For Owners

Our animals’ wellbeing can have a direct and profound effect on our lives and that of our families - even the smallest issues can have an accumulative impact on our day to day lives.The vast amount of conflicting ‘off-the-shelf’ advice available from unqualified individuals can be confusing. It can be hard to know where to start or which methods to use.

At Donovan Veterinary Behaviour Practice, we know you want the best for your animal and that every situation is unique. Recognising and understanding the psychology and emotions in the presenting behaviour enables us to take a holistic approach to help you implement the most ethical, effective and positive methods to address the unwanted behaviour.

Our multidisciplinary team all work to a shared standard of practice, seeking to protect and promote the welfare of each animal. A kind and carefully considered approach will be tailored for your animal as just like you, we want the best for your animal. You will be empowered with the knowledge and ability to make the changes to help your animal.

We offer:

Within one of our treatment plans, we holistically help you and your animal. You work directly the lead clinical animal behaviourist of your choice, Kate Ellam or Loni Loftus, who you will work directly with and they will lead and guide you through the treatment plan. Your lead behaviourist will work directly with our Veterinary Behaviourists, Hannah Donovan and Eilidh Mackay to thoroughly review and discuss your animal’s case, incorporating their valuable veterinary expertise and knowledge to collectively create your animal’s bespoke behaviour modification plan. It really is a team effort! The team also prepares a veterinary report for your animal’s prescribing veterinary practice to ensure we are all working as a team and to provide advice with any medical and pharmacotherapy drugs that can help with the behaviour change. For dogs, the team also includes Giulia Danielis, our canine trainer who will work with you going through everything practically to help you put into place the suggestions recommended by your lead behaviourist. As you progress with your animal’s plan over 3-6 months with the help and follow-up options with your lead behaviourist, the veterinary behaviourists are available to provide support in regards to medical advice and medication queries throughout.

With all that we offer, we really aren’t your average behaviour practice!


Success

The success of a behaviour modification programme is down to the hard-work of you, the owners. To successfully treat a behavioural issue it may take a significant amount of time, hard work and commitment from every member in the family, as well as those of us working to help improve the animal’s quality of life. There is usually no quick-fix for a long-term behavioural change, therefore owners must be aware of the effort required before undergoing referral. If adjunct therapy is recommended, for example, psychopharmacy, then this is in addition to the behaviour modification programme, there is not usually one quick cure that will work in behavioural science and medicine.

Insurance

Many insurance companies do provide cover for behavioural problems as part of their policies. If your pet is insured, check with your insurance company as your policy may cover behaviour referrals. Each insurance company provides a different level of cover, therefore it is advisable that if you are unsure, you either call your insurance company or check your policy documents which should contain all the necessary information regarding your excess level and cover available.

Although we cannot claim directly from the insurance company, we can complete the necessary paperwork to enable you to claim the money back on your insurance. If further veterinary work-up or tests are required, these will be continued and charged as normal with your own referring veterinary practice.

Charities

Let us know if you are representing a registered animal charity or shelter.

Emergencies

In case of an emergency, please contact the veterinary practice that your animal is registered with or their out of office practice provider.

Got any questions?

If you have any questions, please check our FAQs or get in touch via email or Contact Us. Please add info@donovanvetbehaviour.com to your safe senders list or check your spam/junk folder in case our response is filtered there in error.

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