behavior.vetmed.ucdavis.eduBehavior Service | School of Veterinary Medicine

Skip to main content Menu School of Veterinary Medicine Open Search Close Search Search the site: Main navigation (extended config) About Us + Leadership Faculty Departments Achievements Community Outreach Contact / Directions Education + DVM Admissions DVM Program Tuition/Financial Aid Graduate Programs Internships / Residencies Continuing Education Student Life + Academic Calendar Clubs and Leadership Career Resources Mental Health & Wellness Diversity Externships Hospital + Emergency 24/7 Appointment / Referrals Small Animals Equine / Livestock Support Services Clinical Trials Research + Research Centers Graduate Education Student Research Global Programs Resource & Collaborations Events & Publications News + Latest News Upcoming Events Publications Success Stories Social Media / Blog Multi-Media quick-links + Giving Contact / Directions News Admissions Alumni Faculty Future Veterinary Medical Center Vet Med Extension Canvas Campus Directory VIPER VMACS Behavior Service Breadcrumb Home Veterinary Hospital Small Animal Behavior Service Pet Perspective Blog Behavior Tips Hospital Hospital Home About The Hospital Hospital Administration Strategic Plan Latest Internal Hospital / VMC Updates Emergency 24/7 Animal Health Topics Appointments / Referrals Referring Vets Small Animal Equine / Livestock Exotic Support Services Laboratory Services Anatomic Pathology Clinical Laboratory Services Transfusion Medicine & Blood Bank Case of the Month Clinical Trials Schedule a Tour Grief Counseling Hospital Volunteer Program UC Veterinary Medical Center - San Diego Contact Behavior Service Appointments New patient appointments: 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. M-F Please fill out: Canine Questionnaire or Feline Questionnaire (return via email or fax) Please see: Behavior Service Appointment Policies Telephone: (530) 752-1393 Email: vetbehavior@ucdavis.edu (appointments cannot be made via email) Fax: (530) 752-7616 (appointments cannot be made via fax) Location: UC Davis Health Science District VMTH 1 Garrod Drive Davis, California Facebook , Twitter , Youtube Behavior Animal Health Topics Behavior Service Welcome to the Behavior Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Our trained and experienced veterinarians have a specialty in animal behavior. This background enables our faculty and staff to consider possible medical conditions which may also affect the behavior of the animal as a whole. Our veterinary students directly take part in our process, with the veterinarian in charge, affording real-life experience in the pre-history research, diagnosis, prognosis and plan for treating the client’s pet. Prior to the appointment, we ask for the owner to provide information to assist the practitioner and student to better understand the needs of the pet and the family: Our Behavior Questionnaire: An in-depth review of the family dynamic in regard to the pet, as well as a review of its environmental and prior training history A medical pre-history from the pet’s current veterinarian Submitted video touring the pet’s environment and an example of the pet’s behavior (if safe) With this information, we can develop a specially tailored treatment plan, which is communicated through face-to-face communication, training performed with the owner and pet, as well as written materials to provide a synopsis of the visit. All family members are encourage to take part in the appointments. Training tools, such as collars, leashes, muzzles, harnesses and other items may be discussed and even fitted during the visit. Communication between and after appointments is heavily encourage to keep owners motivated and confident in the direction of the training (reasonable phone/email follow up is included within the appointment fee). Follow-up appointments may be recommended (typically 4 weeks after the initial visit) to track the patient’s progress, answer questions and add to the treatment plan activities. Many clients are referred by their veterinarian or trainer, but a referral is not required to make an appointment. Even if you have consulted multiple veterinarians and/or trainers regarding your pet’s situation, we are happy to see you. Though dogs and cats are our most frequent visitors, we also see birds, pocket pets, exotics, horses, wildlife and farm animals. Our veterinary behaviorists are trained in all non-human species. We work with shelters, rescue organizations, laboratories, sanctuaries, farms, zoos and more to address individual as well as population behavioral health concerns. We can assist in development of environmental enrichment, management strategies, behavior modification and systems to improve the well-being of the animals in your care. Behavior problems are a leading cause of pet relinquishment to shelters. Issues such as anxiety, aggression towards owners, animals or visitors can result in a breakdown of the bond between an owner and pet. These issues are not “training” problems, they’re deep emotional issues which require careful and methodical treatment rather than “obedience training.” We are committed to providing evidence-based, humane, fear-free non-confrontational treatment for our patients. Our goal is to help you understand your pet’s behavior and achieve realist goals which provide safety, harmony and comfort for everyone in the home. We see various types of animals, with many different behavioral problems. Some of the problems we routinely treat are: Dogs: aggression, barking, destructiveness, fear, house soiling, phobias, excessive barking and separation anxiety Cats: urine marking, inappropriate elimination, aggression, excessive meowing, over-grooming and scratching Birds: aggression, anxiety, fear, and feather picking Pet rodents and rabbits: aggression and repetitive behaviors Horses: aggression, fear, trailering problems, foal rejection and repetitive behaviors Cattle and other production animals: welfare and husbandry issues related to production For feline patients, we offer in-hospital appointments or at-home appointments for in clients in the local area, with prior approval from Personnel. An additional travel fee will apply for home visits. We also perform evaluations of shelter or other long-term housed animals to evaluate their behavior and welfare, as well as help shelters develop behavior protocols for the staff to implement. While behavioral observations are used to assess our patients, we derive a lot of the information from the history of the animal in question. Like psychiatry in humans, some patients require follow up visits. Our recheck appointments are hands-on exercises working on desensitization and counterconditioning in order to change your pet’s emotional response to the things which cause problems. These appointments typically last an hour to an hour and a half. We can work with outside trainers to give at-home support for this training process. We can provide an idea of how many recheck appointments might be needed in the treatment of your pet during our initial consultation. Faculty Liz Stelow , DVM, DACVB - Chief of Service Melissa Bain , DVM, DACVB, DACAW, MS Residents Sun A. Kim , DVM, MS - Resident III Staff Michelle Borchardt RVT, KPA-CTP Frequently Asked Questions How long does it take to get an appointment with the Behavior Service? Our service receives patients by appointment Monday through Friday. We can typically schedule a new patient within the week. We do not offer next day appointments. To make an appointment, contact the Small Animal Clinic (530)752-1393. Do I need a referral from my veterinarian to be able to make an appointment? No, in fact many clients find us from web searches or word of mouth. However, we highly recommend that your primary veterinarian continues to take part in all aspects of your pet’s health and well-being. Your veterinarian will be provided with a summary of your appointment. Will my primary care veterinarian be involved? Veterinary behaviorist...