VBS AppointmentsBehavior Wellness Appointments:
This is the perfect appointment for dog and cat owners who want to PREVENT behavior problems in their pets. Behavior Wellness Appointments are perfect for: • Advice about which type or age of pet/breed to adopt • When you have just adopted a pet and want to make the transition to your home smooth • When you are expecting a baby and want to prepare your pet • When you are joining two households with pets from each (and pets do not have pre-existing behavior problems) • When introducing a new human resident to the home Behavior Wellness Appointments help set you and your pet on the road to success. Cat Appointments:
Cat Comprehensive Behavior Consultation:
• Appropriate for first time cat visits
• Scheduled for 1½ to 2 hours long • Included in this appointment: 1. Prior to the appointment: Review of your pet’s medical record and Behavior Pre-history Form by Dr. Stepita 2. During the appointment: • Dr. Stepita will gather more information about your pet’s behavior problems, using the Behavior Pre-History Form as a guide in order to assess your pet’s behavior • Dr. Stepita will formulate a list of your pet’s problems and discuss the reasons your pet may be exhibiting these behaviors • Dr. Stepita will formulate and discuss an individualized treatment plan for your cat including behavior modification +/- supplements and/or medications based on your cat’s diagnosis 3. After the appointment: • Detailed discharge instructions will be emailed or mailed to you • 3 months of reasonable phone and email support • At your request collaboration as need with your pet's primary care veterinarian • Forms to fill out prior to appointment: Feline Registration and Behavior Pre-History Form Cat Recheck Behavior Appointment:
• Appropriate for current VBS patients
• Occurs 3-6 months after the Comprehensive Behavior Consultation (may occur earlier) • Scheduled for 50-60 minutes long • Included in this appointment: 1. Prior to the appointment: Review of your pet’s medical and behavior history by Dr. Stepita 2. During the appointment: Dr. Stepita will assess progress and advance the existing treatment plan 3. After the appointment: • Detailed discharge instructions will be emailed or mailed to you • 3 months of reasonable phone and email support • At your request collaboration as need with your pet's primary care veterinarian Dog Appointments:
NOTE: Most of our dog patients need ongoing behavioral treatment for months or sometimes years. Treatment appointments are most often recommended, but not required after a Dog Comprehensive Consultation appointment.
Dog Comprehensive Behavior Consultation:
• Appropriate for first time dog visits
• Scheduled for 1½ to 2 hours long • Included in this appointment: 1. Prior to the appointment: Review of your pet’s medical record and Canine Registration and Behavior Pre-History Form by Dr. Stepita 2. During the appointment: • Dr. Stepita will gather more information about your pet’s behavior problems, using the Behavior Pre-History Form as a guide in order to assess your pet’s behavior • Dr. Stepita will formulate a list of your pet’s problems and discuss the reasons your pet may be exhibiting these behaviors • Dr. Stepita will formulate the first steps of an individualized treatment plan for your dog including behavior modification +/- supplements and/or medications based on your dog’s diagnosis • Appointment may involve Dr. Stepita or her assistant teaching you or your dog 1-2 new behavior modification exercises, introducing tools to help you achieve your goal +/- Dr. Stepita recommending starting or adjusting medications and supplements 3. After the appointment: • Detailed discharge instructions will be emailed or mailed to you • 6 weeks of reasonable phone and email support • At your request collaboration as need with your pet's primary care veterinarian • First Treatment Appointment typically occurs 3-4 weeks after the Comprehensive Behavior Consultation • NOTE: Most of our dog patients need ongoing behavioral treatment for months or sometimes years • Forms to fill out prior to appointment: Canine Registration and Behavior Pre-History Form Dog Behavior Treatment Appointment:
• Appropriate for current VBS patients
• First treatment appointment occurs 3-4 weeks after the Comprehensive Behavior Consultation; additional treatment appointment are recommended for most dog patients at 1 and 1/2 to 3 month intervals • Scheduled for 50-60 minutes long • Included in this appointment: 1. Prior to the appointment: Review of your pet’s medical and behavior history by Dr. Stepita 2. During the appointment: • Dr. Stepita will get a brief update from you • Dr. Stepita will formulate the next steps of an individualized treatment plan for your dog including behavior modification +/- supplements and medications based on your dog’s diagnosis • Appointment may involve Dr. Stepita or her assistant teaching you or your dog 1-2 new behavior modification exercises, introducing tools to help you achieve your goal +/- Dr. Stepita recommending starting or adjusting medications and supplements, and further v behavior modification in order to change your dog’s emotional response to specific triggers for anxiety and aggression 3. After the appointment: • Detailed discharge instructions will be emailed or mailed to you • 2 months of reasonable phone and email support • At your request collaboration as need with your pet's primary care veterinarian • Additional Behavior Treatment Appointments are recommended for most dogs to continue advancing the behavior plan at 1 to 4 month intervals depending on the individual patient • NOTE: Most of our dog patients need ongoing behavioral treatment for months or sometimes years Dog or Cat Appointments:
