What is Clinical Ethology?
Clinical ethology is the veterinary specialty in charge of diagnosing, treating and preventing behavioral problems in animals. It is also known as Behavioral Medicine, and its objective is to improve the animal’s welfare and coexistence with its family.
What is considered a behavioral problem?
A behavioral problem is any behavior that hinders a harmonious coexistence between the animal and its family. It can be abnormal behaviors of behavioral origin, behaviors secondary to organic diseases or even normal behaviors for the species but annoying for the family.
Since they may be behaviors derived from other diseases (diseases that cause pain, endocrine diseases, etc.), diagnosis by a veterinary ethologist is essential.
The most common behavioral problems in dogs are:
- Aggressive behavior towards people or dogs
- Fears and phobias of firecrackers, noises and other stimuli
- Fear of people or dogs
- Urination and/or defecation in inappropriate places
- Separation-related problems
- Excessive vocalizations (barking, howling, crying)
- Damages
- Repetitive behaviors such as tail chasing, shadow chasing…
- Lack of control on the ride
- Excess activity
The most common behavioral problems in cats are:
- Aggressive behaviors towards people, cats or other animals
- Urination and defecation in inappropriate places
- Problems related to scratching
- Fear of people, cats or other animals
- Repetitive behaviors such as excessive licking, etc.
- Excessive vocalizations
Why is it important to treat it?
Because behind every behavior there is an emotion that affects the animal’s well-being. Ignoring it can deteriorate the bond with its family. Our approach seeks to understand the emotion behind each behavior in order to improve the animal’s quality of life and strengthen the emotional bond.

