Information for Vets
All professional behaviourists should work via vet referral regardless of the dog's problem behaviour.
I am a Candidate Member at the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FABC) meaning I have gained the theoretical knowledge necessary for undertaking clinical animal behaviour work and am currently gaining the necessary practical experience to become a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB). Therefore for some behaviour cases I may discuss my findings, assessment and on-going support with a CCAB mentor. In addition, to comply with standards set by the FABC, I must have written permission from a vet before I can carry out a behaviour assessment.Common problem behaviours
> Unwanted (including aggressive*) behaviours towards people, dogs, other animals
> Fearful or anxious behaviours (such as noise sensitivity, phobic behaviours)> Separation-related problems (destruction to property, excessive vocalisations, inability to relax when left home alone)
> Abnormal or repetitive behaviours (tail/shadow chasing, spinning, self-mutilation, pica, night time waking)
*Aggressive behaviours include: lunging, barking, growling, bearing teeth, air snapping and biting.
Insurance Claims
Some guardians may be able to claim for their dog's behaviour support through their pet insurance. I am currently unable to facilitate the administration of claiming directly from insurers and require all payments beforehand. However, I can provide proof of purchase for guardians to send onto their insurer.
More information on my behaviour assessments can be found here.
Dog Trainer vs Behaviourist
In an unregulated industry it can be difficult to know which professional is best suited to help guardians and their dogs. In an attempt to make the industry more transparent, a quick breakdown between trainers and behaviourists can be found on my blog here.
Vets specialising in behavioural medicine can be found at the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine.Only vet behaviourists can diagnose conditions and prescribe medications. Non-vet behaviourists can make observations, supply video/photo footage for the referring vet to decide whether further investigations are required. Any non-vet making medical recommendations may be breaking the code of conduct of their membership organisation.
Medicine and Behaviour
Medical conditions can have a two-way relationship with emotions and cognition which ultimately impact behaviour. One of the key indicators of an undiagnosed medical condition can be the reduced effectiveness or plateauing of progress when undertaking behavioural support which is why having a veterinary examination prior to a behaviour referral is useful. These are some of the interesting resources on pain and behaviour I read whilst writing my thesis on analgesics and problem behaviours in dogs:
Barcelos, A.-M. ., Mills, D.S. and Zulch, H. (2015). Clinical indicators of occult musculoskeletal pain in aggressive dogs. Veterinary Record, 176(18), pp.465–465. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.102823.
Camps, T., Amat, M. and Manteca, X. (2019). A Review of Medical Conditions and Behavioral Problems in Dogs and Cats. Animals, [online] 9(12), p.1133. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121133.
Camps, T., Amat, M., Mariotti, V.M., Le Brech, S. and Manteca, X. (2012). Pain-related aggression in dogs: 12 clinical cases. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, [online] 7(2), pp.99–102. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2011.08.002.
Lopes Fagundes, A.L., Hewison, L., McPeake, K.J., Zulch, H. and Mills, D.S. (2018). Noise Sensitivities in Dogs: An Exploration of Signs in Dogs with and without Musculoskeletal Pain Using Qualitative Content Analysis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, [online] 5(February). doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00017.
Mills, D.S. (2017). Perspectives on assessing the emotional behavior of animals with behavior problems. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, [online] 16(August), pp.66–72. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2017.04.002.
Mills, D.S. (2022). Clinical Animal Behaviour: Paradigms, Problems and Practice. Animals, 12(22), p.3103. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223103.
Mills, D.S., Coutts, F.M. and McPeake, K.J. (2023). Behavior Problems Associated with Pain and Paresthesia. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, [online] 54(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.08.007.
Mills, D.S., Demontigny-Bédard, I., Gruen, M., Klinck, M.P., McPeake, K.J., Barcelos, A.M., Hewison, L., Van Haevermaet, H., Denenberg, S., Hauser, H., Koch, C., Ballantyne, K., Wilson, C., Mathkari, C.V., Pounder, J., Garcia, E., Darder, P., Fatjó, J. and Levine, E. (2020). Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs. Animals, 10(2), p.318. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020318.
Mills, D.S. and Zulch, H. (2023). Veterinary assessment of behaviour cases in cats and dogs. In Practice, [online] 45(8), pp.444–458. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/inpr.359.
Poirier-Guay, M.-P., Bélanger, M.-C. and Frank, D. (2014). Star gazing in a dog: Atypical manifestation of upper gastrointestinal disease. The Canadian Veterinary Journal, 55(11), p.1079.
Santifort, K.M., Plonek, M. and Mandigers, P. (2023). Case report: Neuropathic pain versus undesirable behavior in a Dachshund after hemilaminectomy surgery for an intervertebral disc extrusion. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, [online] 10(July). doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1223800.
Zulch, H.E., Mills, D.S., Lambert, R. and Kirberger, R.M. (2012). The use of tramadol in a Labrador retriever presenting with self-mutilation of the tail. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 7(4), pp.252–258. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2011.10.009.
