What our clients have to say.
We've worked with hundreds of New York City pets and their owners, and many have experienced great results. While each family's definition of success is different, most see improvement in the intensity and frequency of their pet's behavioral issues.
____________________________________________________ KIM (Family: Chris and Cindy C)
Kim is a rescue dog who developed territorial aggression about six months after we brought her home. We talked to several trainers about our situation, but they were very negative and told us there was nothing we could do. Dr. C was a godsend. She was able to see the sweet dog in Kim that we do and was optimistic that we could improve her behavior. We also appreciated her honesty in letting us know that, while Kim's behavior could be modified, the problem would not completely go away. Kim's plan included mild medications and a variety of behavior exercises. Dr. C also visited our home to help us figure out particular triggers and how to manage them. Kim has improved steadily over time and, best of all, we've learned to understand her behavior so much better. We love Dr. C. She is truly passionate about her work, extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of medication and training, and really loves animals.
RUFUS (Family: Jessica Z)
My cat Rufus suffered from severe anxiety for most of the two years of his life. Other than making him nervous, stressed, needy and unhappy, it also manifested in his struggling with urinary struvite crystals and infections and compulsively eating non-food objects. Rufus should have been the happiest cat alive as he got lots of love and attention from myself and my boyfriend and his littermate, but he just could not relax. After spending thousands of dollars on vet bills for stress related illnesses, I was referred to Dr. Christensen. Unlike some people who might have been cynical, I was overjoyed to seek the expertise of someone with such a great reputation in her field. Dr. Christensen listened to every last potentially irrelevant thing I had to say in our consultation. She was patient with my frustrations and concerns. It seemed as though Rufus wasn't the first nutcase feline she'd met which was extremely reassuring. Dr. Christensen recommended a combination of medication and environmental enrichment. The goal was to channel Rufus' nervous energy and work with his problem-solving abilities towards something productive. A slew of new cat toys became a part of his daily repertoire, as did a set time every day to "chew" on his rope, as a way to lessen his urge to chew instead on my clothes. I was so nervous that medicating him would change his personality. Despite his neuroses I loved this cat's personality because he is so incredibly smart, funny and energetic. And he LOVES me. I did not want him to become apathetic and lose the traits that made him so special. Rufus had already tried Buspar recommended by my own vet but saw no results. Dr. Christensen put him on Clomicalm. The results were gradual and at first I didn't think I saw a difference. He still went berserk when the treats came out and still followed me around the apartment. But then I realized that he was actually SLEEPING more. He wasn't pacing and crying; he wasn't constantly trying to get into drawers that were closed but that he knew contained delicious socks and underwear; and he wasn't taking treats from my hand in such a frantic manner that I feared losing a finger. I've had Rufus his entire life and I know what the cat is thinking and feeling by his facial expressions. For the first time in his life he wasn't stressing out and he could actually lay down and rest. His eyes suddenly weren't popping out of his head. Rufus still sleeps with me every night. He has a lot of energy and loves to play with my 6-month-old kitten and "solve" the mystery of food dispensing toys. He still gets excited when I come home, wake up, get out of the shower, feed him, pet him or play dance music. (As I mentioned he's a very special cat). I know that he is happy and that was my only goal. When I adopted Rufus as a scrawny 8-week-old kitten, I remember thinking that I was going to make him the happiest cat in the world. Two years later I finally did!
DIEGO (Family: Elizabeth R)
At 4 years old my otherwise happy-go-lucky Golden Retriever started becoming extremely fearful on walks. From manhole covers to the painted stripes in crosswalks, everything made Diego cringe and try to run away. Whereas we used to take long walks all over the city, even going around the corner was now just short of impossible. I tried working through the problem on my own but was not successful. In fact, Diego’s fears were getting worse and, in his panic, he almost pulled us into oncoming traffic several times. Enter the wonderful Dr. C! After learning Diego’s history and observing us on a walk, she was able to devise the perfect medication-free (but plenty of treats!) plan to help Diego. Dr. C then followed up with me to make sure the plan was progressing and was so patient in answering all of my questions and concerns. Within a short time Diego was walking without fear. So if you see a happy-go-lucky Golden with a confident stride and goofy grin being walked on the streets of downtown Manhattan, that’s probably Diego and that’s definitely due to the skills of the remarkable Dr. C.!
GINGER (Family: Denise and Bill S)
Dr. C is the most knowledgeable, professional, and fun (!) vet to work with. Our little Ginger keeps testing her and she keeps right at it. In an emergency situation she managed the situation well into the wee hours using mulitple forms of 21st century communication to keep all the parties informed. I couldn't recommend her more highly.
RUDY (Family: Katie F and Emily L)
Rudy taking a snooze...
We rescued Rudy when she was about a year old and were informed she was crate trained and would be just fine when we went to work. Little did we know, she was “trained” to unlock her crate and escape while we were gone. Then she would stand at the front door and bark and howl for the 8 hours a day we weren’t home. It was heart-breaking for us and extremely annoying to our neighbors who complained constantly. We turned to Dr. Christensen when we thought Rudy’s separation anxiety and aggressive tendencies towards practically everyone might get us evicted. Dr. Christensen made an appointment for us right away and immediately gave us a plan to help Rudy (and us) calm down.
Dr. C. was patient, understanding and knowledgeable. We’ve been seeing Dr. Christensen for about two years now and, with her ideas, training suggestions, and some medication, Rudy has blossomed. While Rudy is still a work in progress, her separation anxiety is almost entirely gone, and she even likes a few choice people now (including Dr. C.!). We were able to see improvements with Dr. Christensen’s help that no other vet or trainer was able to provide. Many of our friends and family members, and even numerous people in our neighborhood, have commented on how much Rudy has improved.
Even though Dr. C. was realistic with us about the fact that Rudy may always have some issues, she gave us a positive outlook and her methods exceeded our expectations. Without her help we probably wouldn’t have been able to keep Rudy, and Rudy certainly wouldn’t have made nearly as much progress as she has.
Dr. C. was patient, understanding and knowledgeable. We’ve been seeing Dr. Christensen for about two years now and, with her ideas, training suggestions, and some medication, Rudy has blossomed. While Rudy is still a work in progress, her separation anxiety is almost entirely gone, and she even likes a few choice people now (including Dr. C.!). We were able to see improvements with Dr. Christensen’s help that no other vet or trainer was able to provide. Many of our friends and family members, and even numerous people in our neighborhood, have commented on how much Rudy has improved.
Even though Dr. C. was realistic with us about the fact that Rudy may always have some issues, she gave us a positive outlook and her methods exceeded our expectations. Without her help we probably wouldn’t have been able to keep Rudy, and Rudy certainly wouldn’t have made nearly as much progress as she has.
DINO (Family: Theodora M)
My family and I adopted Dino when he was 2½ years old from a very well known no-kill animal shelter in NYC April 2004. We had no prior history about Dino except that he was neutered and very vocal at night as per his previous owner.
Dino was our 3rd addition to our existing feline family. He was very vocal at night for the first few months and very anxious. A year after settling into his new home, Dino started urine marking/spraying. As we saw it, it occurred secondary to the bullying from our other cat, Oliver.
Consulting with our local vet led to numerous trials of medication that included homeopathic remedies as well as prescription meds. Dino did well with fluoxetine and it seemed to minimize his anxiety and decrease the frequency of his urine marking, but it was short-lived. Dino was neutered and he did look like he was, but he still exhibited some sexual behaviors not seen in neutered cats; his urine also had a very strong tomcat smell. Over time, despite an increase in his fluoxetine dose, Dino’s spraying became worse increasing in frequency to 4-5 episodes per day.
