Behavioural Assessment appointments
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At Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital, we offer Dog and Cat Behavioural Assessment appointments with Dr Kristy that are aimed to address problematic behaviour(s) that you may have with your pet.
Dr Kristy is particularly passionate about veterinary behaviour, and has completed multiple advanced courses to further her knowledge in this field. She continues to build on her education in behavioural medicine so that she can help all pets to live a calmer, happier and more stress-free life. Dr Kristy also recently became a fear-free certified professional. Behavioural issues can be grouped as problem behaviours or behaviour problems. Problem behaviours are behaviours that are normal for the animal to show (normal in frequency, duration, intensity and context), but are problematic to us. Examples of this would include a dog digging up the backyard when bored, or a cat scratching furniture. Behaviour problems are behaviours that deviate from normal, and usually reflect an animal’s inability to cope. For example, a dog who barks excessively and destroys the house when left alone, due to underlying separation anxiety. Problem behaviours can generally be addressed through training or changes to the environment, whereas behaviour problems usually require more extensive treatment plans. Dr Kristy has seen a variety of behaviour problem cases, such as overgrooming, urination issues and reactivity in cats, and storm phobias, noise phobias, separation anxiety, and reactivity towards people and animals in dogs. She has received excellent responses from her patients, with improvements seen in more than 80% of cases to date. |
What to expect?Before considering a Behavioural Assessment, your pet needs to have had a general health check consultation with any of our Veterinarians as a prerequisite. This is to ensure that there are no underlying medical issues that could be causing or contributing to the behavioural issues.
After this consultation, if our Veterinarian determines that your pet can proceed with a Behavioural Assessment with Dr Kristy, you will be emailed a questionnaire. This is a very comprehensive document, with certain questions having been intentionally designed to seem repetitive. The completed questionnaire needs to be emailed back to us at least 3 days prior to the appointment. Dr Kristy will review all of the received information prior to your visit. The Behavioural Assessment appointments run for approximately 60-90 minutes. Following the appointment, you will receive a written report within a few days, summarising important information and the management plan. We will support you through regular phone calls and revisits in person. A follow up behavioural questionnaire will be emailed to you for completion prior to recheck appointments. |
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Client Testimonials
Dr Kristy's Rave Reviews
I had the pleasure of working with Dr Kristy during behaviour appointments for my dog Semper. Her expertise and approach made a difference in Semper’s behaviour. The guidance provided was practical, effective, and tailored specifically to his needs.
My Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Semper, came to Dr Kristy with storm anxiety and some indications of doggy dementia. He would bark all night during winter when there was rain or wind which kept me up all night too. We had engaged an animal behaviourist and made some changes to his environment, but they suggested medication might be also be needed to assist.
With some monitoring and modifications to his medication we survived winter 2023 with no adverse experiences and have minimised his anxiety which is a great outcome.
I highly recommend Dr. Kristy's services to any pet owner facing behavioural challenges. The impact on my pet's behaviour, our relationship and the household getting a good night sleep has been invaluable.
Thank you, Dr. Kristy, for your exceptional support and dedication!
From,
Leah (Semper's Mum)
My Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Semper, came to Dr Kristy with storm anxiety and some indications of doggy dementia. He would bark all night during winter when there was rain or wind which kept me up all night too. We had engaged an animal behaviourist and made some changes to his environment, but they suggested medication might be also be needed to assist.
With some monitoring and modifications to his medication we survived winter 2023 with no adverse experiences and have minimised his anxiety which is a great outcome.
I highly recommend Dr. Kristy's services to any pet owner facing behavioural challenges. The impact on my pet's behaviour, our relationship and the household getting a good night sleep has been invaluable.
Thank you, Dr. Kristy, for your exceptional support and dedication!
From,
Leah (Semper's Mum)
Semper
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Semper
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Ted
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Our family have been bringing furry family members to KSAH since 1998 with our first dog Hensh. Sasha and Toby followed (2005-2019), then a 5 week old kitten I rescued from the side of the freeway after he nearly fell into the drain. The current patients are Ted, Rosie and Shadow.
