Behavioural Referrals Veterinary Practice

☀️🐾 After a few cooler weeks, the heatwave is making a return. While many of us will be enjoying the sunshine, it's important to remember that our pets can struggle in hot weather.

A little extra care can go a long way. Make sure your pets have plenty of fresh water, somewhere cool and shaded to rest, and never leave them in a car, caravan or conservatory, even for a short time.

Heatstroke can affect pets quickly and can be very serious. If you're worried about your pet's health, contact your vet for advice straight away.

Take a look through our tips to help keep your furry friends safe, happy and comfortable during the warmer weather. ❤️🐶🐱

Confidence doesn’t come from being controlled - it comes from having choice.

When we give dogs agency (the ability to make safe, meaningful choices), we’re not “letting them get away with things” - we’re helping them feel secure, capable and understood.

Using positive reinforcement means we’re not just teaching behaviours, we’re building trust. Every time a dog chooses to engage, explore or try something new and is met with something good, their confidence grows.

– Let them opt in, not be forced
– Reinforce curiosity, not just compliance
– Respect when they say “no” and adjust the plan
– Set them up so they can succeed

A confident dog isn’t one that never feels unsure - it’s one that knows they have support, predictability and control over their world.

That’s where real resilience comes from. 🐾

🐾 What We Do at Behavioural Referrals Veterinary Practice (BRVP) 🐾

At BRVP, we specialise in understanding and improving the behaviour and well-being of your pet. Our dedicated team works closely with caregivers to address a variety of behavioural concerns, from reactive behavioural outbursts to a pet that hides from fear-inducing sounds to house-soiling problems and many other presentations.

We offer:
✔️ Behavioural consultations for dogs, cats, rabbits and birds
✔️ Personalised behaviour modification plans to support long-term management
✔️ Veterinary physiotherapy to improve physical well-being and mobility
✔️ Ongoing support and guidance from our expert team

Our goal is to help your pet live a more balanced and fulfilling life.

For more information about our services and how we can assist you, visit our website: https://behaviouralreferrals.co.uk/

🐾 Cat Behaviour Concerns? We Can Help! 🐾

At BRVP, we see all sorts of cat behaviour concerns - from house soiling and confrontational behaviour to cats who shy away from interaction, or those with physical health problems tied to emotional well-being.

By learning about your cat’s history, environment, and how they interact with you and other pets, we can help you understand the underlying factors behind their behaviour.

Our goal? To improve their emotional, cognitive, and physical health, which can reduce problem behaviours and help create a more balanced life for both cats and their caregivers. 🐈

To book a consultation, we require a referral from your GP vet to start the process. For more information, visit: https://behaviouralreferrals.co.uk/

🦜 Understanding behaviour in parrots🦜

Parrots are highly intelligent, with complex social needs, and behaviour that is deeply influenced by physical, emotional and cognitive wellbeing - with some species having the intelligence equivalent to that of a 6 year old child.

Because parrots are long-lived, social and cognitively advanced, their behaviour is shaped by a wide range of factors including health status, social interaction, enrichment, past learning and their living environment.

When something is not right, behaviours may emerge such as excessive vocalisation, feather plucking, confrontational behaviour or withdrawal. These “problem behaviours” are important signals that something in their world may not be meeting their needs.

It is important to recognise that parrots need to form strong social bonds and require appropriate mental stimulation - without this, frustration and stress can develop over time.

If you are finding your parrot’s behaviour difficult to interpret, or you have noticed a change, it is important to seek support early rather than waiting for behaviours to escalate.

A veterinary behavioural medicine assessment helps identify the underlying causes by considering physical health, emotional state, and environmental factors together.

If you have concerns, please speak to your veterinary surgeon about a referral to a veterinary behavioural medicine service.