At some point, Dino developed colitis and we were referred to see a specialist at LIVS. As we were discussing Dino’s history, I brought up his urine spraying and how it has becoming increasingly frequent and that our attempts to curtail it have been unsuccessful. He suggested we make an appointment with Dr. E’lise Christensen, an animal behaviorist. He said she was very good and that she would help us. I held on to Dr. C’s name and number but the idea of seeing a cat shrink was somewhat out there.
We finally reached the point where our options were exhausted and we were going to lose our mind and patience with Dino’s urine marking. Dino now marked almost every day with a minimum of 2 episodes and a maximum of 5 a day. The hostility/tension between Dino and Oliver had reached its peak and we were in a vicious cycle with no end in sight. I made the decision that it was time to see Dr Christensen. At the time I had no idea she would solve Dino’s problem.
Our initial visit went very well. I was so impressed with her knowledge. Dr C is really sharp and so sweet. We left with a medication and behavioral modification treatment plan that was reasonable and most importantly attainable. Dr. C also focused on treating the aggression/hostility between Dino and Oliver. Upon examining Dino Dr C said that, although Dino is neutered, he may have some retained testicular tissue that may be contributing to urine marking. She said that she’s almost positive that he had retained testicular tissue and that this may be the primary reason for his spraying. So, she recommended having Dino’s testosterone levels checked and also worked with our vet on how to go about testing.
Dino’s testosterone results came back POSITIVE and we had a palpable reason for his urine marking. Dr. C recommended an ultrasound to locate the retained testes/testicular tissue and subsequent surgery for removal. Though our ultrasound was negative, the exploratory surgery needed to be performed to locate the source of the testosterone.
To my amazement and my vet’s Dino was neutered in August 2011. Dr C. said that this would result in a 10% chance of urine marking post surgery. Only time would tell if Dino was that 10%. Within one month of seeing Dr. C, we had a resolution to our problem and were on the road to success!
Dino is doing remarkably well. He is so much friendlier, playful and calmer. He comes to us when called and is starving for attention. He was never like that before. Dino does not spray or mark anymore and his relationship with Oliver has improved. Who would have thought that Dino looked neutered and we were told he was and to our amazement he wasn’t.
Dr C. is our lifesaver - the best thing that has happened to us and to Dino. She solved our problem and diagnosed it on the first visit. It is truly time and money well spent.
Thank you so much, Dr C!
Dino was our 3rd addition to our existing feline family. He was very vocal at night for the first few months and very anxious. A year after settling into his new home, Dino started urine marking/spraying. As we saw it, it occurred secondary to the bullying from our other cat, Oliver.
Consulting with our local vet led to numerous trials of medication that included homeopathic remedies as well as prescription meds. Dino did well with fluoxetine and it seemed to minimize his anxiety and decrease the frequency of his urine marking, but it was short-lived. Dino was neutered and he did look like he was, but he still exhibited some sexual behaviors not seen in neutered cats; his urine also had a very strong tomcat smell. Over time, despite an increase in his fluoxetine dose, Dino’s spraying became worse increasing in frequency to 4-5 episodes per day.
At some point, Dino developed colitis and we were referred to see a specialist at LIVS. As we were discussing Dino’s history, I brought up his urine spraying and how it has becoming increasingly frequent and that our attempts to curtail it have been unsuccessful. He suggested we make an appointment with Dr. E’lise Christensen, an animal behaviorist. He said she was very good and that she would help us. I held on to Dr. C’s name and number but the idea of seeing a cat shrink was somewhat out there.
We finally reached the point where our options were exhausted and we were going to lose our mind and patience with Dino’s urine marking. Dino now marked almost every day with a minimum of 2 episodes and a maximum of 5 a day. The hostility/tension between Dino and Oliver had reached its peak and we were in a vicious cycle with no end in sight. I made the decision that it was time to see Dr Christensen. At the time I had no idea she would solve Dino’s problem.
Our initial visit went very well. I was so impressed with her knowledge. Dr C is really sharp and so sweet. We left with a medication and behavioral modification treatment plan that was reasonable and most importantly attainable. Dr. C also focused on treating the aggression/hostility between Dino and Oliver. Upon examining Dino Dr C said that, although Dino is neutered, he may have some retained testicular tissue that may be contributing to urine marking. She said that she’s almost positive that he had retained testicular tissue and that this may be the primary reason for his spraying. So, she recommended having Dino’s testosterone levels checked and also worked with our vet on how to go about testing.
Dino’s testosterone results came back POSITIVE and we had a palpable reason for his urine marking. Dr. C recommended an ultrasound to locate the retained testes/testicular tissue and subsequent surgery for removal. Though our ultrasound was negative, the exploratory surgery needed to be performed to locate the source of the testosterone.
To my amazement and my vet’s Dino was neutered in August 2011. Dr C. said that this would result in a 10% chance of urine marking post surgery. Only time would tell if Dino was that 10%. Within one month of seeing Dr. C, we had a resolution to our problem and were on the road to success!
Dino is doing remarkably well. He is so much friendlier, playful and calmer. He comes to us when called and is starving for attention. He was never like that before. Dino does not spray or mark anymore and his relationship with Oliver has improved. Who would have thought that Dino looked neutered and we were told he was and to our amazement he wasn’t.
Dr C. is our lifesaver - the best thing that has happened to us and to Dino. She solved our problem and diagnosed it on the first visit. It is truly time and money well spent.
Thank you so much, Dr C!
THOR (Family: Heleena F)
I've had Thor for about 5 years after adopting him when he was just under a year old. The first day he was in my apartment he was completely aggressive, guarding food and treats! I was so distraught because I could never give back a pet I agreed to care for. After dealing with it on my own for a year or so, and after a few really bad bites that sent me to the emergency room, my vet recommended Dr. C.
Thor and I have been working with Dr. C for years now and while he will never be your "normal" man's best friend, my living situation with Thor has improved immeasurably. I'm now able to stand and walk next to Thor while he's eating without any agression on his part. I'm able to cuddle and love on him without the fear of his lashing out aggressively. I'm able to really enjoy life with him and, more importantly, I can tell that his anxiety is much lower and he's actually enjoying his life. It's been a lot of work, frantic calls and emails to Dr. C, and a LOT of training but I can definitely say that working with Dr. C has saved Thor's life. She has truly hung in there with us when I know that most owners and doctors would have given up.
Thor and I have been working with Dr. C for years now and while he will never be your "normal" man's best friend, my living situation with Thor has improved immeasurably. I'm now able to stand and walk next to Thor while he's eating without any agression on his part. I'm able to cuddle and love on him without the fear of his lashing out aggressively. I'm able to really enjoy life with him and, more importantly, I can tell that his anxiety is much lower and he's actually enjoying his life. It's been a lot of work, frantic calls and emails to Dr. C, and a LOT of training but I can definitely say that working with Dr. C has saved Thor's life. She has truly hung in there with us when I know that most owners and doctors would have given up.
ZIJI (Family: Mary S)
Oct. 10 will be the one-year anniversary of when I adopted Ziji. It is definitely a date I plan to celebrate, and one reason I can celebrate it is that you've helped so much with her behavioral problems. Her barking and lunging was so extreme before that I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep her, but that behavior has dramatically decreased in both intensity and frequency, and she's generally really manageable now. (By the way, I think the increase in the Clomipramine has helped.) And she has so many great qualities--smart (as you know), playful, affectionate, cute and fun--so I'm very glad that I can enjoy them and her, and that she can enjoy having an owner who loves her. Thank you!
