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 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!
Feline
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!
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
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.
Meet your vet
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 completed numerous Fear Free Certifications (Elite). 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 partway through 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.
