Shelter Behavior Medicine Journal

Course overview

This course provides veterinary professionals and certified animal behavior specialists with evidence-informed, practical protocols for managing behavioral conditions in shelter dogs and cats through psychopharmacology and reward-based behavior modification. Participants will explore behavior modification category classifications (Levels 1-3) for conditions including generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, noise sensitivity, fear, resource guarding, and long-term residency deterioration in both canine and feline patients. Topics include pharmacological selection criteria (daily vs. situational medications), dosing protocols for commonly used behavior drugs in dogs and cats (including SSRIs, benzodiazepines, Gabapentin, Trazodone, Clonidine, and Acepromazine), nutraceutical supplementation, serotonin syndrome recognition and management, the Chill Protocol, pre-euthanasia sedation considerations, and post- adoption medication and behavior support. The course also addresses the collaborative responsibilities of veterinary and training/behavior teams, objective behavioral documentation, and adopter communication best practices. Learning Objectives: 1. Classify shelter animals into appropriate behavior modification categories and levels (1, 2, or 3) for dogs and cats based on behavioral presentation and history. 2. Differentiate between daily and situational behavior medications and apply a systematic decision-making framework to select the most appropriate pharmaceutical intervention for a given patient. 3.Identify correct dosing ranges, onset times, key indications, and contraindications for commonly used behavior medications in dogs and cats, including Alprazolam, Clonidine, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Gabapentin, Trazodone, and Acepromazine. 4. Recognize signs of serotonin syndrome and apply an appropriate emergency response protocol, including discontinuation and treatment drugs. 5. Describe the multimodal Chill Protocol (Gabapentin, Melatonin, Acepromazine,Trazodone) and its application for reducing fear and stress during veterinary procedures and shelter handling. 6. Apply a structured decision-making flowchart to determine when to increase, decrease, add, or discontinue behavior medications based on behavioral efficacy and medical side effects. 7. Explain the collaborative responsibilities of the veterinary team and the training & behavior team in designing, monitoring, and adjusting individualized medication and behavior modification treatment plans. 8. Develop objective, observable behavioral documentation (behavior memos) suitable for shelter records and interdisciplinary communication. 9. Counsel adopters on behavior medication use, tapering guidelines, post-adoption support resources, and signs requiring veterinary follow-up. 10. Identify appropriate pre-euthanasia sedation protocols and behavioral criteria used when considering humane euthanasia for behavior cases in a shelter setting. Program Agenda: Shelter Behavior Medicine Journal, 1.00 CE Credits/14,718 words, Medical, Lesli Groshong, DVM, Diplomate ABVP (Shelter Medicine)