MYA (Family: Sharon Y)
In 2008 I adopted Mya from a rescue group a few weeks after my dog passed. She was so sweet and cuddly, she was the perfect cure for my grief. Things were perfect even though I was new to being a cat owner but, after several months of domestic bliss together, I came home one day to find a “present” on my bed. Is she mad at me? What did I do? Is she sick? Does she hate my new boyfriend? How do you figure out what’s wrong when you don’t speak cat???
It became a fairly regular issue over time. I tried everything – plastic tarp on the bed, pheromone sprays, litter box next to the bed, you name it. After a year passed, it got to the point where I was ready to pull my hair out of my head and wondered if perhaps I was an unfit Mommy to Mya because - why else would she hate me so much?
Thankfully, my vet sent us to Dr. Christensen. Dr. C was extremely supportive and empathetic. She really listened to me, the history of our issue, and got into the nitty-gritty of our home environment and day-to-day routine. She assured me that I wasn’t crazy, and not a horrible Mommy (was the session really for Mya or for me?). She identified Mya’s issue as extreme separation anxiety, and we discussed several ways we could tackle it. Along with prescribing an anti-depressant, Dr. C taught me a few things that I could do to address Mya’s need to hunt and work for her food, such as treat balls and various toys.
A year later I am thrilled to say we have gone several months without any incidents! Mya has been a perfect angel - even when I left for a one week vacation. I can’t express how grateful I am to Dr. C. This seemed like an insurmountable problem and she has definitely worked miracles!!!
It became a fairly regular issue over time. I tried everything – plastic tarp on the bed, pheromone sprays, litter box next to the bed, you name it. After a year passed, it got to the point where I was ready to pull my hair out of my head and wondered if perhaps I was an unfit Mommy to Mya because - why else would she hate me so much?
Thankfully, my vet sent us to Dr. Christensen. Dr. C was extremely supportive and empathetic. She really listened to me, the history of our issue, and got into the nitty-gritty of our home environment and day-to-day routine. She assured me that I wasn’t crazy, and not a horrible Mommy (was the session really for Mya or for me?). She identified Mya’s issue as extreme separation anxiety, and we discussed several ways we could tackle it. Along with prescribing an anti-depressant, Dr. C taught me a few things that I could do to address Mya’s need to hunt and work for her food, such as treat balls and various toys.
A year later I am thrilled to say we have gone several months without any incidents! Mya has been a perfect angel - even when I left for a one week vacation. I can’t express how grateful I am to Dr. C. This seemed like an insurmountable problem and she has definitely worked miracles!!!
FOXIE (Family: Anna Wen)
Dr. Christensen saved our family!! Our 5-year-old Shiba Inu "Foxie" suffers from severe anxiety: separation anxiety + fear of thunder. The separation anxiety was very serious. When we would leave, she would shake and tremble, and display aggression through barking and biting + often times she would escape out the front door. Once we left, worse things began to happen: destruction in the apartment: bitten doorknobs, scratched doors, destroyed cabinets, and accidents throughout the house. This daily ritual of leaving for work not only began becoming stressful for our dog, but also incredibly stressful for us. During the summers the fear of thunder made "Foxie" inconsolable. She would cry + shake uncontrollably throughout the entire storm. She would panic so much she would find refuge by hiding in bath tubs or digging in our closets. During these storms she would cause major damage to our bathroom + destroy the shoe boxes in the closet. Knowing that every thunderstorm would cause an anxiety attack + further damage to the house made our situation even more difficult to deal with. Right when we were about to give up and return "Foxie" to her breeder, we decided to give Dr. Christensen a shot. Despite our extreme challenges with Foxie, the thought of losing her was too much to bear. We knew "Foxie" was unhappy and her anxiety was taking over our lives. Dr. Christensen's combination of: behavioral therapy, drug therapy and unwavering support has worked wonders---today "Foxie" is a happy, calm, dog!! It's truly a miracle and we have only Dr. C. to thank. Now when we leave the house, Foxie is calm and relaxed. And, when there is a thunder storm, she wears her "thunder wrap" and falls asleep. "Foxie" is so happy and we are thrilled with the results of Dr. C's therapy and recommend her to anyone that is at a crossroads with a difficult pet. Dr. Christensen can help.
WYNSTON (Family: Lindsay and Angela H)
This might sound overly dramatic, but we can honestly say that we don't know what we would do without Dr. Christensen. We have been able to count on her when everyone else (including three top dog trainers) threw their hands up in despair. We have a 1½-year-old, Blue Roan, Cocker Spaniel named Wynston. Wynston suffers from owner-directed aggression, interdog aggression, neophobia, and myoclonus. Needless to say, we have more than our hands full. We have been bitten, growled at, snapped at, lunged at, chased and cornered, and that's on a good day ;-). To many, Wynn is a liability and a danger to be around but, to us, he's our little pride and joy that is misunderstood and just needs some help. With Dr. C's help, we have made a great deal of progress. It's been a long process, but we have made strides. Don't get me wrong, Wynn has not been cured and might never be, but Dr. C has armed us with the skills and knowledge to manage Wynston and certain situations. Using behavior modification we are now able to pet Wynn, play with him and teach him new commands. Mostly, we have learned what our limits are, which has helped keep Wynston bite-free for over 6 months now. My husband and I joke that Dr. C is more like our therapist than anything else. There have been times that it feels as if she had to talk me off a ledge. She is very patient and understanding and makes sure she answers all of the questions you have, regardless of how ridiculous they are. When we first started working on a drug protocol for Wynston and experienced side effects, she went back to the drawing board, researched and pulled in other specialists to ensure we were getting the best help for our little guy. After several different drugs, we believe we are finally on the right track. After the first negative reaction, my husband and I were reluctant to try anything new because we feared his aggression would worsen. Dr. C spent hours speaking with us, exchanging e-mails and explaining exactly how the drugs worked, until we were comfortable enough to give it another try. She makes you feel like you matter and that Wynston's happiness and health is the number one priority, not like it's a job and we're just another patient. That is honestly what has made this process easier to bear. We feel like we not only have a great Behaviorist on our side, but like we have a great friend that we can turn to. Thanks Dr. C - You are truly are the best!!!
SUSIE (Family: Lissane P)
We came to Dr. Christensen seeking help with our very sweet but anxiety-ridden beagle, Susie. After futile attempts at housebreaking and weeks of sleepless nights filled with her crying and banging in her crate, we were at our wits end. We were looking for any rescue or shelter who would be willing to take Susie, despite her poor adoption candidacy based on her variety of mental health issues. We felt trapped between our love for this dog and our desire to help her and our own sanity. We took Susie to meet with Dr. Christensen. Through a series of trials with various medications, a few behavior modification plans, and reassurance about our own guilty feelings about failing this dog, Dr. Christensen helped us realize that Susie wasn’t past all hope. Whether discussing new plans, refilling medications or just reassuring us that we were on the right path with Susie, Dr. Christensen could not have been more wonderful and helpful. She is the reason that today, 8 months later, Susie is a much happier, healthier, more well-adjusted part of our family. Susie and I are forever grateful to Dr. Christensen and for her work!
