Veterinary Behavior with Dr. Megan Petroff

Veterinary Behavior with Dr. Megan Petroff Struggling with fear, anxiety, or aggression? I offer kind, science-based behavior care to help pets.

06/16/2026

As a general practitioner, I used to get a flood of calls on July 3rd from pet owners whose dogs or cats had a terrible time with fireworks the year before and were hoping for a quick medication solution.
The reality is that the best fireworks plans start weeks in advance, not the day before. Every pet is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all medication or dose. What works well for one pet may not be the right choice for another.

If your pet struggles with fireworks, now is the time to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss the options available and create a personalized plan. Starting early gives you time to find the right approach and make adjustments if needed before the fireworks begin.

And remember—medication is only one piece of the puzzle. Follow along over the next few weeks as we'll be sharing more fireworks tips, including non-medication strategies to help your pets feel safer and more comfortable during the holiday season. 🎆🐾

Had the best time in Seattle on land and at sea. We saw three types of whales- orcas, grey, and a humpback, and a sea li...
06/15/2026

Had the best time in Seattle on land and at sea. We saw three types of whales- orcas, grey, and a humpback, and a sea lion. I got to see old friends, older friends, made new friends, and got to meet some online friends in person for the first time, and learned a lot. Seattle definitely has my heart!

06/13/2026

🎆 What’s the #1 fireworks tip from veterinary behavior specialists? I asked ACVB diplomates and residents for their best advice to help pets through fireworks season, and a few themes came up again and again:

✔️ Plan ahead. Don't wait until July 3rd. Talk to your veterinarian weeks to a month in advance so you have time to develop a medication and management plan if your pet needs one.

✔️ Keep pets indoors before, during, and after fireworks. Even confident pets can panic when startled by loud noises.

✔️ Don't forget there are FDA-approved medications specifically for noise aversion in dogs, such as Sileo®, that may be appropriate for some patients.

✔️ Cats experience fear and noise sensitivity too. Make sure they have safe hiding spaces and a quiet area away from windows.

✔️ Consider noise-dampening tools designed for hearing protection like PAWNIX, Rex Specs Dog Goggles Ear Pro®, or Mutt Muffs® may help some dogs when used appropriately.

✔️ Create a calm environment with white noise, music, closed curtains, and enrichment activities before the fireworks begin.

The best time to prepare for fireworks season is now. Make sure to follow so you don't miss a video, as we're going to post a whole series on preparing for 4th of July with your pet 🎇

Go Knicks! 🏀
06/12/2026

Go Knicks! 🏀

06/12/2026

A sneak peek into the Veterinary Behavior Symposium 👀🤓

Make sure to follow so you don't miss the other interviews we did, and the recaps I'll post soon to give you more details on these amazing behavioral medicine updates!

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with VoyageHouston to share a little about my journey into veterinary behavio...
06/11/2026

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with VoyageHouston to share a little about my journey into veterinary behavior medicine, the experiences that shaped my career, and my passion for helping pets and their families. 🐾

I’m incredibly grateful to VoyageHouston for the thoughtful conversation and for highlighting a field that is still relatively unknown to many pet owners. It was a pleasure to reflect on the path that brought me here and the work I love doing every day.

Thank you again for the feature and for giving me the opportunity to share my story. If you’d like to read the full interview, click the link in my Linktree! ✨

06/10/2026

Spent the day learning from leaders in veterinary behavior at the annual Veterinary Behavior Symposium in Seattle at the , discussing the latest research, and connecting with colleagues who are passionate about improving the emotional wellbeing of animals. Conferences like this are a reminder of how much our field continues to grow and evolve.

A huge thank you to the sponsors, for supporting education, collaboration, and advances in veterinary behavioral medicine. Looking forward to bringing some great ideas back to help our patients!

















vetsparkrx

06/04/2026

If you're still routinely scruffing cats, it's time to update your skills and knowledge. Is a great place to start to learn how we can help reduce fear, anxiety and stress in our cats and therefore the need for heavy-handed restraint. As a behavior veterinarian, I recommend Behavior medications and sedation for cats displaying aggression so that we can stop the cycle and keep it from continuing to get worse over time and keep people safe.

What do you think? Do you think there is a place for scruffing and veterinary medicine? Let's talk about it 👇

Moody CM, Picketts VA, Mason GJ, Dewey CE, Niel L. Can you handle it? Validating negative responses to restraint in cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 2018;204:94–100.

Moody CM, Mason GJ, Dewey CE, Niel L. Getting a grip: cats respond negatively to scruffing and clips. Veterinary Record. 2020;186(12):385. doi:10.1136/vr.105261.

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