Preparing for your consultation

You will need to complete a behavioural questionnaire before your initial consultation. This helps me understand your pet’s history, daily life and the difficulties you are experiencing.Videos can also be helpful, but are optional. Only record behaviour where it is safe to do so, without deliberately provoking distress or aggression.

Resources: Resources

Consultations

Behavioural consultations

The Mind Vet provides behavioural medicine consultations for dogs and cats, on referral from their usual veterinary practice.

Most initial consultations take place remotely, allowing pet owners across the UK to access the service from the comfort of their home. Home visits are also available depending on your preference, our availability and your location. Referrals from outside the UK are not currently accepted.

View Consultation Fees

Initial Consultation

Usually 60–90 minutes

The initial consultation gives you time to explain your pet’s difficulties and how they affect everyday life.

Together, we explore how the behaviour developed, your pet’s physical health, routines and environment, and their responses to different situations. This helps us understand what may be contributing and develop a treatment plan suited to your pet and household.

Before the appointment, you will need to complete a behavioural questionnaire. Videos of everyday behaviour can also be helpful, but are optional and should only be recorded safely, without causing distress or provoking aggression.

After the consultation, you and your referring vet will receive a written report explaining the assessment and individual treatment recommendations, with practical guidance to help you put the plan into practice.

Follow-up consultation

Usually 30-45 minutes

Follow-up consultations give us time to review your pet’s progress, discuss what is working and address any difficulties with putting the plan into practice. We can adjust recommendations to your pet’s needs and your household, and review or adjust medication where appropriate.

The first follow-up usually takes place four to six weeks after the initial consultation. Further appointments are generally six to eight weeks apart, depending on your pet’s needs and progress.

Behavioural change takes time, and follow-up is an important part of treatment.

The number of appointments needed varies, and we will discuss the next steps together as treatment progresses.

Consultation and travel fees will be confirmed before booking. Payment is due on receipt of your invoice, which is usually sent on the day of the consultation. Please pay by bank transfer using the details provided on the invoice.Some pet insurance policies cover veterinary behavioural treatment. Before your appointment, please check with your insurer whether treatment is covered and whether they require a veterinary referral or prior authorisation. I can provide relevant documentation to support your claim.

You can contact me directly before obtaining a referral to discuss your pet’s difficulties and whether a consultation would be helpful.If you decide to proceed, I will explain how to ask your usual veterinary practice to send a referral and your pet’s clinical history. These are needed before your appointment can be confirmed.Physical health can contribute to behavioural difficulties, and I can liaise with your vet about any examination or investigations needed prior to the appointment.

Frequently asked questions

About Consultations

Behaviour concerns

About The Mind Vet

Referrals

Training helps dogs develop skills and learn how to respond in different situations. Veterinary behavioural care also assesses and treats physical health problems and emotional distress that may be affecting your dog’s behaviour and ability to learn.A dog who is constantly on high alert, panicking when left alone or reacting aggressively through fear may be too distressed to concentrate or respond to training. Anxiety is not a lack of obedience and cannot simply be “trained out” of a dog.Behaviour modification is an important part of treatment, alongside practical management, environmental changes and medication where appropriate. Together, these measures address the underlying distress, helping your dog feel safer, cope better and become more able to learn.

A detailed history is central to behavioural assessment. Your questionnaire, veterinary records and any safely recorded videos help us understand what happens in everyday life, while the video consultation gives us time to explore the problem and discuss management options. You can attend from home without requiring your pet to travel. We will advise whether a remote consultation is recommended for your pet when you enquire.

Some changes can help quite quickly, while others require sustained treatment over several months. Progress depends on the nature and severity of your pet’s difficulties, their circumstances and how they respond to treatment.In my experience, most pets make meaningful progress within three to six months with appropriate treatment, although some need longer. We will discuss realistic expectations for your pet and review their progress together at follow-up appointments.

Yes. I see dogs and cats who have bitten people or other animals, and aggression is a common reason for referral to The Mind Vet. I understand how frightening and upsetting this can be, particularly when it involves someone in your household. You are welcome to seek help, and you can discuss what has happened openly and without judgement.We will explore the circumstances of the incident(s) and what may be contributing to your pet’s aggression, then develop an individual treatment and management plan to reduce risk and support their wellbeing. While awaiting assessment, avoid situations likely to lead to another incident and use secure separation where needed. You do not need a video of the aggression to seek help; please do not deliberately provoke the behaviour or recreate an incident to record it.

Not necessarily. Medication is considered according to your pet’s individual needs and may form part of a treatment plan alongside practical management, environmental changes and behaviour modification.If I recommend medication, we will discuss how it may help, its pros and cons, and what treatment would involve, so you can make an informed decision. We will monitor your pet’s response and review treatment together.

Yes. Your usual vet is an important partner in your pet’s behavioural care and continues to provide their general veterinary care. They provide the referral and clinical history, and we share a report after each consultation so we can coordinate assessment and treatment.We liaise with your vet about treatment recommendations, any necessary health checks or monitoring, and subsequent changes. When medication is recommended, we will also ask for their assistance with prescribing and dispensing.

No - you can contact me first to discuss your pet’s difficulties and whether a consultation would be helpful.If you decide to proceed, I will explain how to ask your usual vet to send a referral and your pet’s clinical history. These are needed before we can confirm your appointment. The veterinary referral is also a pre-requirement for some pet insurance companies, including ManyPets. If you intend to claim for treatment costs from your pet insurance, please check your policy’s cover and any additional requirements before booking.

Enquire about consultation

Consultations

Behavioural consultations

Initial Consultation

Follow-up consultation

Payment and insurance

Referral and booking

Preparing for your consultation

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from dog training?

How does a remote consultation work?

How quickly will I see improvement?

Can you help if my pet has bitten someone?

Will my pet need medication?

Who provides medication if it is recommended?

Do you work with my usual vet?

Do I need a referral before contacting you?