Additional Pet Behavior Appointments:
• If your pet’s primary behavior problem is fighting with another pet in the house, then both pets
should attend the appointment (with two humans, one to control each pet) • Forms to fill out prior to appointment: Second Canine Registration and Behavior Pre-History Form Behavior Modification Session:
• Appropriate for current VBS patients with a behavior plan formulated by Dr. Stepita
• Occurs as often as once to twice a week or as needed • Scheduled for 30 minutes long • Included in this appointment: 1. Prior to the appointment: Review of your pet’s medical and behavior history 2. During the appointment: • Hands on session with Dr. Stepita or her assistant to practice the behavior modification exercises recommended at a previous Behavior Treatment Appointment 3. After the appointment: • 3 weeks of reasonable phone and email support • At your request collaboration as need with your pet's primary care veterinarian Preparing for My Behavior AppointmentBefore your behavior appointment we strongly recommend that you fill out the Registration and Behavior Pre-History form and record a video of your pet performing the undesirable behavior (only if safe), so that we can make the most out of our time during your appointment. Also, please have your primary care veterinarian email vetbehaviorspecailists@gmail.com) a copy of your pet’s medical record and most current blood work. If completing these tasks is not possible, that’s ok, but we will have to spend more time at our appointment gathering this information, which often times means that only a minimal treatment plan can be discussed and a Recheck Appointment will be needed within 1 week or we will need to extend the appointment past 1.5 hours for an additional fee.
Videotaping: Videotaping is often an important diagnostic tool when it comes to behavior problems. Just as an Internal Medicine Specialist will check your pet's blood work to diagnose liver disease, behaviorists use video to better understand why your pet is practicing the problem behavior. It is important that we figure out what the underlying motivation (ie anxiety, boredom, etc) is in order to create the most appropriate treatment plan and give your pet the best chance to succeed. If we are treating a dog for separation anxiety and they are actually barking due to territorial aggression toward the mailman when you are away from the house, we will never have resolution of the problem; this is why video is essential. Videos can also help Dr. Stepita to visualize your pet’s relationship with people in the house and other household pets. That being said, sometimes it is unsafe (for people, your pet or other pets) to videotape your pet performing the behavior, and then we do not recommend videotaping the behavior. Our #1 priority is safety. Also, sometimes a videotape of your pet's environment will help us with treatment recommendations as most of our appointments occur in the veterinary hospital and this will help Dr. Stepita better appreciate certain aspects about your home environment. Videotaping can be done in many ways, on any device that records video. You can purchase a nanny cam from the drug store that is disposable and records a short amount of video. You can record video on a camera, your smart phone, ipad, or computer webcam (either built in or purchased separately). If you do not own one of these devices you may be able to borrow one from a friend or family member. There are also apps (iCam, iZon, DropCam) for your phone that allow you to watch your pet home alone in real time. The video should be no longer than 5-10 minutes in length. It can be dropped off at our office, mailed in before your appointment, uploaded to a website (i.e. youtube.com) that you provide Dr. Stepita with, or reviewed by Dr. Stepita at your appointment. Who Should Come to the Behavior Consultation?Everyone who is directly involved with the pet is encouraged, but not required, to attend the Behavior Consultation. This includes human family members, and even sometimes friends, pet sitters, and dog trainers. This will ensure that the most complete history of the problem can be taken and that everyone can be involved in the discussion of the treatment plan firsthand. Children may also attend, so long as it is safe for them to be in close quarters with your pet. Unless another household pet is involved in the problem behavior, only the pet with the behavior problem should attend the appointment, so that we can concentrate on the problem at hand. If your pet’s primary problem is fighting with another pet in the house, then both pets need to attend the appointment as treatment recommendations will be given for both pets. There should be at least one adult per pet attending the appointment. Therefore, if your appointment is for two pets, at least 2 adults should be present. A Registration and Behavior Pre-History form should be completed for each pet and there is a reduced fee for the second pet. If the pets have their own behavior problems that are not related to fighting with each other, then they are required to have their own separate appointments.
