MEDIA RELEASE
Is your pet anxious or fearful?
The <name of practice>, will be running a Polite Pets Month promotion throughout March to raise awareness of some
common pet behaviour problems, prevention and treatment.
An initiative of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), Polite Pets Month educates pet owners about what’s
normal behaviour in pets, and how their vet can help.
The theme for this year is ‘Mental health is important for pets’, and focuses on anxiety disorders and phobias.
<Insert name and title> from <practice name> said that it’s normal for dogs, cats and birds to feel anxious as it
prepares them to respond to a threat, but excessive fear and anxiety can lead to phobias and can be detrimental to
their health and contribute to behaviour problems.
“There’s a range of situations that can produce anxiety and fear such as the introduction of other animals, changes to
daily routine and loud noises. Signs of anxiety can include standing with tail tucked under in dogs and unrinating
outside the litter tray in cats.
“Treatment includes looking at the causes of the anxiety or any underlying medical condition and an appropriate
management plan,” <insert name> said.
“Using rewards is the best way to train your pets and it avoids causing anxiety.
“A management plan can be developed by you and your vet and includes avoiding situations that contribute to your
pet’s anxieties and managing your pet’s environment so it’s consistent, safe and predictable but variable enough to
meet your pet’s physical and emotional needs.
“Treatment can also include providing medications and pheromones.
“The friendly vets at <name of clinic> will be happy to talk to you about the latest treatments for these pet behaviours,
and help you deal with them before they get out of hand.”
During March <insert name of practice> will have lots of information on hand about fears, anxiety and phobias in cats,
dogs and birds.
<Name of clinic> will also be conducting <insert details of any local seminars and/or events>
There is a comprehensive range of resources available for pet owners on the AVA website including information
sheets on anxiety, fears and phobias in dogs, anxiety and fears in cats and birds, visit www.ava.com.au/polit-petsmonth.
AVA’s Polite Pets Month is proudly supported by foundation sponsors Ceva Animal Health and Royal Canin.
For more information contact <insert details>
For AVA media enquiries contact Rena Richmond, Media Relations Manager (02) 9431 5062 or 0439 628 898.
Polite Pets Month is proudly supported
by Royal Canin and CEVA Animal Health
Australian Veterinary Association Ltd ABN 63 008 522 852
Unit 40, 6 Herbert Street St Leonards NSW 2065 T. 02 9431 5000 F. 02 9437 9068 E. members@ava.com.au