Behaviour Services at Project Underdog Vet Care

Vet Behaviour Consultations

Led by veterinarian Dr. Thulasi Sarvananthar (Thulz), a qualified behaviour veterinarian (ANZCVS Behaviour Medicine), we assist dogs and cats with everything from simple training concerns to complex psychological issues and psychiatric disorders.

Common behaviour concerns we treat:

  • Generalised anxiety
  • Separation distress and anxiety
  • Situational anxiety
  • Noise sensitivities and phobias
  • Obsessive compulsive disorders
  • Aggressive behaviours
  • Destructive behaviours
  • Predatory behaviours
  • Inter-dog aggression
  • Reactivity
  • Resource guarding behaviours

Cat specific:

  • Urinating or defecating outside the litter box
  • Play and patting aggression
  • Inter-cat aggression
  • Overgrooming
  • Furniture scratching

What to Expect

Our behaviour consultations are thorough, compassionate, and tailored to your pet’s unique needs. They can be conducted in your home (within our service area), in our Coburg clinic or virtually via video conference. Here’s what the process involves:

 
Health Assessment

Before booking a behaviour consultation, we recommend your pet has had a comprehensive health examination, including blood and urine testing.

Sudden behavioural changes can be linked to underlying medical issues such as pain and discomfort. Identifying or ruling out these medical factors is a vital first step toward developing an effective behaviour treatment plan.

If your pet hasn’t had a recent health check, please let us know. We can arrange one prior to your behaviour consultation to ensure we’re working from a complete and accurate picture.

Questionnaire

Once your consultation is booked, we’ll send you a detailed online questionnaire to complete. This helps us gather essential background on your pet’s behaviour, health, routines, and environment to inform the initial consultation.

Initial Consultation

Your first consultation will run for 60–90 minutes, depending on the complexity of your pet’s case. During this time, we will:

  • Review your pet’s medical and behavioural history

  • Explore the underlying motivations behind the behaviour

  • Discuss your goals and concerns

  • Begin developing a personalised treatment plan

Treatment Plan

During the initial consult, we’ll develop a tailored plan which may include:

  • Behaviour modification strategies

  • Environmental management recommendations

  • Medication and/or nutraceuticals (if indicated)

  • Support resources

  • Referral to a qualified fear-free trainer (if needed)

  • Guidelines to help monitor progress

Follow Ups

A follow-up appointment will be scheduled 2–3 months after your initial consultation to review your pet’s progress and adjust the plan as needed. Our vet nurses will also check in periodically during this time to provide support and help track how things are going.

Follow-up appointments typically run for 30–45 minutes.

Our Commitment

We are dedicated to strengthening the bond between you and your pet by providing compassionate, evidence-based care. All of our recommendations are built around your pet’s emotional well-being, using only the most humane and fear-free techniques.

In Home

From $435

In Clinic (Coburg)

From $335

Video Consultation

From $285

Book a Behaviour Consultation

Cooperative Care Training

Cooperative Care transforms routine husbandry and veterinary procedures into low-stress, collaborative experiences for both animals and their caregivers.

Pets regularly need care but for many, these experiences can be frightening. A nail trimmer or bottle of ear drops might be all it takes for a pet to hide or panic. Repeated stress during handling can chip away at the trust you’ve built with your pet over time.

That’s where Cooperative Care comes in. This specialised training helps your pet learn to comfortably and willingly participate in their own care, making life easier for everyone involved.

We offer Cooperative Care sessions for both dogs and cats. Training goals are customised to your pet’s needs, but commonly include:

  • Subcutaneous or intramuscular injections (ie. vaccinations)
  • Cooperative blood draws and catheter placement
  • Accepting vet tools like stethoscopes and otoscopes
  • Handling and touch on sensitive areas (eg. ears,  paws, tail)
  • Tolerating eye, ear and mouth examinations
  • Wearing a muzzle comfortably
  • Nail trimming
  • Heart and lung auscultation
  • Dental checks (lifting lips, oral exams)
  • Applying ear medication or cleaning
Start Your Cooperative Care Journey