Pet Insurance / Financial Assistance ResourcesSome pet insurance companies are now covering behavior appointments. Please contact your pet insurance company before your behavior appointment to see if it will be covered. If your pet insurance insurance company requires additional information from Veterinary Behavior Specialists to process your claim, please let us know, and we will be happy to provide that information. For more information on pet insurance see individual plans or you can find an overview here: http://www.pet-insurance-university.com/compare_pet_insurance.html
Need financial assistance? Please refer to this link: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/having-trouble-affording-veterinary-care Veterinary Behavior Specialists PoliciesNon-Refundable Reservation Fee:
Updated February 3, 2017
To reserve your appointment, we collect a non-refundable reservation fee in the amount equivalent to the cost of the appointment. This fee is payable within 24 hours of scheduling an appointment with Veterinary Behavior Specialists. The amount of your reservation fee will be applied to the cost of your pet’s appointment after the appointment is completed (see “cancellation and rescheduling policy” below for additional information). The reservation fee is payable by credit card or debit card (invoice will be emailed immediately after the appointment is scheduled). NOTE: If payment is not received within 24 hours, the appointment reservation will be released to another patient. CANCELLATION & RESCHEDULING POLICY We understand that circumstances may change unexpectedly, resulting in you being unable to keep your pet’s reserved appointment. Under such circumstances, the following cancellation policy applies. Cancellation: If you cancel a reserved appointment (i.e., you do not reschedule to another time), you forfeit the non-refundable reservation fee to Veterinary Behavior Specialists as compensation for the time already spent by VBS preparing for the appointment. Rescheduling: All appointments must be rescheduled by speaking with a VBS staff member via phone Monday through Friday between 9am-5pm or Saturday 9am-12pm.
Payment confirms you have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the non-refundable reservation fee policy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Appointment Time Policy:
We respect our clients' time. Your appointment time represents the time you should be in the hospital (or waiting outside if your pet cannot safely wait in the lobby) and ready for your appointment.
Please come a few minutes early to help us stay on time. We will adhere to assessing and/or treating your pet at your appointment time as well as the client that follows you. Note: If you are late, your appointment will not run past the scheduled end time out of respect for the next client's time. What Clients Are Saying About VBS and TestimonialsBrenden and Alex, September 2019
Dr. Stepita has treated our beagle, Smith, for a number of years and we are so glad to have found her. Smith is a nervous fellow, and that nervousness manifests in some difficult behaviors. Dr. Stepita has seen us through them all, working with us to develop and implement successful strategies to manage those behaviors. Dr. Stepita clearly cares about her patients and their families. When Smith’s sensitivity to noise made it difficult for him to sleep, Dr. Stepita understood the impact that it was having on our entire family and worked with us to find a solution. Dr. Stepita is a thoughtful and comprehensive doctor. Indeed, her attention to Smith’s health led to the diagnosis of early stage kidney disease. Without the early intervention prompted by Dr. Stepita, Smith would not be where he is today. We are immensely grateful for Dr. Stepita’s kind and thoughtful care. Her work with Smith has made all the difference. *********************** Jennifer, July 2019:
