Veterinary Behaviour Chat

Episode 142 – Using Trazodone with SSRIs and TCAs   Can trazodone be safely used in combination with and SSRI or TCA without causing signs of Serotonin Syndrome? This is one of the most frequently asked questions I hear, especially from GP vets.   Have a listen as I chat through my thoughts on this topic and refer back to one of the original studies on trazodone from 2008 where it was used as an a...

Episode 141 – Why "Gaba/Traz" is not always the best option   This episode was inspired by a lecture I gave at BVA Live 2026 and the ensuing questions and discussion about the use of Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals.   The truth is that while gabapentin and trazodone can be a good PVP combination for some canine patients, it should not be used as a "one size fits all" approach for all dogs requiring anxi...

Episode 140 – 15 Minute Speed Coaching with Sharon Jones – Dogs and Car Journeys   Welcome to another 15-minute Speed Coaching Session for Veterinary and Pet Care Professionals! The rules of the game are as follows: ·          Episodes will be in-the-moment, off-the-cuff and unscripted. ·          Coaching sessions will be 15 Minutes MAXIMUM, so wherever we finish, we finish… ·          Which mean...

Episode 139 – Can I offer Veterinary Behaviour Consultations without being a Trainer?   This episode was inspired by a Zoom Call question from one of my lovely participants of Learn To Speak Dog and Learn To Speak Cat, who is in the process of setting up a Veterinary Behaviour Service in a new hospital she has started working in. Her concern is that she can't yet offer consultations as she has not...

138 To Avoid or not to Avoid – That is the Question!   The avoidance of triggers and stimuli is such an important part of the treatment plan and falls into the Management "M" of the "7 Ms" Veterinary Behaviour Treatment Plan Template! However, it is also the part that gets possibly the most pushback from caregivers for a number of different reasons.   In this episode, I chat through those reasons...

Episode 137 – Interoception – The 8 th Sense   This episode was inspired by the 3 rd Case Call of "The Behaviour Case Collective" Membership where Dr Amber Batson and I co-presented a case where gastro-intestinal health had a big impact on Behaviour. During this conversation, the idea of Interoception was spoken about, and I thought it would be a GREAT topic to dive into!   Interoception is one of...

Episode 136 – Cooperative Care with Charlotte Lewis   I am always talking about bridging the gap between Veterinary Professionals and great non-Veterinary Professionals and encouraging more collaborative ways of working to best serve our patients and their families. So, when I heard that Charlotte runs a Cooperative Care Service at her local Veterinary Practice, provides CPD to the Vets at the pra...

Episode 135 – 15-minute Speed Coaching – Advocating for Behaviour in Practice with Nikki McLeod   Welcome to another 15-minute Speed Coaching Session for Veterinary and Pet Care Professionals! The rules of the game are as follows: ·          Episodes will be in-the-moment, off-the-cuff and unscripted. ·          Coaching sessions will be 15 Minutes MAXIMUM, so wherever we finish, we finish… ·     ...

Episode 134 – Escitalopram   Escitalopram is a really useful SSRI that is quite commonly prescribed by Veterinary Behaviour Specialists or veterinarians with a strong interest in Behaviour Medicine but is possibly sometimes overlooked by general practitioners. So, I thought we'd do a bit of a deep dive into escitalopram and the things you, as professionals, need to know about this medication.   He...

Episode 133 – What's new in CCDS – Working Group Guidelines for Diagnosis and Monitoring   In this episode, I talk through the 2026 Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Working Group Guidelines for Diagnosis and Monitoring of CCDS.   As a caregiver of a senior dog myself, this is a topic very close to my heart, so when these guidelines came out, I had to dig into them to get the very latest information on...

Episode 132 – Paroxetine   Paroxetine is a really useful SSRI that is quite commonly prescribed by Veterinary Behaviour Specialists or veterinarians with a strong interest in Behaviour Medicine but is possibly sometimes overlooked by general practitioners. So, I thought we'd do a bit of a deep dive into paroxetine and the things you, as professionals, need to know about this medication.   Here's w...

Episode 131 – 15-minute Speed Coaching with Charlotte Lewis – Hormones…A Case Discussion   Welcome to another 15-minute Speed Coaching Session for Veterinary and Pet Care Professionals! The rules of the game are as follows: ·          Episodes will be in-the-moment, off-the-cuff and unscripted. ·          Coaching sessions will be 15 Minutes MAXIMUM, so wherever we finish, we finish… ·          Wh...

