Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorists are specialists in veterinary behavior medicine. Also called diplomates, they are veterinarians that undergo 3-5 more years of specialty training in a residency program that includes the study of ethology, abnormal behaviors, neurology, neuropharmacology, behavioral genetics, animal welfare and other related topics. They are similar to human psychiatrists. A visit to a board certified veterinary behaviorist is a medical consultation with a specialist, just like visiting a cardiologist or dermatologist for advanced care beyond what the geneal practioner feels comfortable providing.
While in training, veterinarians that aspire to become board certified are called residents. Besides training for the specialty, they also teach, see cases under their mentor's supervision, give presentations to other veterinarians and the public, and are required to carry out an original experiment; the results must be accepted and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Finally, residents must pass a comprehensive 2 day, 16 hr. examination before being recognized as board-certified specialists. They must maintain their knowledge base with constant continuing education and recertify in their specialty to maintain their credentials to prove continued expertise. Only board-certified veterinary behaviorists are held to these exacting standards.
A residency-trained veterinarian has completed the educational requirements, is no longer in a training program under a specialist's direct supervision but has not taken or passed the examination. They are not board-certified and cannot claim specialty status.
A veterinarian with an interest in behavior is one that is learning about veterinary behavior medicine on his or her own; but is not specialty trained or board-certified, and cannot use the term "specialist" or "specializing" in behavior in their advertizing or verbal description of themselves. They may refer to themselves as Behavior Consultants, or simply mention that they offer behavior services in their practice.
Some veterinarians employ behavior "consultants" or "therapists" that are not veterinarians - this can be a slippery slope because they do not have the training to knowledgeably make up a treatment plan that includes medication use and the veterinarian may just authorize medication but not truly be managing the patient - always ask how these decisions are made!
Some diplomates work in universities or with industry or non-profi t groups, but the majority work in clinical practice. Because we are veterinarians, we are held to a high standard of practice by our professional organizations and also by law. Trainers, pet counselors or self-titled behaviorists or pet therapists that are not veterinarians have limited or no accountability and may not have the knowledge background to adequately treat peats suffering from mood disorders.
Only veterinarians can prescribe medication as part of the treatment for dog and cat behavior problems, but their degree of expertise using drugs varies according to their training and experience. To do so safely and to select the best medications for the problem at hand veterinary behaviorists take into account the dog or cat's behavioral and medical history, and select the right medication with the least dise effect profile.