We love our dogs. We live with them every day. The destructiveness of a dog behavior issue cannot be emphasized enough. When a dog is damaging furnishings while you are away, vocalizing excessively, showing signs of anxiety, or becoming aggressive toward people or other animals, the impact can be overwhelming. These behaviors don’t just disrupt daily life; they can cause significant stress, fear, and strain on the human–animal bond.

Behavior problems are the unspoken emergency. When you search the web for what to do during a medical emergency, dog behavior problems rarely make the list. But they should. We have known for years that behavioral issues account for a large percentage of dog surrenders to shelters nationwide. Tragically, many owners have already considered rehoming or euthanasia before seeking professional help.

There is often anger, inconvenience, guilt, and sometimes fear involved. We all know who to call when our dog is vomiting, limping, or not eating. We call our veterinarian. But far too many people believe that behavior issues are outside a veterinarian’s scope of care. They are not.

Why Behavior Problems Are Often Medical Problems

As a veterinarian, part of my formal training included animal behavior — not only as it relates to learning and psychology, but as it intersects with medical disease processes. A veterinarian is trained to look at the whole dog: body, brain, environment, and relationship with their human family. Protecting the human–animal bond is a core part of our role, and one we take very seriously.

Behavioral changes are frequently one of the earliest signs that something is medically wrong. Dogs cannot tell us when they are in pain, confused, nauseous, or fearful. They show us through behavior.

Medical Conditions That Can Cause or Worsen Behavior Problems

Before any behavior modification or training plan can succeed, medical causes must be identified and addressed. Otherwise, even the best training efforts may fail, and that failure may be unfairly blamed on the dog or the trainer.

Some common medical contributors include:

Pain and Orthopedic Disease

Arthritis and joint disease

Hip or elbow dysplasia

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)

Dental pain

Pain often presents as irritability, aggression, avoidance, decreased tolerance for handling, or sudden reactivity.

Neurological Conditions

Seizure disorders (including focal seizures)

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (canine dementia)

Brain tumors or inflammation

Head trauma

These conditions may cause confusion, altered awareness, aggression, anxiety, pacing, or house soiling.

Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

Hypothyroidism (associated with lethargy, anxiety, and aggression)

Cushing’s disease

Liver or kidney disease

Toxin buildup or hormone imbalances can profoundly affect behavior and mood.

Gastrointestinal Disease

Food intolerances

Chronic nausea or reflux

Inflammatory bowel disease

Chronic discomfort can manifest as anxiety, restlessness, reactivity, or changes in appetite-related behaviors.

Sensory Decline

Vision loss

Hearing loss

Dogs who cannot see or hear well may startle easily, appear “snappy,” or become fearful in familiar environments.

Can Dogs Have Mental Health Conditions?

Yes. Dogs can experience clinically recognized behavioral and emotional disorders that are very similar to human mental health conditions.

These include:

Generalized anxiety disorder

Separation anxiety

Noise phobias (thunderstorms, fireworks)

Compulsive disorders (excessive licking, tail chasing, pacing)

Fear-based aggression

Canine cognitive dysfunction (similar to Alzheimer’s disease)

These are not obedience problems. They are not caused by a lack of love or poor ownership. They are medical and psychological conditions that often require professional treatment, including behavior modification and medication.

Only a veterinarian can legally prescribe medications that may be essential to reducing panic, anxiety, or compulsive behaviors and allowing learning to take place.

Why Your Veterinarian Should Be the First Call, Not the Last

All behavioral issues should be discussed with your veterinarian first. A comprehensive exam, diagnostic testing, and medical history help rule out or confirm underlying causes. Treating the medical component may dramatically reduce or even resolve the behavior.

If your veterinarian determines that your dog needs specialized care, they may refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists). These professionals have advanced training in both medicine and behavior and work alongside your primary care veterinarian.

You can learn more at www.dacvb.org.

It is critical that anyone helping you manage a serious behavior issue is academically trained and uses science-based, humane methods. Certain outdated or punitive training techniques have been shown to worsen fear, anxiety, and aggression, and can put both dogs and people at risk. Personal theories or “quick fixes” found online can unintentionally escalate a life-threatening situation.

What Dog Parents Can Do Beyond Seeing the Vet

In addition to veterinary care, there are many supportive steps dog parents can take to help their dog heal and feel safe:

Create Predictability and Safety

Maintain consistent daily routines

Avoid known triggers whenever possible during treatment

Provide quiet, safe spaces where your dog can retreat without being disturbed

Use Positive, Force-Free Training

Work with trainers who use reward-based, fear-free methods

Avoid punishment, dominance-based techniques, or intimidation

Focus on teaching alternative behaviors rather than suppressing emotions

Support Mental and Physical Enrichment

Appropriate exercise for your dog’s age and health

Food puzzles, sniffing games, and enrichment activities

Calm mental stimulation rather than overstimulation

Manage the Environment

Use baby gates, crates (when appropriately introduced), or barriers for safety

Prevent rehearsal of unwanted behaviors

Reduce exposure to stressful situations while treatment is underway

Be Patient and Compassionate

Behavior change takes time

Improvement is rarely linear

Progress often comes in small, meaningful steps

Take Care of Yourself, Too

Living with a dog who has behavior challenges is emotionally exhausting. Seeking support from your veterinarian, behavior professionals, and even support groups can make a significant difference.

A Life-and-Death Issue

Sometimes problem behaviors are the result of incomplete training and can be addressed relatively easily. Other times, they are the outward signs of pain, disease, or psychological distress. Regardless of the cause, your veterinarian is always the place to start.

Your vet is not the last stop, they are the first piece of the puzzle. Early intervention can save a dog’s quality of life, preserve the human–animal bond, and, in some cases, literally save a dog’s life.

Behavior problems are not failures; they are communication. And help is available.

The post Ask A Vet: My Dog Has A Behavior Problem. What Can I Do? appeared first on iHeartDogs.com.