Episode 130 – Behaviour and GI Health with Dr Amber Batson   We all know what a big and relevant topic this is at the moment as we are increasingly finding that our Behaviour Patients co-present with gut health disorders. In this incredible episode, Dr Amber Batson and I take a whistlestop tour through Behaviour and GI Health and what we have commonly found in our Veterinary Behaviour Patients bot...

Episode 129 – Sertraline   Sertraline is a really useful SSRI that is quite commonly prescribed by Veterinary Behaviour Specialists or veterinarians with a strong interest in Behaviour Medicine but is possibly sometimes overlooked by general practitioners. So, I thought we'd do a bit of a deep dive into sertraline and the things you, as professionals, need to know about this medication.   Here's w...

Episode 128 – Safety & Predictability, Control, Choice & Agency   The last 4 weeks of our lives here in Abu Dhabi have been interesting to say the least. Being under constant threat from Iranian missiles and hearing the loud "booms" of the interceptors taking care of them has been like nothing I have experienced before.   Living in this state of unrest really got me thinking about what we take for...

Episode 127 – 15-minute Speed Coaching with Dr Julie Liu   Welcome to another 15-minute Speed Coaching Session for Veterinary and Pet Care Professionals! The rules of the game are as follows: ·          Episodes will be in-the-moment, off-the-cuff and unscripted. ·          Coaching sessions will be 15 Minutes MAXIMUM, so wherever we finish, we finish… ·          Which means that we might not find...

Episode 126 – The Trinity Treatment Plan Template   I created this Treatment Plan Template to help keep me focused and organized during consultations and to ensure that I didn't miss a thing when writing my comprehensive report for my caregivers.   Based on the "7 M" approach to creating Veterinary Behaviour Treatment Plans, this template covers all the bases, ensures you don't overwhelm caregiver...

Episode 125 – Behaviour and Thyroid Disease   This is a big topic, and I really enjoyed diving into it. I think we can all agree that the outdated notion that low thyroid hormone levels in dogs directly causes aggression is exactly that – outdated. However, changes or dysregulation in thyroid hormone levels in both dogs and cats can still affect behaviour and this is what I chat about in this epis...

Episode 124 – The Behaviour Case Collective   Welcome to The Behaviour Case Collective, a one-of-a-kind Veterinary Behaviour Medicine Membership that deep-dives into a Behaviour Case every month.   What are the benefits? 1.       A Specialist-led approach to a common Veterinary Behaviour presentation each month. 2.       Guest speakers and presenters where appropriate. 3.       Relevant literature...

Episode 123 – 15-minute Speed Coaching with Dr Laura Stoeker   Welcome to another 15-minute Speed Coaching Session for Veterinary and Pet Care Professionals! The rules of the game are as follows: ·          Episodes will be in-the-moment, off-the-cuff and unscripted. ·          Coaching sessions will be 15 Minutes MAXIMUM, so wherever we finish, we finish… ·          Which means that we might not...

Episode 122 – Canine Sociability with Daniel Shaw   Dogs are social creatures and the need for social connection and social experiences as well as the lack of those can sometimes result in unwanted behavioural presentations.   In this super-cool episode, Daniel and I chat about: ·          The difference between fear or panic when dogs are separated from social partners and frustration at lacking...

Episode 121 – The Veterinary Behaviour Launchpad and FREE Masterclass   I am SO excited to introduce you to my brand-new course – The Veterinary Behaviour Launchpad. A course that will literally help you launch your journey of integrating behavioural thinking into your practice.   This course is perfect for you if you: ·          Are a vet or vet nurse who wants to improve clinical outcomes by red...

Episode 120 – Suspicion of Chronic Pain with Dr Hannah Capon   One of the questions I get asked most frequently is how, if you are suspicious that your patient may be experiencing pain or discomfort, to relay this suspicion to the pet's GP vet or caregiver. Oftentimes, we see something during a consultation – a change in capability, posture, gait or behaviour – that makes us think there may be an...

Episode 119 – 15-minute Speed Coaching with Dr Lilla Balatonyi   Welcome to another 15-minute Speed Coaching Session for Veterinary and Pet Care Professionals! The rules of the game are as follows: ·          Episodes will be in-the-moment, off-the-cuff and unscripted. ·          Coaching sessions will be 15 Minutes MAXIMUM, so wherever we finish, we finish… ·          Which means that we might no...

Episode 118 – A Conversation with Triple Boarded Veterinary Behaviourist, Dr Kersti Seksel   What an honour to have this conversation with my good friend and residency mentor, triple boarded Veterinary Behaviourist, Dr Kersti Seksel. Kersti is one of the most inspirational pioneers of the Veterinary Behaviour industry, being boarded not only in America and Europe but also Australia.   Have a liste...