Animal Hospital.

During the day, we took note of several wonderful ideas she had on behavioral management of pets. One idea we are implementing here at KAH is providing a rubber mat for animals to stand on during their visits. Slippery surfaces can be a major cause of anxiety for your pets, especially our senior animals, so providing a non-skin surface will help alleviate your loved one's anxiety and provide a sense of security during their visit.

Surgery can be an extremely stressful time for your pet. One way to make them feel at home is to bring a piece of home with them if they need to spend the day for us. Dr. Overall suggested that leaving an article of clothing, such as a recently worn t-shirt, that has your scent will provide a sense of comfort during this potentially stressful time. It may even make their recovery period easier for them!

For our extremely nervous patients, Dr. Overall suggested trying an anti-anxiety medication called Alprazolam. Alprzolam, the animal version of the human drug, Xanex, can help alleviate anxiety in both dogs and cats. Given before your visit, this pill helps make your appointment less stressful for you pet (and you!) If your pet is normally axioue at the vet, imagine how nice it would be to have a stress-free visit. With the help of Alprazolam, hopefully you can!