Julie Shaw, RVT, VTS (Behavior), owner and director of Stepping Stone Animal Training, LLC. In Lafayette, Indiana, explains the role of each member of a mental health care team for pets.
Julie Shaw, RVT, VTS (Behavior), owner and director of Stepping Stone Animal Training, LLC. In Lafayette, Indiana, explains the role of each member of a mental health care team for pets.
The veterinarian is the one making the diagnosis, prescribing, and prognosing; the veterinary nurse is the eyes and ears for the veterinarian and the trainer; the trainer will help the pet parent apply the behavior modification and training techniques that have been prescribed by the veterinarian; the referral service is used when a patient may need a different medication plan out of the realm of the current veterinary practice; and the social worker is used when the pet parent may be struggling.