Ottawa Veterinary Behaviour Services

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Ottawa Veterinary Behaviour Services

Need help with your pet’s behaviour? Dr. Michelle Nicholson is a vet with a special interest in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine.

She is able to offer virtual consult as well as occasional in person appointments.

01/08/2026

We have human rules and expectations around appropriate behaviour, but our animals often do things that don’t align with these constructs. Usually, these behaviours are natural and instinctual to our animals. Take scratching the furniture, for example. To cats, this is completely normal and essential for their welfare. It is a way they express emotion, stretch out, mark territory and maintain healthy nails. To us, though? Couches are expensive, and most of us would prefer ours not to be ‘artfully shredded’ by our cat’s creative vision.

Our job isn’t to stop natural behaviours, but to redirect them to other outlets that meet their needs while protecting furniture and other household objects. When we understand the ‘why,’ we can change the ‘how’ in a way that feels fair and kind to you and your animal.

01/05/2026

When is it time to see a behaviour vet? The truth is, you don’t need to wait until your pet’s behaviour hits a certain threshold of severity. If your dog or cat is struggling with restlessness, anxiety, aggression, or behaviours that are escalating or affecting daily life, a veterinary assessment can make a world of difference.

Behaviour vets look at the full picture — medical, emotional, and environmental. We address pain, underlying health issues, medication needs, and the root causes of behaviour, while working closely with trainers and primary care vets on your pet’s behaviour plan.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what’s driving your pet’s behaviour, we’re here to help you figure it out. Early support can bring relief faster, for both you and your animal.

01/02/2026

Feeling drained? When your dog has behavioural challenges, it’s easy to forget that you matter, too. For some dogs, behaviour modification requires significant lifestyle changes for guardians, like:

✉️ Limiting or halting having people visit for dogs who are afraid of strangers.

🐾 Restricting walks and outings to low-traffic times of day for dogs who are reactive.

🏠 Coordinating routines with family members so that a separation anxiety dog doesn’t get left home alone.

On top of it all, these sacrifices this is accompanied by active training sessions, working with multiple dog professionals, and meetings all of a dog’s other needs. Caregiver burnout is a real thing!

Management, enrichment, and training strategies are tailored to help guardians make less of these sacrifices over time. Staying consistent with these components is important to meet your goals and live harmoniously with your dog. But waiting until that finish line to prioritize yourself? That’s a recipe for burnout.

If your cup has been emptying lately, think of what you can do to fill it back up. Putting yourself first isn’t selfish. It’s part of caring for your dog, too.

What’s one thing you can do today to fill your cup?

12/25/2025

Seven days of festive enrichment activities, just for dogs! These ideas are all simple, festive spins on traditional enrichment, and can support behaviour and wellbeing during this busy season. Many of the suggestions include activities that encourage licking, sniffing, and chewing, which all help dogs regulate emotions, process excitement, and settle more easily.

Whether it’s a holiday stocking snuffle, a frozen festive lick mat, or encouraging some seasonal sniffs, these small moments go a long way in supporting self-regulation during this busy season.

What is your dog’s favourite enrichment activity? How can you give it a novel, holiday spin?

12/23/2025

🎄 The holidays aren’t just for humans! Your cat deserves some holiday fun too! That’s why we’re sharing seven days of cat enrichment, designed to keep your furry friend happy, healthy, and mentally stimulated this season.

From food games to window perches, foraging fun to new smells, each day gives your cat new ways to explore, stretch, and express natural behaviours safely indoors. Even the busiest guardians can sneak in a little enrichment that makes a big difference!

Which day are you starting with? Tag us in your cat’s holiday enrichment fun! We love seeing festive furry faces in action. 🎁

12/16/2025

Understanding your cat or dog’s body language isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.
Most behaviour concerns start long before the growl, hiss, snap, or swat. Our pets communicate constantly, but when early signs of fear, stress, or discomfort go unnoticed, things can escalate quickly.

Learning to read body language helps you:
• Recognize subtle stress signals
• Spot when your pet is overwhelmed
• Know when to give space — and when to step in
• Build trust, safety, and connection

When you understand what your pet is saying, you can prevent problems, advocate for their needs, and help them feel truly safe at home.

If something in your pet’s behaviour has you worried, we’re here to help.

Save this post to refer back to later!

12/12/2025

Fear and anxiety in puppies and kittens aren’t “just a phase” or something they’ll automatically outgrow.
These early signs are your pet’s way of saying: “I’m struggling and I need your help."

And the sooner we support them, the better their long-term outcomes.
Early intervention helps prevent fear from becoming a lifelong pattern — and it’s one of the most protective steps you can take for your pet’s emotional health.

There’s no shame in asking for help.
There’s no stigma in seeking support.
And you’re not overreacting for taking your young animal’s big feelings seriously.

If your puppy or kitten seems very fearful, jumpy, easily overwhelmed, in significant distress or slow to recover from stress, early veterinary and behaviour guidance can make a world of difference.

Small steps now can prevent big problems later — and we’re here to help you navigate that path.

