Is it possible to prevent fears, phobias and anxieties?
A good program of socialization and exposure to many new and novel things while an animal is young are helpful and often prevent fears and phobias. However, in the phenomena of “one trial” learning, an event is so traumatic that only one exposure can create fears, phobias or anxieties. Owner responses when their pet experiences a new situation that could potentially be frightening are important. Calm reassurances as long as the pet is not acting fearful, happy cheerful tones, and relaxed body postures of owners help pets experience new things without fear. Knowing your pet and their individual temperament will also determine what situations you can and should expose your pet to. How can these problems of fears and phobias be treated? Each time your pet is exposed to an anxiety, fear, or phobia inducing situation and cannot be made to calm down, the problem is likely to worsen. Finding a way to control, relax, calm, or distract your pet in the presence of the stimulus is needed to corre
