Some of the first clinical signs of discomfort in felines manifest behaviorally, including hiding, biting, eliminating outside the box, and grooming leading to hair-loss. While there are a plethora of behavioral differential diagnoses for the above clinical signs, it is not uncommon for medical causes to be left undiagnosed. Behavioral treatment for these covert physical diseases often prove unsuccessful, leaving pet parents dissatisfied and cats remaining uncomfortable. This lecture will delve into the most common chief complaints to general practitioners that present behaviorally but are not truly behavioral in origin. We will then discuss the appropriate diagnostic steps to take and at which point to refer to a veterinary behaviorist, if at all. We will end with an applied discussion on a real-life pica case!
About the Presenter
Dr. Vanessa Spano, DVM is a resident with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists under the mentorship of Dr. E’Lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB. Having finished the clinical portion of her residency, she has seen 600+ primary behavioral cases to date in companion animal private practice. Dr. Spano graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada in 2017 and completed her Small Animal Internal Medicine & Surgical Rotating Internship at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in NYC.
When she is not in the clinic, Dr. Spano engages in research and lecturing. She is currently conducting research on low-stress handling in sheltered felines through a Fear Free(TM) grant. She has lectured for numerous veterinary hospitals and universities on behavioral psychopharmacology and the intersection of behavior and welfare and is a recurring lecturer for the New York State Veterinary Medical Society. Dr. Spano also provides behavioral consultation for a variety of shelters in the Tri-State Area, including the ASPCA.
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