Compassionate veterinary behaviour support to help your relationship flourish.

What is a veterinary behaviour consult?

Veterinary Behaviour is a field within veterinary medicine which focuses on assessing and treating abnormal or problem behaviours in veterinary patients.

In a veterinary behaviour consult, the veterinarian will review a detailed medical and behavioural history of your animal, assess and diagnose your animal, and then create a comprehensive treatment plan which involves balancing medical and behaviour concerns, prevention of unwanted behaviours, management, training, behaviour modification, and, when indicated, supplements and medications may also be prescribed. Board-certified specialists in veterinary behaviour are called Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behavior (DACVB).

Click on the tabs on the right to see which kinds of concerns can be addressed in a veterinary behaviour consultation!

  • • Reactivity

    • Fear

    • Generalized anxiety

    • Travel anxiety and nausea

    • Aggressive behaviours

    • Storm and sound sensitivities

    • Resource guarding

    • Inter-dog household conflicts

    • Abnormal puppy development or difficulties with socialization

    • Cognitive dysfunction

    • Compulsive behaviours

    • Safely preparing for a new (human) baby in the home

    • Creating low stress veterinary visits

    • and more!

  • • House soiling

    • Aggressive behaviours

    • Fear

    • Generalized anxiety

    • Destructive behaviours

    • Inter-cat conflicts

    • Undersocialized kittens or adults

    • Rough play

    • Dog/cat conflicts

    • Cognitive dysfunction

    • Compulsive behaviours

    • Hyperesthesia

    • Introducing a new (human) baby into the home

    • Planning for a move

    • Creating a low stress veterinary visit plan

    • And more!

  • • Fear or anxiety towards certain situations/objects

    • Generalized anxiety

    • Needle phobias or other veterinary/husbandry/farrier concerns

    • Stereotypies or unusual repetitive behaviours

    • Aggressive behaviours

    • Abnormal sleep habits

    • Welfare evaluations

    • Planning for stall rest

    • And more!

About Sentient Veterinary Care…

  • We provide behaviour consultations

  • Based out of Calgary, Alberta

  • Housecall/ambulatory practice: we drive to you!

  • Small team & independently-owned practice

Interested in a consult?
Meet your vet!

Dr. Manon (Nita) Hynes

Pronouns: she/her

Languages: English & French

Dr. Hynes is from Calgary, Alberta and is a graduate from the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Her passion for animal behaviour and welfare started well before vet school and she spent her summers involved in dog training and agility, as well as training and starting horses under saddle. She knew she wanted to focus on veterinary behaviour after graduation, which led her to complete an intensive Shelter Medicine and Surgery Internship at the Seattle Humane Society before returning to Calgary to work in both general practice and shelter medicine, with a focus on behaviour and low-stress handling for patients. She is a Fear Free Certified veterinarian (Elite) , and has completed multiple certifications through this program. Dr. Hynes loves to teach veterinary professionals and students about small animal and equine behaviour, and is an author of the Equine Fear Free certification.

Always wanting to learn more and improve her skills, Dr. Hynes is now pursuing a veterinary behaviour residency under the mentorship of Dr. Karen van Haaften (DVM, DACVB) in order to become a board-certified veterinary behaviourist. She started her own practice, Sentient Veterinary Care in 2023 to be able to provide high-quality, individualized and inclusive care to clients struggling with behaviour concerns with their animals.

Dr. Hynes believes strongly in treating clients and patients with compassion and understanding, and finding practical solutions to repair and improve the bond between animals and the people who care for them.