Operation Status Update
While the UT Veterinary Medical Center is open only for urgent cases at this time, the Behavior Service will be continuing to provide high-quality companion animal behavioral assistance via remote video consultations. Contact us for more information at vmcbehavior@utk.edu or 865-974-8387.
Animal Behavior Clinic
Do you need help managing your companion animal’s annoying habits or dangerous behaviors?
We are here to provide humane, scientifically based counseling and training. As veterinary medicine and training experts, we are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat medical, dietary, social, and learning issues that may be contributing to problem behaviors. By choosing the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center's Animal Behavior Clinic, you and your animal will receive an individualized treatment plan, extensive behavior modification coaching, and post-consultation support from two animal behavior experts. Dr. Julie Albright, one of 60 board-certified veterinary behaviorists in the US, and Nelle Wyatt, a licensed veterinary technician and certified dog trainer, work together with you and pet to address behavior problems.
Common Behavioral Problems
- DOGS
- separation anxiety, thunderstorm phobias, aggression to people or other animals, OCDs (circling, light/shadow chasing), jumping, house soiling, hyperactivity, barking, and cognitive decline in geriatric dogs
- CATS
- house soiling, spraying, scratching, aggression to people or other animals, excessive vocalization, and pica (ingestion of inedible or inappropriate materials)
- BIRDS
- aggression, excessive vocalization, excessive and harmful feather picking, fearful behaviors
- RABBITS and other exotic pets
- aggression, over-grooming, elimination problems
- HORSES
- aggression, stall behaviors such as cribbing, weaving, or stall walking, and trailer loading problems
Behavior problems of farm animals such as goats, camelids, sheep and pigs can also be addressed.