The utilisation of multidisciplinary teams and specialist referral is commonplace in veterinary medicine; however, in the field of behavioural medicine, specialist referral can often appear difficult due to the ambiguity surrounding what constitutes a behaviour expert. Recently, however, with the introduction of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council’s (ABTC) list of approved behaviourists and trainers, this problem has lessened. With the support of professional organisations such as the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC), the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), the ABTC provides a database of well-qualified and practically experienced behaviour and training professionals for the veterinary profession to call upon for specialist referral (Loftus, 2014).

Author

Loni Loftus MSc BSc(Hons)

Loni holds a BSc(Hons) degree in Equine Science and an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. She owned and ran a behaviour, training and rehabilitation centre for a number of years before starting her career as a lecturer: Loni works as an education consultant for Central Veterinary Services and also lectures in animal science, behaviour and welfare for a number of colleges and universities as well as continuing to practice as an animal behaviourist. Loni’s interests are based around injury, disease, rehabilitation, behaviour and welfare, with current research in the areas of equine euthanasia and stress in animals at public events.

Loni is secretary of the Veterinary Wound Healing Association. Her interest in wound management stems from her rehabilitation work and current projects see her developing research in the area of new products and their application in veterinary wound care as well as the ethics and welfare considerations surrounding veterinary treatment.

Keywords: Clinical, Behaviour, Multidisciplinary 

To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 30 (02) • February 2015 • pp51-56

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