When contemplating the referral of a patient to a veterinary behaviour consultant, it’s essential to weigh the benefits carefully. While every veterinarian can offer behavioural consultations, the time constraints of a typical veterinary visit, ranging from 20 to 40 minutes, often limit the amount of assessment that can be performed and the development of comprehensive management strategies, environmental adaptations, initiation of behaviour modification, and, in some cases, the initiation of medication.
A typical behaviour consultation demands a substantial time commitment, usually 3 to 4 hours, including a preliminary one-hour questionnaire prior to the consultation.
Most veterinary behaviour consultants not only have additional qualifications, often in the form of professional memberships or certifications but also experience in handling behaviour cases. It’s worth noting that Australia currently only has five recognised Veterinary Behavior Specialists, and all are located in the eastern states. However, for many behaviour cases, a veterinary behaviour consultant may be all that is required.
Furthermore, veterinary behaviour consultants actively collaborate with veterinarians when further diagnostics or blood tests are warranted. They also maintain connections with trainers who specialise in addressing specific issues, such as human aggression or dog aggression, thereby enhancing the training component of behaviour modification.
In essence, referring your patient to a veterinary behaviour consultant ensures a comprehensive and thorough approach to addressing behavioural concerns in our animal patients.