CHEROKEE (Family: Sandy and Gene)
We adopted Cherokee (with issues) at the age of 5, 5 years ago. We knew he had been abused and (seemingly) thrown out in the cold in the dead of winter. He was skinny and dirty and almost died from pneumonia while in the shelter. His aggression issues became very apparent early on. We struggled with returning him to the shelter within the first month, but the bond was already sealed. We had a dog walker early on but, after she came back from a 2 week vacation, he wouldn't let her walk him without intimidating her. After he nipped her on the hand, she resigned. Now we were dealing with separation anxiety. We "dealt with" the occasional bites and could not take him anywhere near my siblings with their young kids (the youngest being 7 at the time). We were also afraid to leave him at a doggie hotel, so our options were extremely limited. Late one night Cherokee bit me. I had startled him out of a deep sleep. We called our vet the next day. He was well aware of Cherokee's issues but knew we weren't ready to give up on him. He recommended Dr. Christensen, who came to our rescue. We were not opposed to medication (heck, join the family, we joked), so she prescribed medication for anxiety, which he's now been on for over a year. She worked with us on behavior modification. We've learned his "triggers" and respect them. We've been able to leave him for weekends at the doggie hotel a number of times now and he's been fine. We still struggle with his separate anxiety, but it's gotten much better. Cherokee is extremely friendly with people and is getting much better with other dogs. We had a breakthrough a few weeks ago when I took him upstate to visit my family over Mother's Day weekend. He did great! Everyone has commented on how far he's come, including his medical vet. Thank you, Dr. C!
DEWEY (Family: Karen O)
I came to see Dr. Christensen in a moment of desperation. As a veterinarian myself, I thought I knew all the basics of canine behavior and training. However, when my rescue mastiff Dewey ripped down the freshly repaired molding from my bedroom closet and buried his paint-coated self in a pile of my shoes and clothes, I knew I needed to speak to an expert. I had been apprehensive about speaking to her because I knew I wouldn’t be able to put consistent time into what I assumed would be complicated training exercises. I was feeling pessemistic before we started. But I didn’t need a perfectly behaved dog, I just wanted Dewey to be able to relax and not be so anxious all the time. Dr. C was absolutely amazing. She listened to me and was so sweet with my dog. Not only did she come up with simple environmental suggestions that had never occurred to me, but her gentle humor eased my own anxiety. She really did help me as much as she helped my dog. Her useful suggestions of ways to re-structure our relationship, along with tips of how to minimize certain triggers, and guidance on medical therapy were exactly what I needed. And, the changes have transformed my Dewey. It’s been over a year since I first met with Dr. C. While Dewey will never be a star obedience dog, he is a different dog. He is calmer, happier, and much more relaxed, but still a goofball. Thank you, Dr. C – I only wish I consulted with you sooner!
JUNI (Family: Jolanta B)
I'm a dog trainer specializing in behavior problems and behavior modification. I refer clients to Dr. Christensen whenever I think there's reason to suspect a medical issue or when the severity of the problem suggests that behavior modification work alone may not succeed or may not succeed quickly enough.
My own 9½ -year-old dog suffered from a fairly mild fear of thunder, fireworks, and gunshots, which I was able to manage with behavior modification and melatonin. But the July 4 weekend of 2011 was particularly loud. There were more freelance fireworks on July 5. On July 6 my dog refused to go outdoors at dusk and after nightfall.
I immediately consulted Dr. Christensen. Knowing that my dog had had an atypical response to diazepam, she prescribed a different medication. Because fear-related behaviors can be extremely difficult to resolve and sometimes even to ameliorate, she advised me to medicate him aggressively from the get-go.
Two days after beginning treatment, my dog went outside voluntarily at night - with some coaxing. The next night he trotted outside for his evening walks as if nothing had ever happened. The turnaround was dramatic.
Medication can't resolve every problem and it doesn't always work this fast, either. My dog and I were lucky. But, I have seen over and over with clients whom I refer to Dr. Christensen, her expert treatment relieves suffering and speeds improvement. She's an astute and sensitive clinician and I can't recommend her highly enough.
My own 9½ -year-old dog suffered from a fairly mild fear of thunder, fireworks, and gunshots, which I was able to manage with behavior modification and melatonin. But the July 4 weekend of 2011 was particularly loud. There were more freelance fireworks on July 5. On July 6 my dog refused to go outdoors at dusk and after nightfall.
I immediately consulted Dr. Christensen. Knowing that my dog had had an atypical response to diazepam, she prescribed a different medication. Because fear-related behaviors can be extremely difficult to resolve and sometimes even to ameliorate, she advised me to medicate him aggressively from the get-go.
Two days after beginning treatment, my dog went outside voluntarily at night - with some coaxing. The next night he trotted outside for his evening walks as if nothing had ever happened. The turnaround was dramatic.
Medication can't resolve every problem and it doesn't always work this fast, either. My dog and I were lucky. But, I have seen over and over with clients whom I refer to Dr. Christensen, her expert treatment relieves suffering and speeds improvement. She's an astute and sensitive clinician and I can't recommend her highly enough.
RUBY (Family: Fiona and Dave K)
Ruby started exhibiting aggressive behavior toward other dogs right after her second birthday. After trying multiple trainers to figure out what was going on, we were referred to Dr. C, and in the first meeting I knew that we were on the right track. She took the time to carefully explain how much work is involved, by both owner and dog, in order to get a change in behavior, and also recommended medication. The discharge orders after that first visit clearly mapped out how we would begin to associate other dogs with good things (treats!) and now Ruby can easily pass by another dog without lunging or barking. It was a lot of hard work and it took several months, but the behavioral exercises combined with medication made all the difference. Ruby is a lot less anxious and we look forward to, instead of dreading, our daily walks in the park.
ALFIE (Family: Larry and Sharon V)
A couple of years following surgery to remove a cyst on his knee, our 9-year-old dog Alfie started obsessively licking the very same spot upon which he had been operated. If we didn't catch this behavior in time, he would lick it right through to the bone. So then he would be confined to the cone (of shame) till his knee was completely healed. Once liberated, he might leave it alone for a day or two, but he would eventually disappear under the dining room table and go right back to it, licking off all the fur then various layers of skin till we caught him and put the cone back on. We consulted several vets and an allergist whom all tried various drugs but nothing would stop the intrepid licker for long. We were at our wits end, figuring that we were destined to spend all of eternity with a dog dressed up like Queen Elizabeth I.
Finally we came to Dr. Christensen or, as we like to refer to her, "The Miracle Worker". After one in-person consultation and several phone and email followups over a period of perhaps six months, we arrived at the right medication and dosage and Alfie is out of the cone all the time and seemingly uninterested in starting another cycle of licking. We cannot begin to express our gratitude nor praise her work more.
Finally we came to Dr. Christensen or, as we like to refer to her, "The Miracle Worker". After one in-person consultation and several phone and email followups over a period of perhaps six months, we arrived at the right medication and dosage and Alfie is out of the cone all the time and seemingly uninterested in starting another cycle of licking. We cannot begin to express our gratitude nor praise her work more.
ZACK (Family: Mark L)
As a veterinarian, I can personally attest to Dr. Christensen’s expertise with the help she gave me with my best bud “Zack”.
Zack is a 2½ year old Lab-Mix. Needless to say, it was love at first site when I saw him at the shelter as an adorable 3 month old. Unfortunately, on further inspection, he seemed to be cowering in the corner of his cage in abject fear. This only further convinced me that he needed just the right owner who would spend the time and effort helping him overcome his fear and most important to get him out of the cage and into a nice quiet home as soon as possible. I, however, was not prepared for his worst fear - going outside on a busy, crowded Manhattan street where I lived. While overcoming his other initial fears and turning into a playful, affectionate loving pup, walking him on the street became a harrowing experience for us both. Watching him cringe in fear at every little noise he heard and person he saw left me wondering if mine was truly the right home for him.
