Most patients who demonstrate aggression in the veterinary setting do so out of fear. However, these fearful and fractious patients pose a real risk to veterinary team members. These cases can also be stressful and time-consuming. This talk will focus on practical strategies and sedation plans to enhance safety and reduce stress for all parties involved.

Marie Hopfensperger, DVM, DACVB is one of four board-certified veterinary behaviorists in the state of Michigan. She is an assistant professor at Michigan State University, where she runs the Behavioral Health & Wellness service. Her areas of clinical expertise include sedation of fearful and fractious companion animals, behavioral pharmacology, canine and feline aggression, and feline inappropriate elimination. Her current research is related to shelter dogs, specifically the assessment of their behavioral health and pharmacologic interventions to support their welfare while in the shelter, as well as evaluation of their behavior in the adoptive home environment. Dr. Hopfensperger was the first veterinarian ever to be selected as Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Fellow. Her focus during this fellowship was on developing a trauma-informed One Welfare model of animal-assisted therapy, such that programming is beneficial for both human and animal participants. She is a passionate advocate for veterinary student wellbeing and is humbled to have received two teaching awards in 2021.

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