Good News for Bad Behaviors

We suggest that each pet have a full CBC (complete blood count), Chemistry Profile and Thyroid test (T4, TSH, FreeT4) within 3 months prior to the behavior consultation appointment. If behavior issues prohibit testing, we will allow this request to be omitted.

1. Please have your family veterinarian send us your pet’s full medical records, including any lab work that has been performed during the last three years.
2. Schedule a behavior consultation appointment at your desired date and time.
3. Complete a new patient intake form. Please do this the same day as scheduling your appointment.
4. Additionally, complete our online behavioral questionnaire at least 72 hours prior to your behavior consultation appointment.

Along with your pet, adult family members are encouraged to attend the appointment (limit of 2). Please leave children at home, if possible. Also, we request that you only bring one pet at a time to the consultation.

If animals are fighting within the home, we will allow both pets to be included in the appointment (dogs only).  An additional $150 fee is added to the consultation. If the second pet is found to have additional behavior problems, a full consultation for that pet will be recommended at another time.

1. Please arrive with your pet secured on a leash or enclosed in a carrier.
2. Be sure to bring your pet’s favorite treats and/or toys with you.
3. Bring along your phone. On your phone, please have photos of your pet’s surroundings such as the litter box, bed area and the area they spend majority of their time in. Also please have videos of your pet’s behavior and/or interactions with other people and pets in the home.
4. List of medications and supplements your pet is taking (name, dose, strength, frequency). Please bring them all with you to the appointment.

Your pet will receive a full physical exam if it is safe to do so. If safety is an issue due to your pet’s stress, only a visual exam will occur. During a visual exam, the veterinarian will be able to assess signs such as gait, body condition and skin. This appointment will be as stress-free as possible for you and your pet.

Diagnostic testing will only be performed if necessary. If needed, this will be discussed at the time of the exam and the costs of these tests will be shared prior to testing.

All testing results and medical records will be shared with your family veterinarian. If a consultation with one of our specialists is recommended or required, we can schedule an appointment with that specialist at a later date.

Before:

• Give any travel or anxiety medication as directed by your family veterinarian.
• Give any medications necessary for other medical conditions as prescribed.
• It is fine for your pet to eat and drink as normal prior to the appointment.

During:

• This appointment will take approximately 90 minutes.
• At your appointment, the veterinarian will examine your pet and discuss the reported behavioral problems in detail.
• Once the assessment is complete, we will provide a behavioral diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan and discuss it with you.
• The treatment plan will include behavioral and environmental modification recommendations, educational material and training recommendations appropriate for the given diagnosis.
• Medications may be prescribed to aid behavior modification depending on your pet’s condition.
• If owners need additional help with the treatment plan, or if obedience training is needed, we will refer you to qualified trainers.

After:

• 1-2 days after the initial consultation
  • You will receive a full medical summary of recommendations and behavior modifications.
• 2 weeks after-
  • You will receive email communication from the veterinarian to check on your pet’s progress.
• 6-8 weeks after-
  • You will have a complimentary 30-minute telehealth recheck appointment (phone call or video call) to assess your pet’s progress and adjust the treatment plan and medication(s) as needed.
• 6 months after-
  • We recommend an in person or telehealth recheck after six months to assess your pet’s progress and adjust medications and behavior modification plans if needed.
  • This recheck is required for us to continue managing your pet’s behavior medications.
  • Additional rechecks may be scheduled as needed by calling our office (828) 328-6697.

Please call our hospital with medication refill requests at least 10 days prior to running out of medications.

It is not recommended to lapse or discontinue any prescribed medications abruptly.

• Daily medication(s) administration (if prescribed).
• Daily practice of behavior modification recommendations (usually 5-10 minutes per day)
• Daily logging of behavior successes and issues that arise.

There is no guarantee of success with the treatment of your pet. Behavior issues such as underlying causes, your pet’s environment, your dedication to a treatment plan, and other factors that are beyond our control, may dictate how well your pet responds to treatment. We do promise to do everything we can to improve the quality of life of your pet and to preserve and enhance the bond that you share with them. 

Upon completion of your consultation, as well as after every recheck appointment, your family veterinarian will receive a copy of all treatment recommendations and progress reports. If you have a positive reinforcement trainer, a copy of all recommendations can be sent to them as well by request.

The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) is the certifying board for veterinarians who are specialty trained to advance the behavioral health of animals through clinical practice, research, and science-based behavior education. Board-certified specialists are known as Diplomates or veterinary behaviorists.

Veterinary behaviorists are trained to address the relationships between an animal’s health, environment, experiences and its behavior. They have extensive knowledge of psychotropic medications, their uses, potential side effects and interactions with other medications, and are licensed to prescribe them when indicated

A veterinary behavior resident is a veterinarian undergoing special training to become a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. This involves seeing ~400 behavior cases, seeking additional specialized courses, and publishing a research project. Dr. Bradshaw’s training is being supervised by Dr. Lynne Seibert and Dr. Ellen Lindell, board-certified veterinary behaviorists.