Thanks to Dr. Christensen with the proper combination of medication, counter-conditioning and other techniques, his walks and now runs have become a fun time for us both.
I cannot recommend Dr. Christensen enough. She is kind, patient and caring and will stay on and help for as long as is necessary. Without her help I don’t know what I would have done. I recommend her to all my clients.
Zack is a 2½ year old Lab-Mix. Needless to say, it was love at first site when I saw him at the shelter as an adorable 3 month old. Unfortunately, on further inspection, he seemed to be cowering in the corner of his cage in abject fear. This only further convinced me that he needed just the right owner who would spend the time and effort helping him overcome his fear and most important to get him out of the cage and into a nice quiet home as soon as possible. I, however, was not prepared for his worst fear - going outside on a busy, crowded Manhattan street where I lived. While overcoming his other initial fears and turning into a playful, affectionate loving pup, walking him on the street became a harrowing experience for us both. Watching him cringe in fear at every little noise he heard and person he saw left me wondering if mine was truly the right home for him.
Thanks to Dr. Christensen with the proper combination of medication, counter-conditioning and other techniques, his walks and now runs have become a fun time for us both.
I cannot recommend Dr. Christensen enough. She is kind, patient and caring and will stay on and help for as long as is necessary. Without her help I don’t know what I would have done. I recommend her to all my clients.
CLEO (Family: Rachel B)
We adopted our wonderful dog Cleo (some sort of coonhound/ridgeback/boxer mix, we think) when she was four months old, shortly after she was found sick and starving along with her littermates somewhere in rural Kentucky. Cleo was timid and nervous from the start but, about a year after we adopted her, she developed such severe anxiety that she became unable to function. She withdrew to her crate, resisted coming out, and had frequent panic attacks when she did. She would only walk along the perimeter of our apartment and would stand with her head in our fireplace (not while it was in use, thank goodness) for hours at a time. Her anxiety seemed to be organic to her, without any trigger that we were able to identify. She became so disabled that we feared she would not be able to return to a quality of life worth living. It breaks my heart to even think it. But it was truly that bad.
Thanks to the care of Dr. C, Cleo is now a fully functioning, social, sweet, and happy 82 lb., almost 3-year-old sweetheart, and a joy to our family. She is still a nervous dog, hyper-vigilant and easily startled on walks but not very different from the garden-variety nervous dog. She loves hanging out with family and guests, going for walks and jogs, playing with our daughters and their friends, and playing in the dog run. She enjoys a great quality of life and we enjoy her to no end. The road to here has not been easy, but Dr. C has led the way with the patience, determination, and expertise to see us through until we found what worked for Cleo.
At first it seemed that Cleo’s problems would be fairly easy to handle. Prior to meeting Dr. C, at the advice of our regular vet, we had started Cleo on anti-anxiety medication. She responded fairly quickly and quite remarkably, and we thought we had things under control. We did for a couple of months, but then the medication stopped being effective. After increasing the dosage and having a similar short-term improvement followed by a relapse, our vet recommended we see Dr. C since it was apparent that Cleo’s case would not be simple.
It has now been more than a year since we first started working with Dr. C. We have tried numerous medications individually and in various combinations, all of which worked for a while then stopped. Eventually we found the right combination of medications and over-the-counter supplements. Cleo has now been stable for more than a seven-month stretch, by far the longest to date. Throughout the year of working with us, Dr. C has always been available and in close communication with us when she was needed. She celebrated with us when things went well and empathized when we hit the rough patches. And she always assured us that there were new things to try and that she wouldn’t give up on Cleo as long as we were willing to keep at it.
I still worry that our current good fortune will end someday and that, as in the past, the medications Cleo is taking will once again become ineffective. But, I also know that when and if that happens, Dr. C has something else to try, and something else after that if need be, and that gives me tremendous comfort. In the meantime, while Cleo is stable on medication, we are seizing the opportunity to work with Jolanta Benal (a dog trainer and behavior consultant that Dr. C recommended) to learn to do activities with Cleo that we hope will help us to manage her anxiety when we see signs of it ramping up (or better yet, help to keep her stable so that doesn’t happen). It is still early in that process, but we believe the activities are giving Cleo a focus and confidence that has overall helped to further reduce her anxiety.
The whole experience seems incredible as I reflect back on the last year and a half. Having grown up with dogs and been around them all of my life, I had no idea that dogs could have such serious issues that could not be controlled through training, behavior modification, and generally good “parenting.” Never in a million years did I imagine having a dog that required the care of a vet we lovingly refer to as her “doggie shrink” or that depended upon a cocktail of medications daily to remain mentally stable. But I now understand, like humans, some dogs are just predisposed to serious mental health issues, and the dog we adore happens to be one of them.
We are thankful for the incredible care Dr. C has given Cleo. She is a lifesaver in the truest sense of the word. As we see it, we rescued Cleo for the first time two and a half years ago. Dr. C has rescued her every day for the past 14 months.
Thanks to the care of Dr. C, Cleo is now a fully functioning, social, sweet, and happy 82 lb., almost 3-year-old sweetheart, and a joy to our family. She is still a nervous dog, hyper-vigilant and easily startled on walks but not very different from the garden-variety nervous dog. She loves hanging out with family and guests, going for walks and jogs, playing with our daughters and their friends, and playing in the dog run. She enjoys a great quality of life and we enjoy her to no end. The road to here has not been easy, but Dr. C has led the way with the patience, determination, and expertise to see us through until we found what worked for Cleo.
At first it seemed that Cleo’s problems would be fairly easy to handle. Prior to meeting Dr. C, at the advice of our regular vet, we had started Cleo on anti-anxiety medication. She responded fairly quickly and quite remarkably, and we thought we had things under control. We did for a couple of months, but then the medication stopped being effective. After increasing the dosage and having a similar short-term improvement followed by a relapse, our vet recommended we see Dr. C since it was apparent that Cleo’s case would not be simple.
It has now been more than a year since we first started working with Dr. C. We have tried numerous medications individually and in various combinations, all of which worked for a while then stopped. Eventually we found the right combination of medications and over-the-counter supplements. Cleo has now been stable for more than a seven-month stretch, by far the longest to date. Throughout the year of working with us, Dr. C has always been available and in close communication with us when she was needed. She celebrated with us when things went well and empathized when we hit the rough patches. And she always assured us that there were new things to try and that she wouldn’t give up on Cleo as long as we were willing to keep at it.
I still worry that our current good fortune will end someday and that, as in the past, the medications Cleo is taking will once again become ineffective. But, I also know that when and if that happens, Dr. C has something else to try, and something else after that if need be, and that gives me tremendous comfort. In the meantime, while Cleo is stable on medication, we are seizing the opportunity to work with Jolanta Benal (a dog trainer and behavior consultant that Dr. C recommended) to learn to do activities with Cleo that we hope will help us to manage her anxiety when we see signs of it ramping up (or better yet, help to keep her stable so that doesn’t happen). It is still early in that process, but we believe the activities are giving Cleo a focus and confidence that has overall helped to further reduce her anxiety.
The whole experience seems incredible as I reflect back on the last year and a half. Having grown up with dogs and been around them all of my life, I had no idea that dogs could have such serious issues that could not be controlled through training, behavior modification, and generally good “parenting.” Never in a million years did I imagine having a dog that required the care of a vet we lovingly refer to as her “doggie shrink” or that depended upon a cocktail of medications daily to remain mentally stable. But I now understand, like humans, some dogs are just predisposed to serious mental health issues, and the dog we adore happens to be one of them.
