Page 1637 - Clinical Small Animal Internal Medicine

177 Behavior Triage for Internists and the General Practitioner 1575

Psychological
VetBooks.ir - Emotional or neurochemical pathology
- Not resolved by training alone

Common problem (mild) Common (moderate, severe) Human-directed
- Occurs frequently or Atypical Problem Aggression
- Likely to improve with behavior - Behavior is moderate to severe in regard to - Often requires in-depth, tailored
modification and environmental change intensity, frequency, duration, etc. treatment plan and long-term
-Medication not needed
- Triggers or patterns cannot be determined client communication
Examples - Odd or unusual behaviors - May require behavior medication
Dog and Cat: - Medication or extensive, long-term behavior - Aggression directed toward
modification may be needed
- Intra-or inter-specific aggression, mild people including visitors, children,
- Separation anxiety, mild etc.
- Fear of people or other animals, mild Examples
- Periuria not due to a physical illness Dog and Cat: DACVB or Non-Board-Certified
- Situational anxieties (e.g. vet visit, noise - Intra-or inter-specific aggression Veterinarian
phobia), mild Separation anxiety, severe
- Generalized anxiety
- Compulsive behaviors (e.g. spinning, fly-
DACVB or Non-Board-Certified snapping, feline hyperesthesia)
Veterinarian - Fear of people or other animals, severe
CAAB - Situational anxieties (e.g. vet visit, noise
Trainer or Non-vet Behaviorist phobia), severe
- Intractable periuria not due to a physical
illness
DACVB or Non-Board-Certified
Veterinarian

Discuss short-term recommendations
Document recommendations, referrals and all client communication in chart
Consider discussing case via phone or email with a DACVB
- Veterinarian-to-veterinarian consult regarding treatment
- Recommendation regarding referral to non-DACVB

Figure 177.2 When to seek consultation with a veterinary behaviorist.

Veterinary Referrals
Nonboarded Veterinarian with Behavioral Experience
Veterinary Behaviorists These are veterinarians who are not board certified but
Board‐certified veterinary behaviorists (Diplomates are experienced with behavior cases. This category
of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists includes, but is not limited to:
[ACVB]) are veterinarians who have completed a res- current veterinary behavior residents or residency‐
idency training program, published behavioral ● trained veterinarians. These are veterinarians currently
research and passed a qualifying exam covering medi- in their university or private practice residency pro-
cine, ethology, pharmacology, and clinical behavior grams or who have completed their residency but have
of domestic and nondomestic species. As specialists, not yet passed their board‐administered examination
they have a breadth of clinical experience and nonresidency‐trained veterinarians with extensive
advanced knowledge of behavioral treatment options. ● behavior education and experience. There are many
Referral to a veterinary behaviorist is always appro- excellent veterinarians who have devoted their careers
priate and may be preferable in certain situations to the study and practice of veterinary behavior but
(Box 177.1). have not completed a formal residency. They may have
If a board‐certified veterinary behaviorist does not behavior‐only private practices or see behavior cases
practice within a reasonable distance of your clinic, con- as part of their general practice.
sider a veterinarian‐to‐veterinary specialist consult via
phone or email to discuss the case or refer to a non- The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
boarded veterinarian with behavioral experience in your (AVSAB) is an organization consisting of veterinarians
local area. and research professionals whose mission is to promote