You may be wondering why we require vet-referrals before seeing you, so I thought I
would write a blog to explain why!
The first reason is that I am working towards accreditation, and a requirement for this is that cases are vet-referral only, so this will help me on that journey.
The second reason, and this is really important, is that often health and behaviour go hand in hand. I am sure you can relate if you have ever felt unwell, and this has made you feel more snappy and less tolerant . The same can be true for dogs, if they feel unwell or are experiencing some discomfort, they may be less tolerant than usual, and so appear aggressive or snappy. Certain health issues may make them weary of being touched, groomed or picked up, as it may cause them pain, but to us, it may just seem like they are being grumpy. Medical conditions can also lead to other behavioural changes, such as eating non-food objects (e.g. faeces, metal, stone etc), post-mealtime aggression, sudden apparent aggression, having accidents around the house and more.
It is therefore very important that before dogs have a consultation, we can have access to medical records, and that we have contact with the vet so that we can discuss this where necessary. Having communication with the vets is also important because often it is not so clear cut as to whether behaviour problems are medical or behavioural, problems can begin due to medical issues, but once the medical issue has cleared up, the problem may still remain. For example, if a dog had a leg injury and so for a time, clipping their nails was painful, but even once the leg injury has gone, they may have associated the clippers with the pain, so the avoidance of this persists.
Have a great day!
Phoebe
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