Approved
ACVSc Board of Examiners Meeting, 1 November 2006
FELLOWSHIP GUIDELINES
VETERINARY BEHAVIOURAL MEDICINE
ELIGIBILITY
1.
The candidate shall meet the eligibility prerequisites for Fellowship outlined in
the Blue Book.
2.
Membership of the College must be achieved prior to the Fellowship examination.
3.
Membership must be in Veterinary Behavioural Medicine (previously known as
Animal Behaviour).
OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate that the candidate has sufficient training, experience, knowledge and
accomplishment in veterinary behavioural medicine to meet the criteria for registration as
a specialist in this field
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The candidate is expected to have a detailed knowledge of:
1.
The normal behaviour of the main domesticated animal species and those
commonly kept as companion animals.
2.
The development of normal and abnormal behaviour, the influence humans may
have in the developmental process, and the consequences of any anomalies in this
process
3.
Behavioural problems, their possible aetiologies, methods of diagnosis, and
currently-accepted treatment protocols.
4.
Learning theory, and its application in training and behaviour modification
techniques, and its involvement in the development of certain behaviour
disorders.
5.
The pharmacology of medications used in the field of Veterinary Behavioural
Medicine.
The candidate is expected to have a sound knowledge of:
6.
The normal behaviour of those animal species commonly kept as zoological
specimens, those species used in laboratory settings, and common pest/feral
species.
7.
The effects that domestication, and/or selective breeding have on the behaviour of
commonly-kept species.
8.
The neuro-anatomy, neurochemistry and the physiology of behaviour.
9.
The behavioural/environmental enrichment, including techniques currently
employed and their importance in companion, captive, domesticated, and
laboratory animal species. Demonstrated ability to apply these techniques.
10.
The key concepts of Urban Animal Management and a working knowledge of the
legislation that applies to animals at local, state and federal levels.
11.
The key concepts of animal welfare, including methods that can be used to
evaluate it and their limitations, current codes of practice, public concerns, and
animal rights issues.
12.
The therapeutic roles that animals currently play in society, and the importance of
the human-animal bond.
13.
The normal grieving process of an owner upon the death of a pet.
The candidate is expected to be able to:
14.
Diagnose and treat animals with behavioural problems; obtain a behavioural
history, undertake a clinical workup, diagnose disorders, and treat animals, using
training tools and equipment currently available to assist in this process.
15.
Apply the knowledge of learning theory in the treatment of behaviour disorders.
16.
Critically evaluate research papers, and experimental information for reliability
and accuracy, with a demonstrated understanding of current scientific research
methods and their limitations.
EXAMINATIONS
Refer to the Blue Book
TRAINING PROGRAM
Refer to the Blue Book
ACTIVITY LOG
In an attempt to ensure adequate exposure to the variety of behavioural cases seen in
specialist practice, the cases in the Activity Log must be identified using the following
categories. These categories must be identified in the Activity Log for both the Six
Months Activity Log (Appendix 8.5 of Blue Book), and the Activity Log Summary
(Appendix 8.7 of Blue Book):









Canine
Feline
Other small companion animals
Avian
Equine
Production Animal
Laboratory species
Feral/pest species
Exotic and zoological species
The following case number thresholds are a guide to the minimum number of cases that
are expected to be managed by the candidate:
Candidates should document, within the Activity Log, a minimum of five hundred (500)
cases over the training period.
Four hundred (400) of the cases included must be small animals, with a minimum of one
hundred (100) each feline and canine. There must be a minimum of ten (10) cases for
each other category except for feral/pest species, for which five (5) cases are required
within the Activity Log.
Revisit appointments on the same case for the same presenting problem are NOT to be
entered separately in the Activity Log. For species other than dogs and cats, the
candidate needs to have an involvement in the case, but does not necessarily need to be
the primary clinician.
ADJUNCT TRAINING
For the purposes of this subject ONLY, case acquisition through training in a species
other than cats and dogs may be achieved by "adjunct" supervised training with a
recognised expert in the behaviour of that particular species. This "expert" does not
necessarily need to have animal behaviour specialist qualifications as per the Principal
Supervisor but must be authorised by the FTCC on the basis of his/her qualifications and
experience.
During periods of "adjunct" training with "adjunct" supervisors, the Principal Supervisor
must:
1.
Maintain prime responsibility for and regular contact with the Candidate, and
monitor the Candidates' progress.
2.
At least once weekly communicate (by phone, electronically or in person) with
the Candidate to discuss the management of the non-small animal behaviour cases the
Candidate has been exposed to during adjunct training periods.
3.
Sign the Activity Log entries that represent "adjunct" training periods, indicating
that they accurately document work the Candidate performed during "adjunct" periods.
Adjunct training in the behaviour of non-small animal species may be undertaken in:
i.
Full-time Directly Supervised Training at the primary training facility, for
a minimum time of two (2) weeks (not required to be taken in a block).
ii.
Full-time Directly Supervised Training at a facility other than the primary
training facility for a minimum time of two (2) weeks at that facility (not
required to be taken in a block).
TRAINING IN RELATED DISCIPLINES
Refer to the Blue Book
EXTERNSHIPS
Refer to the Blue Book
PUBLICATIONS
Refer to the Blue Book
RECOMMENDED READING LIST
The Candidate is expected to research the depth and breadth of the knowledge of the
discipline. This list is intended to guide the candidate to some core references and source
material. The list is not comprehensive and is not intended as an indicator of the content
of the examination.
