Veterinary Behaviour Consultations at Rouse Hill Family Vets
APPOINTMENTAt Rouse Hill Family Vets, we are committed to providing compassionate and effective care for pets experiencing behavioural challenges. Our veterinary behaviour service is led by a qualified veterinary behaviourist, Dr. Karen, and supported by Dr. Tina, who has completed a year-long veterinary behaviour course. Together, they bring expertise and dedication to help pets and their families thrive.
Comprehensive Behavioural Support
Behavioural consultations are designed to address a wide range of behavioural concerns, including:
- Separation anxiety
- Noise and storm phobias
- General anxiety disorders
- Situational anxiety
- Aggression towards other pets or people
Our approach to behavioural medicine is holistic and tailored to your pet’s unique needs. We incorporate:
- Supplements and pheromones to help reduce stress
- Medications when necessary to manage severe anxiety or behavioural issues
- Environmental enrichment to enhance your pet’s mental well-being
- Co-operative care techniques to improve trust and handling
- Force-free local trainers for ongoing support and training
Expertise in Aggression Cases
Dr. Karen is highly experienced in assessing and treating all pet behaviour concerns, including cases where pets have displayed aggression. This includes:
- Aggression between pets (even those resulting in injuries)
- Aggression directed towards humans
Our team is here to help you understand the root causes of these behaviours and develop an effective management and treatment plan.
Why Early Intervention Matters
We know that anxiety and behavioural issues in pets often worsen over time if left untreated. Early intervention is key to improving your pet’s quality of life and strengthening your bond with them.
Booking Your Consultation
If your pet is struggling with behavioural challenges, we encourage you to book a veterinary behaviour consultation. Our team is ready to support you and your pet every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a veterinary behaviour consult?
Unfortunately, there are no simple tests that can immediately rule in and out different mental health problems or tell us why our pets act a certain way, so we must rely on good observational information. Of course, mental and physical health are related and interact so we must always assess and consider physical health problems in relation to behaviour concerns, which vets are well trained to do.
Why does a behaviour consult require more time than a regular consult?
There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to complex things like behaviour so we set aside time to come up with a plan that is workable for you and your pet, and leave scope to adjust this as needed.
Why do we recommend a follow up consult?
Why do we request you fill out a questionnaire before the consult?
How is seeing a vet for a behaviour concern different to a dog trainer?
Is there medication that can help?
Medications can also improve learning by reducing arousal but they don’t teach the animal how we wish them to behave or how to cope in stressful situations so are not a one trick solution to every problem we encounter. Medications can reduce the intensity of the negative emotions involved in their behaviours of concern. We are aiming to help them be more calm, not aiming to sedate them.
Is medication always required?
We can always reassess any decisions made based on the response we see in your individual pet. Medications are sometimes used daily or only at times they are needed. Medications are not the only tool we have to help. Altering your pets environment, lifestyle changes, supplements, pheromones, behaviour modification training, fear free equipment and products are some of the many other tools we have to select from.
What sort of concerns are best addressed in a behaviour consult?
– Separation anxiety
– Noise phobias (including fireworks and thunderstorms)
– Human focussed aggression in cats and dogs
– Dog focussed aggression in dogs
– Cat focussed aggression in cats
– Fear of specific places or events – such as vet visits, grooming, washing
– Nervousness/anxiety in many situations
– Abnormal behaviours in geriatric animals
– Resource guarding
– Toileting issues in dogs and cats
– Barking
– Destruction
– Reactivity to dogs, people, places
– Puppy socialisation and skill concerns
How long before my pet is better?
Appointment Duration
90 mins for initial, 45 minutes for follow up
Behaviour Consultation Follow-Up
As each pet is an individual, so is each’s pet anxiety and response to treatment. Medications will need to be titrated to the appropriate dose for your pet and so follow-up appointments may be required. These appointments may be in-person visits where your pet requires another physical assessment or they may be teleconsults to discuss responses to treatments and dosage adjustments.
Behave consult follow up: Fee $180
Behavioural Consultation
Before your appointment, we will send you a behavioural questionnaire via email. This allows us to better understand your pet’s needs and ensure we are well-prepared for your visit.
Upon arrival, you’ll be taken to a consultation room, where the vet will discuss your pet’s behaviour and ask any additional questions as needed. We will also conduct a thorough physical exam to rule out any underlying medical issues. Afterward, we’ll work with you to develop a personalised treatment plan to address your pet’s behavioural concerns.
Behaviour consult: Fee $400
Booking a Behaviour Consultation
- You can call us on 02 9086 9130 to request an appointment.
- Book an appointment online. If you are unable to find a time with our online booking system please give us a call and we will do our best to find a time that is suitable.

Address
10/591 Withers Road,
Rouse Hill NSW 2155

Opening Hours
Monday - Thursday: 9am - 6pm
Friday: 9am - 5pm
Saturday: 9am - 1pm
Sunday & Public Holidays Closed
In-home euthanasia services run outside of opening hours by appointment only

Contact
Phone: 02 9086 9130
Email: hello@rousehillfamilyvets.com.au