Shadow came to KSAH for puppy classes. He likes to come now for a treat, and a pat from everyone, especially those behind reception!
The primary patient is my mini poodle, Ted, who developed dog aggression and social anxiety after a number of life changes in 2022 and 2023. He would bark, growl and lunge at larger dogs while on lead, and began to charge at other dogs if off lead (which immediately ceased his off lead park privileges). Both behaviours were was highly problematic and of great concern. Being the ‘leader’ of the trio, he would wind up the other 2 dogs, particularly Shadow, into being his muscle for a fight. People began to cross the street while we were walking, whereas previously the trio were the social butterflies of the neighbourhood who loved to get a pat from everybody walking past, and had positive interactions with other dogs on and off lead.
There was no particular event that set Ted off, but we were concerned that if we allowed the behaviour to continue, he would get himself or us seriously hurt.
Ted had a behaviour assessment with Dr Kristy in August 2023. We implemented a behaviour plan which was a multimodal approach of medications and training to address Ted’s behaviour, and to see if we could reduce, or even eliminate, his new aggression. We changed up his schedule to reduce the potential to encounter triggers and commenced clicker training, as well as on-lead training. Ted was 7.5 years old at the time he commenced the plan.
Nearly 12 months on, and he has been doing so well. He is able to approach dogs on lead and say/sniff hello politely and without issue, which was the primary concern. We have strategies to address his behaviour when we identify he is becoming stressed or reactive, and can redirect attention or behaviour to prevent issues. Ted has been very polite when coming to collect his medication and interacting with other dogs in the clinic. We can also take him and the other dogs for walks in the neighbourhood without worrying about him causing an issue, and people now come up again to say hello and pat the dogs which makes for a far more enjoyable and social outing for them and for us!
I would highly recommend KSAH and Dr Kristy for a behaviour plan and particularly for any fear based aggression, social anxiety and for retraining should any new behavioural issues arise. You can definitely teach a middle aged dog new tricks!
Thank you KSAH for your dedicated care of all our family members! We wouldn’t go anywhere else.
Regards,
Jacquie (Ted's Mum)
Shadow came to KSAH for puppy classes. He likes to come now for a treat, and a pat from everyone, especially those behind reception!
The primary patient is my mini poodle, Ted, who developed dog aggression and social anxiety after a number of life changes in 2022 and 2023. He would bark, growl and lunge at larger dogs while on lead, and began to charge at other dogs if off lead (which immediately ceased his off lead park privileges). Both behaviours were was highly problematic and of great concern. Being the ‘leader’ of the trio, he would wind up the other 2 dogs, particularly Shadow, into being his muscle for a fight. People began to cross the street while we were walking, whereas previously the trio were the social butterflies of the neighbourhood who loved to get a pat from everybody walking past, and had positive interactions with other dogs on and off lead.
There was no particular event that set Ted off, but we were concerned that if we allowed the behaviour to continue, he would get himself or us seriously hurt.
Ted had a behaviour assessment with Dr Kristy in August 2023. We implemented a behaviour plan which was a multimodal approach of medications and training to address Ted’s behaviour, and to see if we could reduce, or even eliminate, his new aggression. We changed up his schedule to reduce the potential to encounter triggers and commenced clicker training, as well as on-lead training. Ted was 7.5 years old at the time he commenced the plan.
Nearly 12 months on, and he has been doing so well. He is able to approach dogs on lead and say/sniff hello politely and without issue, which was the primary concern. We have strategies to address his behaviour when we identify he is becoming stressed or reactive, and can redirect attention or behaviour to prevent issues. Ted has been very polite when coming to collect his medication and interacting with other dogs in the clinic. We can also take him and the other dogs for walks in the neighbourhood without worrying about him causing an issue, and people now come up again to say hello and pat the dogs which makes for a far more enjoyable and social outing for them and for us!
I would highly recommend KSAH and Dr Kristy for a behaviour plan and particularly for any fear based aggression, social anxiety and for retraining should any new behavioural issues arise. You can definitely teach a middle aged dog new tricks!
Thank you KSAH for your dedicated care of all our family members! We wouldn’t go anywhere else.
Regards,
Jacquie (Ted's Mum)