canine and feline behavioral therapy: by benjamin l. hart and lynette a. hart. lea and febiger,...

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185 Personally I regret that the knowledge of four seminars organized by Prof. Dr. H. Bogner in Grub, near Munnich, has not been incorporated in the book. These seminars were held at intervals of 2 years and were aimed at introducing relatively young graduates to the science of applied ethology. These seminars are published. I also miss a chapter on animal welfare, because this is one of the main topics nowadays. In conclusion the book is certainly worthwhile reading and offers a firm basis for further education of students in agriculture, in biology and in veterinary sciences. G. VAN PUTTEN Research Institute for Animal Husbandry "Schoonoord" P.O. Box 501 3700 AM Zeist, The Netherlands CANINE AND FELINE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY Canine and Feline Behavioral Therapy by Benjamin L. Hart and Lynette A. Hart. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1985, x + 275 pp., cloth $29.75, ISBN 0-8121-0949-X. This volume was prepared as a reference book for small animal veterinarians and other professionals, such as animal behavior therapists, from the view of animal health care. It is clear that dog and cat owners present behavioral prob- lems and seek assistance and advice. The opening section introduces behavioral therapy, and develops the medi- cal interview and case history assessment. The major section, of 18 chapters, deals with the causes of and the therapeutic approach to common problems. Nine of these chapters deal with dogs, and relate to problems with aggressive behavior, fear and emotional reactions, activity, barking and destructiveness, attention getting, roaming and escaping, elimination and urine marking, feed- ing, sexual behavior, and maternal behavior. The remaining 9 chapters are devoted to problems in cats, and include aggressive behavior, inappropriate urination and defecation, urine spraying and marking, scratching, territorial- ity and roaming, predation, feeding, sexual behavior, and maternal behavior. The final section presents chapters on selecting and raising dogs and cats, the use of conditioning procedures, behavior modification by hormonal manipu- lations and psychoactive drugs and behavior therapy. The major purpose of the book is to support the veterinarian in the diagnosis of, and treatment program for, behavioral problems of dogs and cats as pre- sented by the pet owners for assistance and advice. The assessment, of course, involves the pet, the owners, the settings, the knowledgeability and skills of the assessor, and the interactions among these complex factors.

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Page 1: Canine and feline behavioral therapy: by Benjamin L. Hart and Lynette A. Hart. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1985, x+275 pp., cloth $29.75, ISBN 0-8121-0949-X

185

Personally I regret that the knowledge of four seminars organized by Prof. Dr. H. Bogner in Grub, near Munnich, has not been incorporated in the book. These seminars were held at intervals of 2 years and were aimed at introducing relatively young graduates to the science of applied ethology. These seminars are published. I also miss a chapter on animal welfare, because this is one of the main topics nowadays.

In conclusion the book is certainly worthwhile reading and offers a firm basis for further education of students in agriculture, in biology and in veterinary sciences.

G. VAN PUTTEN Research Institute for Animal Husbandry "Schoonoord"

P.O. Box 501 3700 A M Zeist, The Netherlands

CANINE AND FELINE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Canine and Feline Behavioral Therapy by Benjamin L. Hart and Lynette A. Hart. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1985, x + 275 pp., cloth $29.75, ISBN 0-8121-0949-X.

This volume was prepared as a reference book for small animal veterinarians and other professionals, such as animal behavior therapists, from the view of animal health care. It is clear that dog and cat owners present behavioral prob- lems and seek assistance and advice.

The opening section introduces behavioral therapy, and develops the medi- cal interview and case history assessment. The major section, of 18 chapters, deals with the causes of and the therapeutic approach to common problems. Nine of these chapters deal with dogs, and relate to problems with aggressive behavior, fear and emotional reactions, activity, barking and destructiveness, attention getting, roaming and escaping, elimination and urine marking, feed- ing, sexual behavior, and maternal behavior. The remaining 9 chapters are devoted to problems in cats, and include aggressive behavior, inappropriate urination and defecation, urine spraying and marking, scratching, territorial- ity and roaming, predation, feeding, sexual behavior, and maternal behavior. The final section presents chapters on selecting and raising dogs and cats, the use of conditioning procedures, behavior modification by hormonal manipu- lations and psychoactive drugs and behavior therapy.

The major purpose of the book is to support the veterinarian in the diagnosis of, and treatment program for, behavioral problems of dogs and cats as pre- sented by the pet owners for assistance and advice. The assessment, of course, involves the pet, the owners, the settings, the knowledgeability and skills of the assessor, and the interactions among these complex factors.

Page 2: Canine and feline behavioral therapy: by Benjamin L. Hart and Lynette A. Hart. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1985, x+275 pp., cloth $29.75, ISBN 0-8121-0949-X

186

The veterinarian has at least three programs for use: (1) administering drugs; (2) instructing the owner of different interactions with the pet; (3) developing a detailed conditioning program. The final alternative to modification of the presented behavioral problem is euthanasia. Since the diagnostic and treat- ment skills of the veterinarian center about physiological and medical pro- cesses, it is important to add information from psychology and animal behavior, including genetic factors.

The authors, Benjamin L. Hart and Lynette A. Hart, are well qualified by education, experience and research contributions to produce this book. Both are at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, where their work is in physiology and behavior.

The volume achieves its purposes. The information given is clear, reliable and useful. The book is organized so that a specific problem can be addressed and treatment programs with necessary requirements and limitations described. Case illustrations are assembled and the experience and knowledge of the authors are brought to bear, with appropriate cautions against uninformed expectations as well as attention to genetic, physiological, hormonal and experiential factors. The book is a welcome resource for the veterinarian and the animal behavior therapist.

SHERMAN ROSS Department of Psychology

Howard University Washington, DC 20059

U.S.A.