You might notice your pets—especially cats—interact differently with other household animals after trips to the vet hospital. A change in your pet’s smell, caused by interaction with new animals and humans at the clinic, causes the sudden mood swings in pets that stayed home. Although this aggression can be upsetting, the team at Alexandria Pike Animal Hospital knows a few simple ways you can reintroduce your pet back to their companions. Their knowledge comes from years of experience providing animals throughout Southgate, KY, and the surrounding area with a wide range of pet care services.

Below, the team at Kentucky’s premier vet hospital shares three ways to stop pet aggression after veterinarian visits:

• Separate Pets: Animals recognize each other through scent, so the smell of grooming products and medications used at the vet hospital will mask your pet’s natural odor. Keep that pet separated from other household animals for a day. This will give them time to bathe themselves and remove the strange smells. Once they return to their natural scent, you can reintroduce them to the other pets.   
• Transfer Scents: After the visit, you can immediately get your pet back to their natural odor by transferring scents. Rub the animals that stayed home with a towel. Next, rub the pet who just returned from the clinic with the same towel. This will rub away unfamiliar smells that might scare other pets.
• Encourage Grooming: To reestablish your pets’ bond, encourage them to groom each other. If you have cats, rub your hands with the water from a can of tuna. Next, rub the head of each feline. The cats will pick up the smells and groom themselves and each other. This reinforces their common scent.  

If your pets experience behavioral changes after vet hospital visits, the team at Alexandria Pike Animal Hospital is standing by to help. Beyond at-home care tips, they also offer vaccinations, pet dental care, flea & tick medication, boarding services, and anything else needed to improve your pets’ health.

To schedule an appointment in Southgate or the surrounding area, call (859) 781-1800 to speak with a friendly representative from the vet hospital. Visit Alexandria Pike Animal Hospital online to discover the many ways they will care for your pets and like them on Facebook for updated news and announcements.