2008 MVMA Fall Staff Seminar

How to Manage Common Behavior Problems in Your Practice
with Dr. Barbara Sherman

Seminar Day
7:30 - 8:30 - Registration & Coffee
8:30 - 12:00 - Seminar
12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch
1:00 - 4:30 - Seminar

Pre-registration fees (before November 7, 2008)		On-Site Registration fees (after November 7, 2008)
MVMA Veterinarian	$160	MVMA Veterinarian	$185
Technician/Staff/Other	$90	Technician/Staff/Other	$105
Veterinary Student	$60	Veterinary Student	$75
MN Non Member Veterinarians Add $50

Coffee breaks are scheduled midmorning and midafternoon--breaks, proceedings and lunch are included in the price of registration.

6 CE credits are given for this seminar

Cancellation must be done 48 hours prior to the seminar for a refund - a fee of 10% is nonrefundable

Veterinary students will be given the opportunity to register for a $20 fee, if space is available, 5 days prior to the seminar. Students will be informed by broadcast e-mail.

The MVMA Fall Staff Seminar

is generously Sponsored by

Behavior problems in companion animals are extremely common. Unacceptable behaviors can negatively impact the human-animal bond and lead to rehoming, relegation to an animal shelter. This seminar will focus on specific ways to assess and manage common behavior problems in veterinary practice.

Since the human/animal bond is forged through behavioral interactions between the pet and owner, offering behavior services conveys the veterinarian's interest in that important relationship. Such an interest, in turn, promotes client satisfaction with and loyalty to the practice. Since 45-90% of clients report behavior problems with their pets, solving behavior problems is an important component of veterinary practice. In fact, unresolved behavior problems may represent a significant patient loss to the veterinarian. How can you make your practice "behavior friendly"? Engage all practice team members in the process! From the receptionist to the kennel staff, we will discuss how to promote positive behavior and resolve veterinary behavior problems in your practice.

Psychotropic drugs are used to alter behavior or motivation and can be important in the management success of veterinary behavior problems. However, few veterinarians learned about these drugs in veterinary school and may wonder: What drugs do I use? When do I use them? We will focus on commonly used behavioral drugs and how to use them to manage veterinary behavior problems in clinical practice.

Canine separation anxiety is a common behavioral disorder, with signs reported in up to 14% of dogs that obtain regular veterinary care. Signs of canine separation anxiety occur when an affected dog is left alone or separated fromits "significant person". Anxiety is expressed by destructiveness, house soiling, vocalizing, hypersalivation, pacing and other signs. The dog's behavior when left alone is usually in marked contrast to its behavior in the presence of the owner, when it may never exhibit these misbehaviors. We will focus on the diagnosis and treatment of canine separation anxiety, and how to help those cases in which first-line treatment is inadequate.

Feline housesoiling problems are the most common behavioral complaints by cat owners to primary veterinarians. These behavior problems impact feline/human relationships ranging from the bond between the owner and the pet to the cat's tenture as a veterinary patient. If not resolved, housesoiling problems can lead to rehoming, relegation outside the home, abandonment, or even euthanasia of the offending cat. We will focus on the behavioral and medical differentials and the most effective management of feline housesoiling problems.

All dogs can bite. What factors trigger biting in dogs? When can aggression be managed and when is the risk too high? The types of aggression, rational assessment, and management techniques will be discussed.

Dr. Barbara L. Sherman is a licensed veterinarian and specialist in the field of veterinary behavior. Dr. Sherman is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine where she serves as Director of the Animal Behavior Service and is affiliated with the Program in Animal Welfare, Ethics, and Public Policy.

Dr. Sherman is a Diplomate and President of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, a member of the American College of Animal Welfare, and is certified by the Animal Behavior Society as an Applied Animal Behaviorist.

Dr. Sherman earned her DVM degree from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and her PhD degree with specialization in animal behavior from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has engaged in clinical research, published numerous articles, and lectured widely on applied animal behavior problems.