Diagnostic Programmes for Dogs

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Our diagnostic consultations are designed to provide a detailed, compassionate and professional assessment of your pet’s behaviour. If you live within 50 miles of our practice, appointments are offered in your home (home visits last approximately three hours). Caregivers living further away are seen remotely (remote consultations are up to two hours).

As soon as your referral is submitted, you will receive a questionnaire to complete. Prior to your consultation, we will also ask you to capture up to three short videos of your pet in day-to-day situations (for example, on a walk, during playtime, or interacting with people). In addition, we will ask you to send a short tour of the house, highlighting areas that are relevant to your pet.

During the initial consultation, one of our veterinary surgeons will take an extensive history of your pet’s behaviour and explore the emotional motivations behind the problem. Based on this discussion, the vet will develop a personalised behaviour modification plan for you and your pet. After the consultation, you will receive a written report summarising the findings and treatment recommendations.

Please note: as your pet is under our ongoing behavioural care, they must be reviewed every 6 months by one of our own veterinary surgeons. A routine review with your GP vet will not fulfil this requirement and would not allow us to continue treatment.

Why do we ask for videos?

The videos help our vets observe your pet’s normal behaviour and environment. Seeing how your pet moves, interacts and relaxes in everyday situations, as well as the layout of your home, gives us valuable context that supports our assessment and helps us tailor the treatment plan more accurately. It also reduces the need for us to ask lots of descriptive questions during the consultation, meaning we can focus on more in-depth discussion.

Important:

We do not need to see the behaviour you are concerned about, and you should not attempt to create or provoke stressful situations in order to record footage.
We do not ask you to film your pet during episodes of problem behaviour. Instead, we gain all the necessary information through in-depth discussion, carefully structured questions and analysis of your pet’s behavioural history. This ensures that neither your pet nor your household is placed in a stressful or risky situation.

Meet our vets:

Ongoing guidance after your initial consultation

After your pet’s diagnostic consultation, our Rehabilitation Skills Coaches will continue working with you to interpret your pet’s body language and provide practical tools to support their progress.

Consultation Options

We offer rehabilitation consultations in two formats:

Remote (Video Link) – Flexible sessions you can access from the comfort of your own home.
In-Person (Oak Bank Stables) – Our facility provides a controlled, “away from home” environment with:
- Dog-proof paddocks
- A mock veterinary consulting room
- Carefully managed exposure to triggers

This setting minimises unexpected encounters with other dogs or people, while allowing safe, structured introductions.
Additional consultations incur an additional charge.

The Importance of Caregiver Support

Your role as a caregiver is at the heart of your pet’s rehabilitation journey. We encourage you to keep in regular contact with us via our preferred communication platform. This ongoing support allows us to:

Track your pet’s progress
Adjust their behavioural modification plan if needed
Provide you with reassurance and guidance every step of the way

Follow-up support from you, the caregiver, is crucial. Your involvement, combined with our professional guidance, is what helps create long-term behavioural change.