Helping dogs, cats and horses achieve better behavioral health

Dr. Soraya V Juarbe-Diaz is a veterinarian board certified in the animal behavior specialty, one of less than 100 recognized world-wide. She sees cases from the Tampa Bay area and from throughout Florida.

 

Dog and cat behavior problems are often misunderstood as disobedience or purposeful acts. More often, these behavior problems come from your dog or cat having an emotional concern and difficulty processing that information. Animals can and do suffer from psychiatric disorders, and can be natural models in studies to better understand these problems in people. Depending on the patient, treatment may include environmental & humane behavior modification therapy, and psychotropic agents with the goal to facilitate establishing more normal responses to distressing stimuli.

 

Behavior consultations are held for the prevention and treatment of behavioral disorders in companion and other animal species. Problems such as aggression, reactivity, noise phobia, severe fear/anxiety, OCD, house soiling, separation anxiety and thunderstorm phobia are examples of the problems veterinary behaviorsts treat on a daily basis. Training is often not the right answer, emotional disorders are not due to lack of training. As of January of 2024 there are less than 100 board certified veterinary behaviorists in the world recognized by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. ACVB diplomates are the equivalent of animal psychiatrists.

 

Treatment of mood disorders in pets require a doctor-patient-owner relationship. Board certified veterinary behaviorists, unlike trainers or non-regulated "pet or animal therapists" are governed by the Veterinary Practice Act of the respective
state(s) in which they are licensed, and cannot comment on potential diagnoses, treatment or prognosis of animals they have not personally examined. In Florida, this relationship HAS to be established in person; the first consultation cannot
be virtual.

Before considering a behavior consultation your pet should receive a thorough physical examination by your veterinarian to rule out any problems that may be causing or contributing to a pet's abnormal behavior. If your pet is given a clean bill of health a behavior consultation can come next.