We are thankful for the incredible care Dr. C has given Cleo. She is a lifesaver in the truest sense of the word. As we see it, we rescued Cleo for the first time two and a half years ago. Dr. C has rescued her every day for the past 14 months.
MASON (Family: Michael N)
A few paragraphs do not give enough space to describe what we have gone through with our dog Mason. Owning several dogs throughout my life I could tell from the moment we brought him home his reaction to separation was completely different than anything I had ever experienced. It would manifest itself in crying, panting, restlessness and destruction. He would not only destroy things in our home but Mason was also hurting himself by licking, scratching and biting himself till he bled.
After a year of living of fear of what we would come home to every time we went out we knew we had to seek more help for Mason.
In addition to his anxiety, Mason also has severe allergies. We were initially treating his allergies only while hoping his behavior would change with age. After realizing he would not “grow out of it”, our allergist Dr. Piekes recommended we meet with Dr. Christensen to create a plan to more aggressively treat not only mason’s skin but to try and help his anxiety.
We were worried about how the medicine might affect his body and his personality. Despite all his issues he is very kind. We have two young children in our house, and although Mason had never shown any aggressive behavior to anyone or anything, we were concerned that adding medications to the mix might alter his temperament. Together with Dr. Christensen we came up a plan to treat Mason with medication while maintaining our treatment for his allergies. In addition to the medications Dr. Christensen also gave us various behavior modification techniques we could implement into Mason’s daily routine.
I cannot begin to describe the difference in our home over the past year of treatment. The amount of stress that has been lifted off our shoulders cannot be measured.
It has taken a lot of work and time but we have seen steady progress from Mason. We can now go out without having to worry about what he might be doing to our home. His fur has mostly grown back and his skin shows almost no signs of the damage he had done to it.
Even though we have slowly cut his medication down, Mason may never completely be off it. We are so happy to find that his recent blood test showed no damage or cause for concern that his body cannot tolerate the medication. This addressed both our vet's and my family's concern over the long term use of the medication.
We know our journey with Mason’s conditions might never end but thanks to Dr. Christensen we feel confident that Mason will be a happy, healthy dog growing with our family for many years to come.
After a year of living of fear of what we would come home to every time we went out we knew we had to seek more help for Mason.
In addition to his anxiety, Mason also has severe allergies. We were initially treating his allergies only while hoping his behavior would change with age. After realizing he would not “grow out of it”, our allergist Dr. Piekes recommended we meet with Dr. Christensen to create a plan to more aggressively treat not only mason’s skin but to try and help his anxiety.
We were worried about how the medicine might affect his body and his personality. Despite all his issues he is very kind. We have two young children in our house, and although Mason had never shown any aggressive behavior to anyone or anything, we were concerned that adding medications to the mix might alter his temperament. Together with Dr. Christensen we came up a plan to treat Mason with medication while maintaining our treatment for his allergies. In addition to the medications Dr. Christensen also gave us various behavior modification techniques we could implement into Mason’s daily routine.
I cannot begin to describe the difference in our home over the past year of treatment. The amount of stress that has been lifted off our shoulders cannot be measured.
It has taken a lot of work and time but we have seen steady progress from Mason. We can now go out without having to worry about what he might be doing to our home. His fur has mostly grown back and his skin shows almost no signs of the damage he had done to it.
Even though we have slowly cut his medication down, Mason may never completely be off it. We are so happy to find that his recent blood test showed no damage or cause for concern that his body cannot tolerate the medication. This addressed both our vet's and my family's concern over the long term use of the medication.
We know our journey with Mason’s conditions might never end but thanks to Dr. Christensen we feel confident that Mason will be a happy, healthy dog growing with our family for many years to come.
WOODY, LANA and RUFUS (Family: Suzanne M)
Our family’s history with Dr. C is both long and broad. We are a family of dachshunds – three to be exact – and all in treatment with Dr. C.
We first met Dr. C. nearly five years ago when she began treating Woody, our mini-dachshund, adopted from a local shelter at two years old. I was convinced that all he needed was a loving home and after a session with our two other dogs to test compatibility issues, Woody got that home. He walked into our apartment for the first time, confidently ran into our bedroom, leaped on the bed, rolled over and sprayed a fountain of urine into the air. It was a quick realization that Woody was a bit more complicated than we knew. We endured nearly a year of submissive urination, inappropriate house soiling and separation anxiety issues before we raised the white flag. Our primary vet referred us to Dr. C. after exhausting her remedies and Dr. C. began to treat Woody with a combination of medication and behavior modification.
We were relieved with Woody’s progress and began to wonder if Dr. C. could help Rufus, our standard wirehair. Rufus, then four, was fear-aggressive and already had been through a long list of animal trainers and behaviorists. He was a perfect puppy until about the age of six months when he began exhibiting signs of aggression towards random people and dogs on the street. That behavior branched out to aggression towards any stranger entering out apartment. Layered over this was a stubborn case of hyper-vigilance which manifested itself with constant barking whenever we left the dogs alone in our apartment. After an initial evaluation, Dr. C gave us a “guarded” prognosis and then proceeded to improve our lives again, this time with a plan of medication and behavior modification for Rufus.
Lana, another mini, joined the family three years ago. Her breeder promised us a puppy with a sunny disposition and she did not disappoint. However, after about six months, a nasty howling habit began each time we left the dogs alone and we realized that she had developed a significant separation-anxiety issue. Not only was the howl blood-curdling but it triggered the other two to commence nonstop barking. At this point we should have had Dr. C. on speed dial but I already knew the telephone number by heart. So, Lana became the third of our three dogs to be under Dr. C’s care – a trifecta of sorts.
Eighteen months ago we moved to another city and some of the problem behaviors resurfaced, particularly issues of separation anxiety shared by Woody and Lana, as well as increased hyper-vigilance in Rufus. So, our relationship with Dr. C. took another turn. In coordination with a primary vet here in our new city, she was back with us, tweaking some medications and more importantly, refreshing me in the behavior modification exercises.
Five years in, I consider us still a work in progress. We do not have perfect dogs but we have functional, happy dogs. When I walk Rufus, I am completely aware that I have 23 pounds of dynamite at the end of the leash but there have been no major incidents and minor ones are fewer. He is so much better now than previously and I am far less stressed because I am keenly tuned to the situation and have developed an effective coping mechanism. Woody still has some submissive urination but it is much improved, mainly because Dr. C. taught me how to approach him. The inappropriate house soiling comes and goes but far more days are good than bad. We still cannot leave Lana with complete confidence that the neighbors will be spared a “howl –in” but I now know the triggers and I know the meds and toys to give out that will likely provide peace for our neighbors for the particular length of time we’re away. When all else fails and for extended outings, I consult my long list of vetted dog sitters.
Dr. C. treated our dogs but she also really treated us. She is an animal behaviorist, who is particularly skilled with the human variety. She is a consummate professional, a caring human being and you could do no better.
We first met Dr. C. nearly five years ago when she began treating Woody, our mini-dachshund, adopted from a local shelter at two years old. I was convinced that all he needed was a loving home and after a session with our two other dogs to test compatibility issues, Woody got that home. He walked into our apartment for the first time, confidently ran into our bedroom, leaped on the bed, rolled over and sprayed a fountain of urine into the air. It was a quick realization that Woody was a bit more complicated than we knew. We endured nearly a year of submissive urination, inappropriate house soiling and separation anxiety issues before we raised the white flag. Our primary vet referred us to Dr. C. after exhausting her remedies and Dr. C. began to treat Woody with a combination of medication and behavior modification.
