Veterinary Behavior with Dr. Megan Petroff

Veterinary Behavior with Dr. Megan Petroff Struggling with fear, anxiety, or aggression? I offer kind, science-based behavior care to help pets.

06/04/2026

If you're still routinely scruffing cats, it's time to update your skills and knowledge. Is a great place to start to learn how we can help reduce fear, anxiety and stress in our cats and therefore the need for heavy-handed restraint. As a behavior veterinarian, I recommend Behavior medications and sedation for cats displaying aggression so that we can stop the cycle and keep it from continuing to get worse over time and keep people safe.

What do you think? Do you think there is a place for scruffing and veterinary medicine? Let's talk about it šŸ‘‡

Moody CM, Picketts VA, Mason GJ, Dewey CE, Niel L. Can you handle it? Validating negative responses to restraint in cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2018;204:94ā€“100.

Moody CM, Mason GJ, Dewey CE, Niel L. Getting a grip: cats respond negatively to scruffing and clips. Veterinary Record. 2020;186(12):385. doi:10.1136/vr.105261.

Did you know that the American Museum of Natural History in NYC has a hidden library? What better place to spend a few h...
06/01/2026

Did you know that the American Museum of Natural History in NYC has a hidden library? What better place to spend a few hours studying animal behavior, than surrounded by beautiful animal inspired decor and fossils. New Yorkers, where should I study next? Make sure you scroll to the end to see the sweet view from the study room.



06/01/2026

Hereā€™s how I would approach a case of a dog who is stopping consistently on walks differently. It starts by asking a question why are they stopping so often?

Aversive tools and training methods have been shown consistently to make dogs more stressed and anxious during training sessions and outside of them. They also damage the bond between the owner and the pet.

05/30/2026

Cyanide bombs, also known as M-44s, are devices that eject poison into an animalā€™s mouth when triggered. They donā€™t just impact wildlife ā€” family dogs, endangered species, and other non-target animals have also been injured or killed.

In 2017, a 14-year-old boy in Idaho accidentally triggered an M-44 cyanide bomb while outside with his dog. He was injured. His dog was killed.

The ban on cyanide bombs being lifted is devastating news for animals, pet owners, and wildlife advocates everywhere. There has to be a more humane and safer solution than poison devices placed in the environment. šŸ¾

05/26/2026

When we ignore aggression in a dog or cat we teach them ā€œyou need to be more clear.ā€

This is how we can see aggression continue to escalate overtime until we can no longer handle them. This is what I would do differently if this was my cat:

1. Make sure weā€™re not missing something that could contribute to your ability with handling, like pain.
2. Put your empathy hat on. This catā€™s not trying to give you a hard time theyā€™re having a hard time.
3. Avoid heavy handed restraint like scuffing. We know from studies that cats donā€™t like this, and itā€™s not going to make them struggle any less.
4. Treat the fear. We have so many behavior medications that can be used to reduce situation stress. There is more than just gabapentin. Thereā€™s no reason to be pushing past the fear.
5. Work with a veterinary behaviorist if your pet is showing severe reactions such as panic or aggression.

How does your cat feel about nail trims? Let me know in the comments and save this post so you know what medications you can ask your veterinarian about.

05/26/2026

The best way to prevent dog bites to children is management.šŸ¾

One of the safest things families can do is practice proactive supervision. That means there should be an adult focused on the dog and an adult focused on the child during interactions.

Many bites happen during interactions adults may think are harmless:ā€Øā€¢ Crawling into a dogā€™s spaceā€Øā€¢ Approaching while eating or chewing a toyā€Øā€¢ Hugging around the neckā€Øā€¢ Kissing a dog on the faceā€Øā€¢ Climbing, laying, or leaning on them

Even tolerant dogs can become uncomfortable in these situations. Dogs communicate with subtle body language long before a bite occurs, and itā€™s our job as adults to step in before a dog feels the need to escalate.

Safe interactions protect BOTH children and dogs. šŸ¤

05/24/2026

Iā€™m much more worried about pain in declawed cats than I am about them ā€œescapingā€ or not being able to defend themselves.

One of the most important papers we have on this topic is the 2018 study by Martell-Moran and colleagues. They found that declawed cats were significantly more likely to show adverse behaviors including:
ā€¢ Back pain
ā€¢ House soiling
ā€¢ Biting
ā€¢ Overgrooming/barbering
ā€¢ Aggression

And one of the most striking findings? Retained P3 fragments (pieces of the last toe bone left behind after surgery) were found in 63% of the declawed cats with behavior problems and pain.

These cats are often labeled as ā€œmean,ā€ ā€œjerks,ā€ or ā€œbehavioralā€ when in reality they may be living with chronic pain.

So what can we do to help these cats?

1. X-rays can help look for retained fragments and also evaluate for arthritis elsewhere in the body from altered gait and weight bearing.
2. Annual exams are more important than ever- Cats are masters at hiding pain. Regular exams focused on mobility, posture, gait, and subtle behavioral changes are incredibly important.
3. Pain management and medication trials when indicated. Sometimes the only way we realize how painful a cat wasā€¦ is after they finally feel better. Pain medication trials should be considered.
4. Litter box setup matters. Many declawed cats prefer soft, fine-particle litter because larger or sharp substrates can be uncomfortable. Low-sided boxes may also help cats with pain or mobility issues.
5. Non-slip surfaces in your home. Declawed cats can struggle with traction. Rugs, runners, yoga mats, carpeted climbing surfaces, and non-slip areas can help them move through the home more comfortably and confidently.

A cat not visibly limping does NOT mean they are pain-free.

And if you guys want, I can make another video about humane alternatives to declawing.

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