Roles of the Mental Health Care Team for Pets

Julie Shaw, RVT, VTS (Behavior), owner and director of Stepping Stone Animal Training, LLC. In Lafayette, Indiana, explains the role of each member of a mental health care team for pets.

The veterinarian is the one making the diagnosis, prescribing, and prognosing; the veterinary nurse is the eyes and ears for the veterinarian and the trainer; the trainer will help the pet parent apply the behavior modification and training techniques that have been prescribed by the veterinarian; the referral service is used when a patient may need a different medication plan out of the realm of the current veterinary practice; and the social worker is used when the pet parent may be struggling.