Abby initially started seeing Dr. Stepita for dog aggression and urinary problems. I was seeking help cause Abby had been in multiple dog fights and also started urinary on my furniture. Dr. Stepita has been great! She was very thorough our initial visit. She went over all the issues Abby was having and made sure there wasn’t a medical issues. She went over multiple exercises I could work on with Abby to help her with her dog aggression. I have learn safe ways to have Abby around other dogs. She came up with solutions for her urinary in the house, which has helped reduce her accidents. When Abby was seeing her another issue came up. I had a friend move in with a toddler. That presented a new issue we were going to have to work on. Dr. Stepita was great. She help get Abby used to this new smaller human in the house. Dr. Stepita has follow up phone calls and always is available if other issues arise. She has been AMAZING with Abby and so thankful we started seeing her. *********************** Luiz and Minako, July 2019:
Our Labrador retriever mix, Ponta, came to our home through adoption from San Jose Animal Center on July 2016. He was found on the street, and they said he should be three or four years old by the time we adopted him. He seemed to be a typical lab: playful, energetic and (of course!) always hungry. After a couple of months, he started showing behavior problems; barking at guests, stealing foods from a garbage can, possession aggression, etc. The biggest problem was biting. It was not a play-bite. There were several incidents within a period of several weeks including the case that he bit our guests who tried to pet him. Fortunately, they were not too serious. On February 2018, however, while my wife was petting him on his head, and, without provocation, he bit on her hand several times so hard that she had to make a hospital visit. With broken nail and exposed vein, it took several weeks to heal. Many friends including dog owners suggested that we should return him to the shelter. Especially my wife works as a piano teacher. But we were afraid that he could be considered unadoptable and therefore likely be destroyed if we do so. We didn’t want to give him up. We contacted our veterinarian and were referred to Dr. Stepita. The progress was slow but steady, and after repeating a few sessions followed by training at home, we could feel the improvements. Today Ponta is not as sensitive to outside noise as before, shows less possession, is more obedient, and most importantly, there have been no biting incidents since then. We come to Dr. Stepita’s office from South San Jose. It is a long trip, but the expertise and the results make us to continue coming back. It was justified and worth it. Dr. Stepita’s help made Ponta earn back our trust, and we got a mellowed-down, very funny and lovely dog! ****************** Marilyn July 2019:
Heart survived a traumatic experience, and Dr Stepita has been very helpful in teaching me to understand and manage Heart's fears. Dr. Stepita is very patient and supportive, always willing to take time to discuss any issues, and has taught me to become someone for Heart to look to for guidance and leadership. ******************* Dr. Stepita
Hello! I am checking in with a Ringo update. We are doing well. This past month Ringo has decided to lay down when he is being brushed. Sometimes he looks soooo relaxed. I have been working on getting him comfortable with scissors. I have been brushing him daily therefore his clumps are at a minimum, but he still gets a few. I have been working on bath-time and the last few months have gone will. I need to take off his harness and get a little nervous the will get cranky, but so far so good. My last two attempts were met with no resistance. The more I work with him the more confidence I have. He is slowing down a bit, but still enjoys his long Sunday walks...ok they last about 20 minutes, but he is a trooper and is always willing. This past week I had to be away overnight and Christopher was concerned about him because he did not want to eat. He and Ringo went for a walk and found it made a difference, maybe the walk sparked his appetite, he was willing to finish his food. I wanted to thank you again for the guidance you provided us it is priceless. Ringo seems much more relaxed and trusting, he is quite the joyful companion. Regards, A.F. ***************** K.Y. My family & I have been working with Dr. Stepita since Oct. 2016. She came highly recommended by several of the vets at our local animal hospital. A little about our dog:
Why Dr. Stepita?
