How much does a veterinary behavior consultation cost?
The initial behavior consultation is $465. On average, it takes 2.5-3 hours. It is typically performed in-person at your home. Weekend appointments are offered with limited availability for an additional $50. Please note that there may be an additional travel time fee if significant driving time is required.
Rechecks are $185 and are typically done remotely via Zoom, but can be done in-person for an additional fee. Most cases will require multiple rechecks for successful management of problem behaviors.
Priority scheduling is offered for an additional charge in emergency cases (such as impending euthanasia or rehoming), depending on availability. Please contact us to discuss options if this applies to your pet.
Are you a trainer?
No, I am not a dog or cat trainer, and this appointment is not a training session. I am a veterinarian with a special focus in behavior. I will help you identify the underlying causes for a behavioral pathology so that we can best treat it. I will provide you with the tools to start doing training exercises on your own. In some cases, I may recommend a behavior modification coach for you to work with, depending on the severity of your pet’s case, as well as your own abilities. (Additional costs would be worked out between yourself and the behavior modification coach).
I have more than one pet. Can we talk about my other pet(s) during this consultation, too?
There are many factors that influence behavior, and it’s best that I have a complete assessment of a pet before making recommendations about them. If you have more than one pet with behavior concerns, I would recommend scheduling a consultation for your other pet, as well. Discounts are available for multi-pet appointments. Please contact us to discuss arrangements for multi-pet consultations. A separate questionnaire should be completed for each pet that needs a behavior consultation. You do not need to complete questionnaires for other pets in the home that don’t need consultations.
How long is this consult going to take?
Consultations can take up to 3 hours for one patient (~5 hours for 2 patients). Please make sure you have enough time on your schedule, in case we go over. You might be surprised at how much time it can take to get to the bottom of a behavior issue.
It sounds like this is going to take a lot of time and effort. How quickly will I see results?
Just like with a person with a mental health disorder, managing behavioral pathologies in cats and dogs requires long-term management strategies, and it will take time (usually months) to hit your goals. We can still start seeing some improvement early on, though. For example, while behavior modification strategies and some medications can take weeks to months to be effective, environmental management strategies and shorter-acting medications can start taking effect immediately.
If I’m not comfortable using medications in my pet, are there more natural alternatives we can consider?
The most important parts of most behavioral management plans are the behavior modification and environmental management (which do not involve any medications). However, there are many cases where it is impossible to achieve our goals through the aforementioned methods alone. In those cases we can discuss if supplements would be helpful.
If we do start medications, we always have the option of weaning off of them at any point.
How many rechecks will I need, and what is the difference between the initial consultation and rechecks?
In most cases, I will recommend our first recheck within 4-6 weeks of the initial consultation. Further rechecks will depend on the rate of progress that we are making, and what medications or supplements we are using. While the initial consult may last up to 3 hours, rechecks are usually 30-45 minutes (sometimes going as long as 1 hour). In rechecks, we reassess where we are, assess how our current treatment methods are working, and make adjustments accordingly to get you closer and closer to hitting your goals. You should plan on needing at least one recheck.
Can I just call Dr. Edwards instead of scheduling a follow-up appointment?
Dr. Edwards is always available to answer questions by email. However, if it has been more than a month since your last appointment, or if the concerns require a greater discussion than is possible by email, we will recommend that you move your follow-up appointment sooner. Unfortunately, because behavior consultations take many hours, Dr. Edwards is not available for phone calls outside of scheduled behavior consultation and recheck appointments. That said, Dr. Edwards’ technician, Mary, is available by text message for additional support between appointments.
What payment forms do you accept?
Payment is due at the end of the initial consultation. I accept cash, check, Venmo, or Zelle. I do not accept credit cards for the initial consultation (though I am able to accept them for rechecks and for deposits).
Where do we meet?
We will meet at your home for the initial consult (unless we specifically spoke about meeting elsewhere). Rechecks are typically performed via video chat (Zoom), though in-person rechecks are available for an additional fee.