JOURNALS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Journal of Animal Welfare Science
Arthrozoos
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
American Journal of Veterinary Research
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
Journal of Small Animal Practice
Veterinary Clinics North America or Compendium of Continuing Education for
the Practising Veterinarian
9. Australian Veterinary Journal
10. Australian Veterinary Practitioner
11. New Zealand Veterinary Journal
12. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
13. Veterinary Medicine
14. Small Animal Abstracts
15. Contemporary Issues in Small Animal Practice
TEXTBOOKS
CORE TEXTS
Kilgour R., and Dalton, C., 1984. Livestock Behaviour, a Practical Guide. Westview
Press, Boulder, CO.
Fraser, A. F., and Broom D. M. 1990. Farm Animal Behaviour and Welfare. 3rd ed.
CABI, Oxon, U.K.
Phillips, C., 2002. Cattle Behaviour and Welfare. Blackwell Science Ltd
Lynch, J., Hinch, G., and Adams, D., 1992. The behaviour of sheep. CABI Publishing
Appleby, M. C., Hughes, B.O., Mench, J.A., 2004. Poultry Behaviour and Welfare
Kyriazakis, Ilias and Whittemore, Colin T., 2005. Whittemore's Science and Practice
of Pig Production. Blacwell Publishing, Ames, Iowa
McGreevy, P., 2005. Equine Behavior - A Guide for Veterinarians and Equine
Scientists. Elsevier Health
Mills, D. and Nankervis, K., 1999. Equine Behaviour: Principles and Practice.
Blackwell Publishing, Oxford
Kaliste, Eila (ed.), 2006 The Welfare of Laboratory Animals. Springer Publishing
Montague, Thomas (ed.), 2006. The Brushtail Possum - Biology, Impact and
Management of an Introduced Marsupial, Manaaki Whenua Press.
Price, E. O., 2002. Animal Domestication and Behaviour. CAB International
Publishing
Hemsworth, Paul H. and Coleman, Grahame J.1998. Human – Livestock interactions:
the stockperson and productivity and welfare of intensively farmed animals. CAB
International Wallingford, UK
Young, Robert J. 2003. Environmental enrichment for Captive Animals Blackwell
Publishing, Oxford
Crowell-Davis, Sharon L. and Murray, Thomas, 2006. Veterinary
Psychopharmacology. Blackwell Publishing Ames, Iowa
Dodman, Nicholas H. and Shuster, Louis,1998. Psychopharmacology of Animal
Behavior Disorders. Blackwell Publishing, Ames, Iowa.
The Appleby and Hughes Animal Welfare Series, including:
Stafford, Kevin, 2006. The welfare of dogs /- Appleby and Hughes Animal Welfare.
Robinson, I (ed.), The Waltham Book of Human Animal Interaction: Benefits and
Responsibilities of Pet Ownership (Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition). Oxford:
Pergamon
Serpell, J.A. (1996) In the Company of Animals: A Study of Human-Animal
Relationships. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Original published in 1986
by Basil Blackwell).
Podberscek, A.L., Paul, E.S. & Serpell, J.A. (2000) Companion Animals and Us:
Exploring the Relationships between People and Pets. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Fogle, B. (ed) (1981) Interrelations between Pets and People. Springfield: Charles C.
Thomas.
Katcher, A.H. & Beck, A.M. (eds) (1983) New Perspectives on our Lives with
Companion Animals. Philadelphia: University of Philadelphia Press.
Domestic Animal Behaviour for Veterinarians and Animal Scientists
Houpt, K A., Iowa State University Press, 1998
Handbook of Behaviour Problems of the Dog and Cat
Landsberg, G., Hunthausen, W., Ackerman L.
Butterworth Heineman, 2003
Clinical Behavioural Medicine for Small Animals Overall, K.
Mosby, St Louis, 1997
BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine
Horwitz, DF; Mills, DS; Heath, S (Eds)
British Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2002
Additional Reference Sources
Animal Behaviour-An Evolutionary Approach
Alcock, J. Sinauer Associates Inc, Massachusetts
Neuroscience-exploring the brain
Bear, M., Connors, B, & Paradiso, M
Williams & Wilkins Baltimore
Pet Behaviour Protocols. What to Say, What to Do, When to Refer.
Hetts, S.
AAHA Press Lakewood, Colorado, 1999
Handbook of Applied Dog Training Vol 1 & 2
Lindsay, S R.
Iowa State University Press, 2000
An Introduction to Behavioural Endocrinology
Nelson, R.
Sinauer Associates Inc, Massachusetts, 2000
Genetics and the Behaviour of Domestic Animals
Temple Grandin (Ed)
Academic Press, 1998
The Domestic Dog, Its Evolution, Behaviour and Interactions with People
Serpell, J. (Ed).
Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1995
Readings in Companion Animal Behaviour
Voith, V.L., & Borchelt, P.
Veterinary Learning Systems Trenton, New Jersey, 1996
7 Behavioural Medicine
The Domestic Cat
Turner, D C & Bateson, P. (Ed)
Cambridge University Press, 1990
The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat
Bradshaw, J W S.
C A B International, 1992
Ain’t Misbehaving, Proceedings 340
Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science
University of Sydney, 2001
Manual of Parrot Behaviour
Luescher AU (Ed)
Blackwell Publishing, Iowa. 2006