Safety skills - what signs to look for and how to de-escalate 'aggression' in the consult
Do you know what to do if a dog becomes aggressive in your consultation room? How can you get yourse...
27 min read
Spaniel slander: Why 'cocker rage' is a misguided myth
Recently, an 8-year-old cockapoo was referred to me - the latest of many presenting with suspected '...
19 min read
Early socialisation and habituation in kittens - implications for behaviour into adulthood
Early socialisation with humans and other animals, together with habituation to environmental stimul...
23 min read
Creating veterinary practice puppy parties with welfare, behaviour and owner education in mind
Puppies need the right start in life. Their experiences during the sensitive developmental period sh...
9 min read
A roadmap for treating abnormal repetitive behaviours in dogs
This article aims to provide an overview of how abnormal repetitive behaviours (ARBs) manifest in do...
11 min read
Firework fear first aid: a guide to common noise phobia medications for pets
It’s that time of year again – your consult list is starting to fill up with noise phobic dogs and t...
19 min read
Recognising pain in ageing dogs: why early intervention matters
Advances in veterinary medicine, nutrition and overall awareness of all aspects of pet care mean dog...
11 min read
Is clomipramine or fluoxetine more effective for reducing anxiety-related behaviours in dogs?
Imagine this clinical scenario: you are presented with a client-owned dog that exhibits anxiety-rela...
10 min read
Pets that go bump in the night: why understanding the nocturnal activity of our companion animals is crucial to providing good care
Many common species of companion animal can be active at night. Think of the ubiquitous domestic cat...
13 min read
5 Ways to Make Your Practice Low Stress & Fear Free
As vets and nurses, none of us want our patients to be stressed. Not only is it not nice for the ani...
10 min read
A vet nurse’s guide to feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome
Due to advances in veterinary treatment and care, our feline friends are living to a much older age....
16 min read
6 ways a veterinary nurse behaviour qualification can benefit your practice
When it comes to creating a great veterinary team, some of the biggest benefits can be found in trai...
7 min read
Clicker training as an enrichment method for cats
Imagine this clinical scenario: you are a vet working at a busy cat adoption centre. At a staff meet...
8 min read
When enough is enough – what is the appropriate amount of exercise for puppies?
Common advice given to puppy owners is to exercise their puppy for five minutes per month of age to ...
12 min read
Dispelling common myths about inter-dog aggression
Aggression (including barking, growling, lunging, snapping and biting) directed towards unfamiliar d...
17 min read
Can trazodone be used to manage stress in hospitalised canine patients?
Imagine this clinical scenario: you work in a companion animal practice with a high surgical caseloa...
10 min read
Is hormone replacement therapy a risk to pets?
As a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) user, I am particularly interested in this subject matter; ho...
13 min read
Recognising signs of pain in cats
There are sensory and emotional aspects of pain, and, as such, every individual can experience pain ...
19 min read
Teenage tearaways! Behaviour changes related to adolescence in dogs
What is adolescence? It is a long period of development wherein a juvenile becomes an adult, behavio...
14 min read
Behaviour management in a post-pandemic world
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound behavioural impact on many companion animals and presented uniq...
10 min read
Fear-free avian practice – minimising stress for birds in veterinary practice
It is well known that a visit to a veterinary clinic is a stressor for the majority of our patients....
24 min read
The importance of cat-friendly practices in veterinary medical care
Cats are one of the most popular pets around the world. Nevertheless, pet owners do not seek veterin...
15 min read
Understanding the dog–owner relationship pre- and post-partum: how can veterinary staff help when family dynamics change?
For many owners, their furry companions are more than just pets – they are family members who provid...
14 min read
The role of neurotransmitters and the reward cascade in companion animal behaviour
Veterinary professionals regularly have to treat dogs with behavioural problems associated with anxi...
6 min read
Socialisation for pre-vaccination puppies
Puppies require adequate socialisation to become well-rounded, confident adult dogs. Puppies who do ...
17 min read
Pseudopregnancy in spayed bitches – a preventable welfare problem
It has been proposed that the pathophysiology of pseudopregnancy in spayed bitches is an unintention...
18 min read
Dispelling separation anxiety myths: what advice should veterinary professionals give to clients?
An estimated 23 to 55 percent of the UK dog population are thought to suffer from some form of separ...
12 min read
The top three myths about pseudopregnancy in dogs
About 18 months ago, I “outed” myself as having an interest in pseudopregnancy in dogs. This has res...
17 min read
Let sleeping dogs lie: What you need to know about canine sleep
Let him sleep. For in dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own. Let him swim in the deepest...
13 min read
Dominance – when an outdated theory won’t go away
As a dog behaviourist and trainer I often get clients concerned that their dog is being “dominant” –...
10 min read
