This is an important aspect of any behavioural consultation but you may be wondering why that is. Pain and problem behaviour can often be linked. A pet like us, can be more grumpy and less tolerant when they are in pain. Here is a breakdown of why behaviourists work on vet referral.

·     It allows me to understand what procedures your pet has had,  any current or previous illnesses. This is important as it can help shape my behavioural plan for your pet. If your pet has arthritis I won’t be suggesting lots of sits in my plan – as this can be painful for them. I would hate to offer advice that could exacerbate a hidden problem and cause pain to your pet,

·     It opens up communication with your vet in case their input is needed at any stage and if any further investigations may need to take place

·     It allows a vet to let me know that the pet is physically fit and can go ahead with the consultation.

·     I can create a behavioural timeline to see if any behaviours were concurrent  with the onset of the behavioural challenge.

·     Discomfort and pain can exacerbate a behavioural problem even if the trigger is really obvious.

·     Even if a pet is running around it doesn’t mean that they aren’t in pain. Just like us, a dog can have a negative and positive experience at the same time (we may have cake but still have a sore shoulder).

·     Here is a paper on pain and problem behaviour that you may find helpful.

Photo by Teef and Tails