19/10/2025
🐾 Day 2 Highlights from the Clinical Animal Behavior Conference! 🐾
Day two was packed with practical tools, scientific insights, and hands-on learning to help us better support both pets and their people.
🐶 Jessica Benoit, RVT, VTS (Behaviour), KPA CTP, CPDT-KA started the day with “Starting Off on the Right Paw: Behavioral Prevention for Canine Patients.” She reminded attendees of our important role in helping clients set their puppies up for success—through early guidance, identifying high-risk puppies, and preventing common behavior challenges before they start.
🐱 Dr. Leanne Lilly, DVM, DACVB followed with “Evidence-Based Handling of Felines.” This lecture offered a scientific approach to low-stress feline handling, complete with practical tools, techniques, and pre-visit medication strategies to help make veterinary visits more comfortable for cats and staff alike.
🤝 Next, Jessica Benoit and Monique Feyrecilde presented “The Spectrum of Cooperative Veterinary Care.” Through case studies and discussion, they explored how to meet clients and patients where they are—helping even the most fearful, anxious, and stressed dogs experience veterinary care in a cooperative, low-stress way.
🐕 The learning continued with a hands-on lab, where attendees practiced muzzle training with canine participants.
🍖 In the interactive session “Timing Matters: Practical Use of Food (and More) for Cooperative Care,” Monique Feyrecilde demonstrated how what we deliver, where we deliver it, and—most importantly—when we deliver reinforcement can make all the difference in helping animals feel safe and successful during care.
💊 The day wrapped up with Dr. Lilly’s session on “Feline Psychopharmacology: Meds for Now and Later.” Attendees learned about both rapid-acting and long-term medication options for cats, gaining valuable insights into evidence-based psychopharmacology to reduce fear, anxiety, and aggression in feline patients.
It was another inspiring day of collaboration, compassion, and evidence-based care! 💙