Share this to help reduce stigma around early behaviour support for ALL ages.

12/09/2025

It’s not uncommon for pets to have the occasional disagreement — especially in busy, multi-pet households. A single, brief scuffle with no injuries and no lingering tension isn’t usually a cause for alarm.

But some fights do tell us something important is going on beneath the surface.

We become concerned when:
• A fight causes injuries that require veterinary care
• One pet begins to show fear, avoidance, or tension around the other
• The conflicts are happening repeatedly — even if they seem “minor”

These situations suggest there’s more than just a momentary disagreement. Pain, illness, anxiety, conflict around space/resources and a pileup of negative experiences can all contribute — and once a pattern forms, it tends to escalate.

This is where early support makes a real difference.

A veterinary behaviour assessment can identify medical, emotional, or environmental factors contributing to conflict, and a qualified force-free trainer can help you implement safety strategies and behaviour-modification plans to improve the relationship.

A fight doesn’t mean your pets can’t live together.
It means they need guidance, structure, and support — and you don’t have to figure that out alone.

Need help? Book a consultation to get started before the holidays.

12/05/2025

“We just thought he was a picky eater.”
“We leave her food down all day… she might take a few bites.”
“We figured he just wasn’t that into food.”

We hear this often— and while it’s a common belief, it’s also a misleading one.

Consistently refusing food, grazing all day, or showing little interest in meals is not normal for most dogs. . A healthy dog with a healthy gut, comfortable body, and stable emotional state should be able to eat regular meals.

When they don’t, it’s almost always a sign that something deeper is going on, such as:

🩺 Gastrointestinal issues

Chronic nausea, reflux, pancreatitis, food intolerances, parasites, IBD, constipation, and more can lead to decreased appetite or food avoidance.

🦷 Dental or oral pain

Tooth pain, cracked teeth, infected gums, or even jaw discomfort can make chewing uncomfortable, causing a dog to pick, hesitate, or walk away from meals.

😟 High levels of stress or anxiety

The stress response suppresses appetite.
Dogs who are fearful, anxious, overwhelmed, or hypervigilant often can’t eat, even if they want to.

Appetite changes aren’t personality traits. They’re symptoms.
And when a dog is consistently skipping meals, leaving food untouched, or needing toppers just to eat something, it’s time to investigate — not wait it out.

If your dog is struggling with eating, a combined medical and behavioural assessment can help reveal what’s really going on and get them the relief they need.

Share this to help dispel the “picky eater” myth.

12/02/2025

When a cat pees outside the litter box, it’s easy to assume they’re being “spiteful,” “naughty,” or “getting back at you.”
But here’s the truth: cats don’t think that way.

Litter box issues are almost always a sign of pain, stress, medical concerns, or an unmet need — not revenge.

Urinary issues, arthritis, fear/anxiety, changes in routine, dirty or difficult-to-access litter boxes, or simple overwhelm can push a cat into survival mode. And when a cat is struggling, the only communication they have is their behaviour.

Your cat isn’t being a jerk.
They’re telling you something hurts, something feels unsafe, or something isn’t working for them.

If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, please don’t punish them — get curious.

A medical workup and behaviour assessment can make all the difference.

11/28/2025

The holidays are exciting for us — but for many pets, they’re a perfect storm of stress.

Changes in routine, guests coming and going, new smells, travel, decorations, noisy gatherings… it all adds up. And for pets already struggling with fear, anxiety, reactivity, or aggression, December can become overwhelming very quickly.

This is why early preparation matters.

A solid holiday plan can reduce stress, prevent trigger stacking, protect progress you’ve already made, and help your pet actually cope with the season instead of just enduring it.

Remember, your pet doesn’t need to participate in the festivities to be part of the family.
Sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is give them space, structure, and safety — even if that means opting out of holiday activities altogether.

If your pet has behaviour challenges, now is the time to start preparing. Your future self (and your pet) will thank you.

Save this post to refer back to later!

11/25/2025

The inconvenient truth about behaviour work?
It takes time and hard work — often more time than anyone wants it to.

There’s no single cue, no perfect exercise, and no quick fix that can undo fear, anxiety, or aggression. Real behaviour change happens through repetition, safety, predictable routines, appropriate management, and meeting your pet’s emotional and physical needs every. single. day.

And even though consulting with us gives you the roadmap, it’s only half the puzzle.
The other half is what happens between appointments — the sessions with a qualified trainer, the practice, the environmental modifications, and the moments where you help your pet feel safe enough to learn.

Progress isn’t linear, but it is possible.
And every slow step forward still counts.

If this resonates, you’re not alone — and you’re doing more than you think.

Are you ready to put in the work? Get in touch and let's start.

Address

Ottawa, ON
K2P0K8

Telephone

+16134545818

Website

http://ottawavetbehaviour.ca/

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STRENGTHENING THE BOND BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR PET

Need help with your pet’s behaviour? Dr. Michelle Nicholson is a veterinarian with a special interest in Veterinary Behaviour Medicine. Her mobile practice brings veterinary behaviour care out of a clinic setting and into your home or other familiar environment for your pet.