Living with a pet who struggles with one or more serious behaviour disorders can be overwhelming and emotionally draining. These issues can disrupt daily routines, strain the bond between families and their pets, and even make essential veterinary or grooming care difficult or unsafe. At the same time, pets living with behaviour disorders often find it difficult to cope with everyday life and may experience chronic stress or emotional distress.
Veterinary behaviour medicine is a medical specialty focused on identifying and treating the underlying causes of behaviour disorders in animals. Guided by a board-certified veterinary behaviourist with a broad understanding of both physical and emotional health, our team has the skills to guide families through practical, individualized treatment strategies for dogs, cats, and other companion animals.
As veterinarians, veterinary behaviourists are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat behavioural conditions while also evaluating for underlying medical issues that may contribute to the behaviour. Behaviour disorders may include anxiety-, fear-, or aggression-based problems, as well as compulsive behaviours or elimination issues in cats such as urinating or defecating outside the litter box.
Veterinary behaviour consultations offer pet owners clarity, support, and a practical path forward when behaviour issues arise — whether at home, in public, or in the clinic. Through the consultation process, clients can:
Our approach emphasizes working in partnership with your family veterinarian to ensure continuity of care and support for your pet’s long-term well-being.By helping owners make informed, thoughtful decisions about their pet’s emotional health, veterinary behaviour consultations can significantly improve quality of life — for both pets and the people who care for them.
Each behaviour consultation involves a detailed assessment includes a thorough review of your pet’s behaviour and medical history, evaluation of submitted video footage, and a comprehensive in-person assessment.
Recommendations may include diagnostic testing to help rule out or confirm underlying medical or behaviour disorders, behaviour modification strategies, environmental and management adjustments, and, when indicated, medication.
As part of a full-service specialty hospital, our behaviour team also has ready access to in-house specialists across multiple disciplines—allowing for seamless collaboration whenever additional medical expertise is needed.
Our approach also emphasizes working in partnership with your family veterinarian to ensure continuity of care and support for your pet’s long-term well-being.
Through this collaborative, medically guided approach, our team helps pet owners gain clarity on their pet’s emotional and behavioural health and develop a practical plan forward.
It can be difficult to know when a pet’s behaviour is more than just a “quirk” or a training problem . Many pets may develop behaviours that feel overwhelming or unsafe, but owners are unsure when to seek additional help.A pet may benefit from a behaviour medicine consultation if they:
These behaviours often reflect an underlying emotional or medical disorder rather than simply “bad behaviour.”
Pain, gastrointestinal problems, skin conditions, respiratory issues, and neurological conditions (like seizures) can all affect how a pet behaves. Chronic stress can also impact hormone levels and brain chemistry, leading to problems such as compulsive behaviours, exaggerated fear responses, or changes in appetite and drinking habits.
A thorough veterinary behavioural assessment includes reviewing your pet’s medical and behaviour history, performing a complete behavioural exam , and recommending diagnostic tests when needed to help rule out underlying medical causes.
Veterinary behaviourists are veterinarians with advanced training in animal behaviour who stay current on the latest scientific findings through research, clinical practice, and professional continuing education. They approach behaviour issues from a medical perspective, identifying physical or psychological contributors to animals’ behaviour.
Only veterinarians who have achieved board certification through the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) may call themselves “veterinary behaviourists.”
We work closely with qualified trainers to facilitate behaviour modification for pets with behaviour disorders – similar to a surgeon who works with a physical therapist to ensure the pet receives holistic care.
Choosing a board-certified veterinary behaviourist ensures that your pet’s treatment is evidence-based, humane, and focused on overall well-being. Dr. Tiffany Jagodich is currently completing her residency in Behaviour Medicine under the guidance of board-certified Behaviour Medicine specialist, Dr. Claudia Richter.
Behaviour consultations are available for dogs, cats, and other companion animals experiencing challenges such as:
Each case is approached individually, with services including:
Walk-ins are welcome; no appointment is required.
If you are able, call ahead and let us know you are coming.
Our phone number is (604) 514-8383
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