Case Study: Behavioral Consultations
The doctors at Bowman Animal Hospital and Cat Clinic, Inc. in Raleigh, N.C., see an average of four to five behavioral consultations per month, says Monica Dixon Perry, CVPM, the practice?s hospital administrator. Of these behavioral consults, the vast majority lead to diagnostic testing to determine whether there are any underlying medical reasons for the behavioral issue, says Audra Alley, DVM, CVA. "If a cat or a dog is urinating abnormally, we start with a urinalysis to determine whether there are any abnormalities. If the results of the urinalysis are positive, we treat the medical problems first and then re-evaluate the behavior," Dr. Alley says.
CASE STUDY: BEHAVIORAL CONSULTATIONS
The doctors at Bowman Animal Hospital and Cat Clinic, Inc. in Raleigh, N.C., see an average of four to five behavioral consultations per month, says Monica Dixon Perry, CVPM, the practice's hospital administrator. Of these behavioral consults, the vast majority lead to diagnostic testing to determine whether there are any underlying medical reasons for the behavioral issue, says Audra Alley, DVM, CVA. "If a cat or a dog is urinating abnormally, we start with a urinalysis to determine whether there are any abnormalities. If the results of the urinalysis are positive, we treat the medical problems first and then re-evaluate the behavior," Dr. Alley says.
If underlying medical conditions are ruled out, doctors will refer on average one to two patients per month to a behavioral specialist, Dr. Alley says. "I had one client whose dog would exhibit extreme signs of anxiety when the client simply went out to get the mail. The patient also chewed a hole in the seat of her car when she ran back in the house to get something she forgot. This is an example of the type of case we would refer to a specialist."
On average a behavioral consultation with a veterinarian at Bowman Animal Hospital costs $58. Because additional diagnostics occur during the majority of the consultations, including, but not limited to, chemistry profiles, complete blood count, thyroid profiles, and urinalysis, most comprehensive behavioral consults cost between $120 and $160. When clients are educated about the benefits of diagnostic testing to rule out underlying medical conditions, they understand the additional costs and appreciate the advantages of a referral to a behavioral specialist, Dr. Alley says.
The doctors always recommend a behavioral consultation if the owner is contemplating euthanasia due to behavioral issues. "Sometimes the pet simply needs medical therapy, or to be provided with professional obedience training and/or guidance. Euthanasia is the last resort," Perry says. If a client is still contemplating euthanasia after the behavioral consultation has taken place, the veterinarians recommend that the owner seek a second opinion from a behavioral specialist to assist the client with a fully informed decision.
Although behavioral consultations generate an average of $650 per month, Perry says: "More important, the service is invaluable from the human-animal bond prospective. We are attempting to address behavior and/or obedience issues so that owners and their pets are able to have a stronger, healthier relationship which will eliminate the unnecessary euthanasia of a pet."
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