Abstract
Simple SummaryThe American College of Veterinary Behaviorists is a specialty group within the American Veterinary Medical Association. It was formed by eight veterinarians and has grown ten-fold in the following decades. The specialty ensures that those who are its diplomates have taken the training, seen hundreds of cases, published research on animal behavior, and successfully passed an examination so the public can be assured that their animal will get the best treatment for its behavior problem.The American College of Veterinary Behavior has grown in number and in expertise over the past quarter century. There are now 86 diplomates, at least three textbooks on treating behavior problems, and a text on veterinary psychopharmacology. Although veterinary behavior began in veterinary colleges, the majority of residents are now trained in non-conforming programs. Many more diplomates practice privately in specialty clinics or as separate businesses. Progress has been made in both diagnosis and treatment with polypharmacy, resulting in successful outcomes for many dogs and cats suffering from separation anxiety, fear, or aggression.
Highlights
While the study of basic animal behavior had been around for decades, the study of pet animals and the behaviors they exhibit that their owners do not want was a relatively unexplored discipline.The discussion of Veterinary Behavioral Medicine as a discipline to add to veterinary medicine began in the early 1980s
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists was approved as an official specialty of the American Veterinary Medical Association in 1993
Another change in veterinary behavioral medicine within the USA is the realization that many pets relinquished to shelters and rescue situations could find homes with proper placement and training
Summary
While the study of basic animal behavior had been around for decades, the study of pet animals and the behaviors they exhibit that their owners do not want was a relatively unexplored discipline. In the US there were several veterinarians employed at veterinary schools teaching animal behavior. They were at Texas A&M, University of California at Davis, University of Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Cornell. The problems were unruly behaviors, aggression toward family and unfamiliar people, house soiling in dogs and mainly house soiling in cats. Because this was a new field, we wanted to get together to share experiences and learn from each other, so we began to meet annually. AVSAB continues to this day, but before long veterinary behaviorists knew that a more formal and disciplined structure was needed, as we grew both in knowledge and size
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