Behavioral Counseling

Behavioral Consultations with Dr. Sweitzer

At Moorpark Vet, we understand that pets, just like humans, can face behavioral challenges that impact their well-being and the bond they share with their owners. That’s why we offer specialized behavior consultations with Dr. Sweitzer, where we address a wide range of behavioral issues to help both pets and their owners live happier, more fulfilling lives together.

What We Address

Dr. Sweitzer works in helping pets overcome various behavioral issues, including:

  • Aggression: Towards humans or other animals, such as biting, scratching, etc.
  • Excessive Vocalizing: Including howling, barking, hissing, meowing, screeching, etc.
  • Property Destruction: Such as scratching, chewing, etc.
  • Inappropriate Elimination: Issues like urinating, defecating, vomiting (birds), etc.
  • Anxiety: Signs like shaking, hesitation, fearfulness.
  • Picky Eating: Even lifelong habits of finicky eating.

We understand that many of these behaviors can have underlying medical causes or require medical treatments. It’s important to address these issues promptly, as behavioral problems are a leading cause of pets being rehomed or euthanized, sometimes more so than medical conditions like cancer.

What to Expect

Our behavioral consultations with Dr. Sweitzer are comprehensive and tailored to your pet’s specific needs. Here’s what the process typically involves:

  1. Preparation: Clients are asked to fill out a questionnaire ahead of time and ideally provide videos of problematic behaviors. This helps Dr. Sweitzer better understand the situation and prepare for the consultation. If the information isn’t received 24 hours in advance, we may need to reschedule.
  2. Consultation: The consultation lasts for one hour and involves a detailed discussion of the behaviors, observation of the patient, and review of any videos provided by the client. While in-person consultations are preferred, virtual sessions via facetime video may be possible for follow-up visits.
  3. Behavioral Management Plan: During the appointment, Dr. Sweitzer will discuss a comprehensive behavioral management plan tailored to your pet’s needs. Within 24 hours of the appointment, clients will receive a detailed behavioral management plan via email.
  4. Physical Exam: If appropriate, Dr. Sweitzer will conduct a physical exam during the consultation to rule out any underlying medical issues contributing to the behavior.
  5. Treatment Plan: Based on the evaluation, Dr. Sweitzer will create a treatment plan that may include additional tests such as radiographs or blood/urine tests, as well as any recommended medications.
  6. Follow-up Support: Clients are encouraged to reach out via email with any questions or progress updates, which are included in the cost of the behavioral consultation.
  7. Progress Evaluation: For pets experiencing new problems or owners seeking further guidance, Dr. Sweitzer offers follow-up appointments for ongoing support and evaluation of progress.