******************** The magic that happens here is amazing! Our 2 year old Old English Sheepdogs were attacked by another dog a while back - trainers, classes, one on one - nothing helped. We were not able to be anywhere near another dog - (if you are in Pleasant Hill and our dogs freaked out at your dog - honestly we have been working on this for over a year and we are sorry!). Our vet recommended Dr Stepita and we have been blown away by the results, and in such a short period of time. I honestly thought there wasn't any hope for our girl and that she was going to need prozac or something - nope she needed bacon flavored treats and Dr Stepita's plan. This is not the same as going to a trainer - this is about helping a dog who is challenged by a specific situation. Dr Stepita is a dog wizard. Luckily we got her before she was given her own dog reality show! We just did a session with Doug, a dog who didn't even volunteer for the role - (but that did get to eat Easy Cheese out of the can, so he was good with it) and after working with Dr S - we almost don't recognize our well behaved dogs!! Highly recommend. Christena R. ******************** I have used Veterinary Behavior Specialists for a couple of years for several different behavior consults for my dogs. Prior to contacting them the first time, I thought behavior issues were just huge training issues. I did a bit of reading on the topic and began to realize that behavior medicine is so much more than training!!! With Dr. Stepita's help, I was able to effectively modify my dog's negative behaviors (fear based aggression) systematically over time. The knowledge I have gained with Dr. Stepita's help will prove useful for many years to come. Without her help, I am afraid that my dog would have had to be euthanized as her symptoms were so severe. I have always found Dr. Stepita to be patient, compassionate, informative and organized. I love that she modifies the treatment plan to fit my dog's and my needs plus keeps an eye on the need for flexibility. Behavior treatment is definitely not one size fits all! Veterinary Behavior Specialists is the first veterinary clinic I have ever run across that charges an appointment reservation fee. However, my hair dresser has the same policy. Completely makes sense to me given that so many people flake on appointments whether it is with their veterinarian, hair dresser, physician, etc. So many! I know because I run a business myself based on appointments. I realize that stuff happens and people can't keep an appointment, but in my business the number of flakes is huge. When they don't show up or cancel last minute, that means one of my clients on the waiting list can't come in. Frustrating for clients who are want to come in and frustrating for me as it means no income through no fault of my own. I realize that occasionally someone has a legitimate reason for missing an appointment. However, too many times there isn't a legitimate reason or they are so inconsiderate as to not hold themselves accountable. While I am still getting use to the concept, I do really appreciate the non-refundable reservation fee policy at Veterinary Behavior Specialists. Originally, Veterinary Behavior Specialists was located in Walnut Creek. Yah! They moved to Dublin. Bummer! But, it is worth the extra 15 minutes travel time to me. If you own a pet who would benefit from assistance from a veterinary behaviorist, I highly recommend Veterinary Behavior Specialists and Dr. Stepita in particular. What should you know before scheduling an appointment? 1) Behavior treatment takes time! There is no quick fix. 2) The pet owner does the majority of the work at home with the pet under the direction of the veterinarian. Again, there is no quick fix so behavior treatment isn't done only in the vet clinic. It starts there, but the owner (and family) will do a great deal of work with the dog at home. 3) Behavior treatment is so worth it!!! M.P. *************************** Dear Dr. Stepita, I am overdue checking in, but I wanted to write with the good news that we have finally reached a good place in terms of Trima and her three brothers. eventually be successful. We go big chunks of time now with all of the kitties mixing and mingling. If nothing else, it is so much nicer for her now to have the possibility of roaming a bigger space and being outdoors some in the enclosed yard. Today when I left for work she was puzzling about the rain which she thought I could make go away. It is her first experience with moisture falling from the sky. I think it will be a long day for her. Anyway, she has been mixing some the boys a great deal over the past couple of months, so I feel safe in writing you and claiming success. It is much nicer for me, too, not to worry about someone getting upset or (even worse) hurt when they are together. I get to open up the interior of the house more as well. Thanks again for all of your help. I have enjoyed adding more skills to my cat repertoire. Trima, of course, is the ultimate winner here. I'm happy she's gained a more realistic lifestyle. Have a great end of the year. Happy holidays, Jocelyn ********************************************** Good Morning Doctor, Our dog Millie (Australian Cattle Dog mix) and I visited with you a couple of times earlier this year. When we came to you Millie had been with us for a short time and was having aggression problems toward our cat, was very aggressive toward visitors to our home and extremely aggressive toward other dogs on the trail. Millie is about five years old and when we got her from the rescue she had been