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 in North America are called Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behavior (DACVB).
Common concerns we treat
Canine
Reactivity
Fear
Generalized anxiety
Travel anxiety and nausea
Aggressive behaviours
Storm and sound sensitivities
Resource guarding
Inter-dog household conflict
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
Pain causing behaviour changes
And more!
Feline
House soiling
Aggressive behaviours
Fear
Generalized anxiety
Destructive behaviours
Inter-cat conflict
Undersocialized kittens or adults
Rough play
Dog/cat conflict
Cognitive dysfunction
Compulsive behaviours
Hyperesthesia
Introducing a new (human) baby into the home
Planning for a move
Creating a low stress veterinary visit plan
Pain causing behaviour changes
And more!
Equine
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
Chronic recurrent medical concerns (such as ulcers) with behaviour component
And more!
About Sentient Veterinary Care
We're a small, independently-owned behaviour consultation practice based in SW Calgary, Alberta — and we come to you. As a housecall practice, our team travels directly to your home, so your pet can be seen in a familiar environment. No waiting rooms, no added stress — just focused, personalized care from a team that cares about the animals and families we work with.
For clients outside Alberta or who cannot come to us, we can also liaise directly with your veterinary team so that they can help you with your pet’s behaviour concerns!
Meet your vet
Dr. Hynes (she/her) 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 in 2019-2020. She returned to Calgary in 2020 to work in both general practice and shelter medicine, always focusing her efforts on treating behaviour concerns and on low-stress handling for patients. She completed numerous Fear Free Certifications and is an author of the Equine Fear Free Certification and the Equine Fear Free Injections course.
Always wanting to learn more and improve her skills, Dr. Hynes started her veterinary behaviour residency under the mentorship of Dr. Karen van Haaften (DVM, DACVB) and concurrently opened 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 enjoys sharing her passion with colleagues and regularly teaches at other vet clinics, the local veterinary school, and has created online webinars on various topics.
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.