We were relieved with Woody’s progress and began to wonder if Dr. C. could help Rufus, our standard wirehair. Rufus, then four, was fear-aggressive and already had been through a long list of animal trainers and behaviorists. He was a perfect puppy until about the age of six months when he began exhibiting signs of aggression towards random people and dogs on the street. That behavior branched out to aggression towards any stranger entering out apartment. Layered over this was a stubborn case of hyper-vigilance which manifested itself with constant barking whenever we left the dogs alone in our apartment. After an initial evaluation, Dr. C gave us a “guarded” prognosis and then proceeded to improve our lives again, this time with a plan of medication and behavior modification for Rufus.
Lana, another mini, joined the family three years ago. Her breeder promised us a puppy with a sunny disposition and she did not disappoint. However, after about six months, a nasty howling habit began each time we left the dogs alone and we realized that she had developed a significant separation-anxiety issue. Not only was the howl blood-curdling but it triggered the other two to commence nonstop barking. At this point we should have had Dr. C. on speed dial but I already knew the telephone number by heart. So, Lana became the third of our three dogs to be under Dr. C’s care – a trifecta of sorts.
Eighteen months ago we moved to another city and some of the problem behaviors resurfaced, particularly issues of separation anxiety shared by Woody and Lana, as well as increased hyper-vigilance in Rufus. So, our relationship with Dr. C. took another turn. In coordination with a primary vet here in our new city, she was back with us, tweaking some medications and more importantly, refreshing me in the behavior modification exercises.
Five years in, I consider us still a work in progress. We do not have perfect dogs but we have functional, happy dogs. When I walk Rufus, I am completely aware that I have 23 pounds of dynamite at the end of the leash but there have been no major incidents and minor ones are fewer. He is so much better now than previously and I am far less stressed because I am keenly tuned to the situation and have developed an effective coping mechanism. Woody still has some submissive urination but it is much improved, mainly because Dr. C. taught me how to approach him. The inappropriate house soiling comes and goes but far more days are good than bad. We still cannot leave Lana with complete confidence that the neighbors will be spared a “howl –in” but I now know the triggers and I know the meds and toys to give out that will likely provide peace for our neighbors for the particular length of time we’re away. When all else fails and for extended outings, I consult my long list of vetted dog sitters.
Dr. C. treated our dogs but she also really treated us. She is an animal behaviorist, who is particularly skilled with the human variety. She is a consummate professional, a caring human being and you could do no better.
RIGS (Family: Meg)
I adopted Rigs when he was five and a half weeks old. His mom had been hit by a car, and he had been bottle-fed until he could take care of himself. After losing my sweet 14-year-old cat a few months earlier, I was eager to give a home to a needy cat.
At first, Rigs was a typical kitten - spastic and excitable. But, within a few weeks he began displaying what I can only describe as manic episodes in which he became furious, vicious and over-alert in a way that was well beyond usual kitten/young cat playfulness. During these episodes he frequently attacked my face and my head, drawing blood, and getting very close to my eyes. As time progressed and he got older, the attacks got more intense and more frequent. I talked with several vets and specialists who suggested I had adopted him at too young an age, that bottle-fed kittens are frequently crazy, that I needed another cat, that they were mystified by his extreme aggression. I was at a loss and desperate not to give him up but worried about my own safety.
At last, after about 14 months, a new vet recommended Dr. C. Rigs and I met with her one afternoon. She observed and interacted with him and talked with me for a solid hour and a half. She suggested a number of factors at work with Rigs—in particular, that he was extremely anxious and a bit of a messed up cat. But, despite his nature she thought behavioral training and a drug regimen could help him deal with his anxiety.
Fast forward six months - Things are so good! Rigs and I have achieved a very easygoing balance in my apartment. He has mellowed considerably while still maintaining his spunky nature. He has become a lap cat, frequently taking long naps with me, and he loves to play fetch. While I think he will always be a bit of a handful, I’ve been able to refocus his anxiety with clicker training, and the medication has lessened the frequency of his manic episodes. I am so grateful to Dr. C for helping Rigs become the sweet, feisty buddy I hoped he could be.
At first, Rigs was a typical kitten - spastic and excitable. But, within a few weeks he began displaying what I can only describe as manic episodes in which he became furious, vicious and over-alert in a way that was well beyond usual kitten/young cat playfulness. During these episodes he frequently attacked my face and my head, drawing blood, and getting very close to my eyes. As time progressed and he got older, the attacks got more intense and more frequent. I talked with several vets and specialists who suggested I had adopted him at too young an age, that bottle-fed kittens are frequently crazy, that I needed another cat, that they were mystified by his extreme aggression. I was at a loss and desperate not to give him up but worried about my own safety.
At last, after about 14 months, a new vet recommended Dr. C. Rigs and I met with her one afternoon. She observed and interacted with him and talked with me for a solid hour and a half. She suggested a number of factors at work with Rigs—in particular, that he was extremely anxious and a bit of a messed up cat. But, despite his nature she thought behavioral training and a drug regimen could help him deal with his anxiety.
Fast forward six months - Things are so good! Rigs and I have achieved a very easygoing balance in my apartment. He has mellowed considerably while still maintaining his spunky nature. He has become a lap cat, frequently taking long naps with me, and he loves to play fetch. While I think he will always be a bit of a handful, I’ve been able to refocus his anxiety with clicker training, and the medication has lessened the frequency of his manic episodes. I am so grateful to Dr. C for helping Rigs become the sweet, feisty buddy I hoped he could be.
Scout (Family: Marilyn)
As a mental health professional and a lifelong dog owner, I was confident that I was up to the challenge of training and raising a new pup - until we adopted the adorable, curious, and nippy 8-week-old Scout. From the start she was the most intelligent and joyously energetic dog that I had ever owned. However, as the weeks and months passed, what had at first been attributed to teething, was clearly developing into a pattern of poor impulse control and a serious lack of bite inhibition. The usual training methods were either ineffective or only served to amp up what had become owner-directed aggressive behavior. Living with her was becoming a blood sport as she mouthed and lunged both randomly and during aggressive play. More seriously were bites around resource guarding and any attempts to groom or apply topical medication. At the same time she was quite shy with other people and even docile with her veterinarian and groomer. A trainer who was consulted presented a program which would have required radical personality changes on the part of the owners (becoming intense disciplinarians) and, even then, the prognosis was guarded. The question of whether we could continue to live with Scout was continually debated, yet giving her up was also unimaginable. At this point of desperation our vet suggested a consultation with Dr.C.
Dr.C, after astute observation and patient listening, accurately assessed Scout's aggression as fear based and her mouthing as both attention getting and lack of frustration tolerance. She was direct and realistic about the difficulties of a total cessation of the resource guarding behaviors, yet encouraging about a number of approaches that would enable us to not only live with but enjoy living with Scout. With both good humor and incisiveness, she pointed out the owners's contribution to exacerbating Scout's behaviors and provided creative and doable suggestions for change. In addition to the behavioral modifications, medication was prescribed.
Since first seeing Dr. C 18 months ago, Scout, then 10 months old, has come a long way. She is now an extremely loving dog, calmer and, for the most part, a pleasure to live with. She still has issues but is better able to control herself and has developed a number of coping mechanisms for her aggression. We also learned some of her triggers and so avoid engaging around these. Only the groomer brushes her. She can sit on the couch. If she finds something that she deems valuable, it's hers, unless harmful or just too valuable. Then we trade for it.
I know that Dr.C's pristine intellect, knowledge and skills with both problem pets and their anxious people parents are unparalleled. Added to these qualities, her accessibility and responsiveness add confidence that, if problems arise, she will be there pursuing solutions and, as a result, providing hope. Thanks, Dr.C!
