July 2026 Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection: Behavior Programs in Dogs and Cats

Behavior problems in dogs and cats: what's the gut got to do with it?

A burgeoning body of research has clearly demonstrated a connection between gastrointestinal health and a variety of physical and mental disease processes. The gut microbiota has a powerful influence on our immune system and behavior. Historically when anxious animals presented with G.I. upset or diarrhea, the latter was blamed on stress. We now know that in many of these patients the gastrointestinal disruption occurred first and contributed to the anxious behavior. In this lecture we will briefly cover the anatomy and function of the gut microbiome. We will discuss some of the common behavior issues that we find are often clinically correlated with gastrointestinal signs as well as some diagnostic and treatment interventions.

Register here: https://maddies.fund/MonthlyBehaviorRegistration

About Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection:
Join us on the fourth Thursday of every month as we talk about dog and cat behavior - supporting pets in our community and animal shelters. Each month, we hear from speakers about topics of interest to our group, such as behavior medications, modifying animal behavior, assessing and improving animal welfare, and how organizations successfully provide behavior support to dogs and cats. Webcasts hosted by Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, Dr. Sheila Segurson

All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available on the Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection page in Maddie's Pet Forum - https://maddies.fund/monthlybehaviorconnectionMPF