Dr.C, after astute observation and patient listening, accurately assessed Scout's aggression as fear based and her mouthing as both attention getting and lack of frustration tolerance. She was direct and realistic about the difficulties of a total cessation of the resource guarding behaviors, yet encouraging about a number of approaches that would enable us to not only live with but enjoy living with Scout. With both good humor and incisiveness, she pointed out the owners's contribution to exacerbating Scout's behaviors and provided creative and doable suggestions for change. In addition to the behavioral modifications, medication was prescribed.
Since first seeing Dr. C 18 months ago, Scout, then 10 months old, has come a long way. She is now an extremely loving dog, calmer and, for the most part, a pleasure to live with. She still has issues but is better able to control herself and has developed a number of coping mechanisms for her aggression. We also learned some of her triggers and so avoid engaging around these. Only the groomer brushes her. She can sit on the couch. If she finds something that she deems valuable, it's hers, unless harmful or just too valuable. Then we trade for it.
I know that Dr.C's pristine intellect, knowledge and skills with both problem pets and their anxious people parents are unparalleled. Added to these qualities, her accessibility and responsiveness add confidence that, if problems arise, she will be there pursuing solutions and, as a result, providing hope. Thanks, Dr.C!
Sparky and Pete (Family: Sandy)
Sparky’s Experience with Dr C’s Help
Sparky is a male 8 year old Siamese I’ve had since he was 7 weeks old. Pete, also Siamese, is his 3 year older pal, at least until they had dental work, same day 8 months ago. When they came home, Sparky sought Pete for consolation, Pete growled, Sparky pulled away and started spraying. In the days that ensued Sparky aggressively approached Pete and Pete hid and hissed. After a few weeks of this, my vet prescribed fluoxetine, which helped somewhat. For 8 years Sparky and Pete had been not only compatible but best buddies. Now Pete was anxious all the time and Sparky wired.
About 7 weeks after all this started (late August), I got an appointment with a behavioral specialist vet who required my bringing both cats to an office she used. She cut the fluoxetine dose in half and suggested behavior modification actions, but none of those worked. Sensing this was going to be a long haul, I canceled a January vacation.
Sparky, Pete and I struggled for 2 more months until my vet recommended Dr C and I got an urgent appointment in early November. Dr C’s approach was to meet Sparky and talking with me. Having maintained a daily log, we had a good database to start with. To be honest, Sparky didn’t improve immediately, but I felt I was on the right track. (This is 4 months after the onset.) Following Dr C’s suggestions, I had Sparky go to a towel on the living room floor when he was acting strange. I rubbed both Pete and Sparky with a dry washcloth around their jowls to remind them of each other and, when I saw trouble coming, I separated them, sometimes stashing Sparky in a bathroom with lights on so it didn’t seem like prison. Dr C also recommended I put Pete on an OTC “medication” called Anxitane (which is green tea in a tablet), to reduce the times of his initiating an incident by acting anxious. And, as fluoxetine can be somewhat constipating, she advised I add a teaspoon of canned pumpkin to his food every meal. (That along with alternate meal ¼ teaspoon MiraLAX have helped him stay regular.)
I maintain daily logs of medications and incidents – good days, bad days (= spray or fight) and mixed (almost aggressive incidents). Bad days have dropped 2/3, i.e., currently spraying none, aggression once in a month’s span.
The key for me is Dr C’s coaching tips via email and planned detailed feedback appointments. She’s adjusted medications (prescription and not) and reminded me of progress that we’ve made. Rapport with your behavioral vet makes a huge difference to care-giving. Dr C is an incredible communicator - listens intently, clearly has Sparky in mind as
an individual in everything she proposes, and follows up with email recaps of
what we've discussed or proactive prompts on how we're doing. She's thorough -
you never feel you're being rushed. And no matter what inane question I have
had, she treats it seriously. In some ways she's been a therapist for me too to
keep the whole situation in perspective. We’re not there yet. Will “test” them
with over-PM on their own in next 2 weeks. But I feel he is so close to being
the old Sparky that I'd hardly know he has a problem. I am so grateful (and so
is Pete).
I still am shocked this happened at all given how attached these two guys are. But, I can imagine a 2-week-plus vacation with a live-in caregiver in my future and, most important, Pete and Sparky 23.75 hours a day are the pals they’ve been since the beginning. Pretty amazing.
Sparky is a male 8 year old Siamese I’ve had since he was 7 weeks old. Pete, also Siamese, is his 3 year older pal, at least until they had dental work, same day 8 months ago. When they came home, Sparky sought Pete for consolation, Pete growled, Sparky pulled away and started spraying. In the days that ensued Sparky aggressively approached Pete and Pete hid and hissed. After a few weeks of this, my vet prescribed fluoxetine, which helped somewhat. For 8 years Sparky and Pete had been not only compatible but best buddies. Now Pete was anxious all the time and Sparky wired.
About 7 weeks after all this started (late August), I got an appointment with a behavioral specialist vet who required my bringing both cats to an office she used. She cut the fluoxetine dose in half and suggested behavior modification actions, but none of those worked. Sensing this was going to be a long haul, I canceled a January vacation.
Sparky, Pete and I struggled for 2 more months until my vet recommended Dr C and I got an urgent appointment in early November. Dr C’s approach was to meet Sparky and talking with me. Having maintained a daily log, we had a good database to start with. To be honest, Sparky didn’t improve immediately, but I felt I was on the right track. (This is 4 months after the onset.) Following Dr C’s suggestions, I had Sparky go to a towel on the living room floor when he was acting strange. I rubbed both Pete and Sparky with a dry washcloth around their jowls to remind them of each other and, when I saw trouble coming, I separated them, sometimes stashing Sparky in a bathroom with lights on so it didn’t seem like prison. Dr C also recommended I put Pete on an OTC “medication” called Anxitane (which is green tea in a tablet), to reduce the times of his initiating an incident by acting anxious. And, as fluoxetine can be somewhat constipating, she advised I add a teaspoon of canned pumpkin to his food every meal. (That along with alternate meal ¼ teaspoon MiraLAX have helped him stay regular.)
I maintain daily logs of medications and incidents – good days, bad days (= spray or fight) and mixed (almost aggressive incidents). Bad days have dropped 2/3, i.e., currently spraying none, aggression once in a month’s span.
The key for me is Dr C’s coaching tips via email and planned detailed feedback appointments. She’s adjusted medications (prescription and not) and reminded me of progress that we’ve made. Rapport with your behavioral vet makes a huge difference to care-giving. Dr C is an incredible communicator - listens intently, clearly has Sparky in mind as
an individual in everything she proposes, and follows up with email recaps of
what we've discussed or proactive prompts on how we're doing. She's thorough -
you never feel you're being rushed. And no matter what inane question I have
had, she treats it seriously. In some ways she's been a therapist for me too to
keep the whole situation in perspective. We’re not there yet. Will “test” them
with over-PM on their own in next 2 weeks. But I feel he is so close to being
the old Sparky that I'd hardly know he has a problem. I am so grateful (and so
is Pete).
I still am shocked this happened at all given how attached these two guys are. But, I can imagine a 2-week-plus vacation with a live-in caregiver in my future and, most important, Pete and Sparky 23.75 hours a day are the pals they’ve been since the beginning. Pretty amazing.
Veterinary Behavior Consultations of NYC
p/f 646.434.1361 email drcdvm@gmail.com
p/f 646.434.1361 email drcdvm@gmail.com