in multiple homes and a county shelter after being abandoned. You helped me with some good strategies to help Millie and I am happy to report Millie has made outstanding progress in the last few months thanks to the guidance you gave me. The progress was slow at first but now she is really calming down. A major turning point came on Fourth of July weekend. We had about 10 family members over for dinner at our house in the country. When they first arrived Millie was her usual self, aggressive barking, hackles up etc. I took into the bedroom where she could be away from the people and feel secure. Everyone of course knew the challenges we were having with Millie. After about ten minutes I went to the bedroom and I brought her out on leash and she stayed calm. We went around the room and everyone ignored Millie unless she began sniffing them, then they would offer a treat while looking away. Shortly after I removed the leash and she was relaxed. After that she just settled in and began acquainting herself with everyone, of course everyone was loaded with treats. I told everyone feel free to give her treats but avoid trying to touch or pet her. By the end of the evening people were petting Millie and she was fine with it. Since that time she seems fine right away with people coming to either the house. Of course we watch her carefully but she seems totally relaxed with new visitors now. She is also much nicer to Amigo the cat and while they may never be great friends she for the most part ignores him like she did the first week she came to live with us. She has also really calmed down on the trail. While I still put her on leash when meeting other dogs she is now is calm and no hackles. We had a surprising event on Sunday. We were at the country house where Millie is allowed to roam around the property; Millie rarely gets more than 100’ from the house. We were over talking to our neighbors and their two dogs and cats were all with us. Millie started heading over so of course I was ready for whatever, since she had run both the dogs off before (both are a bit larger than her but really mellow). Millie came over and sniffed at the dogs and then just sat down next to me. One cat came over and sniffed at her and while she did let out a small growl it ended almost before it started. The cat slowly turned around and wandered a few steps away. We continued our visit and Millie was relaxed and could not have been better. When she first came to live with us she would go after other dogs in an extremely aggressive manner. At this point I think she has made incredible progress. I have a feeling that much of it may be a matter of her beginning to really trust us to keep her out of trouble. The guidance you gave me has really helped Millie develop the bond of trust. While she had her challenges when she first arrived she has always been a loving dog to her immediate family and we are so excited to see her really begin to accept and enjoy others as well. Thank you so much for the help and guidance you gave me, Eric ****************************************** J.N. My husband and I adopted a rescue dog from a local agency in March 2015. Soon after, we learned our new forever dog was taking Prozac for some behavioral problems. Our medical vet suggested we take him to a behaviorist for help and medication management. They recommended Veterinary Behavior Specialists in Walnut Creek (now in Dublin). Dr. Stepita is systematic in her approach to working with us on how to manage our dog's issues. She provides us with detailed techniques, exercises and processes to help desensitize our dog's behavior and reactions to situations that upset him. Over the last year, we have seen a significant improvement his behavior. Although he'll probably never be completely normal, he's much calmer and happier, and it is easier for us to redirect his focus away from situations that stress him out. There is a $200 fee, which is required to be paid in full prior to the visit. The fee not only includes the initial office visit, but also provides for follow up phone calls and email responses to ask and answer questions or discuss new concerns, and report on the dog's progress. Dr. Stepita also provides a detailed written report documenting current status, discussion points, and next steps (new training and exercises). Dr. Stepita is a kind and concerned person. Its evident she is compassionate and cares about animals. I would recommend Veterinary Behavior Specialists to anyone who needs help dealing with animal behavioral issues. ******************************************************** B.J. Dr. Stepita has been great for working with my fearful doggy over the past year or so. She is not the cheapest VB around but I found that the amount of phone and email follow up I received more than made up for it (shes very responsive, and I also like the write up she gives after meetings and follow up appointments. I'm really forgetful so it helps to have that as a reminder). *************************************************************** M.H. Dr. Stepita has been seeing our dog Scout for just over a year now. Scout is a rescue dog who we discovered had severe separation anxiety after bringing him home from a shelter. We were unable to leave him home alone for even a few minutes without him panicking. We made an appt with our regular vet and he recommended we take Scout to see Dr. Stepita. We paid in advance as other people have noted but we understood the reasoning behind that and it wasn't an issue for us. Dr. Stepita spent two hours with us and fully documented all of Scout's behaviors. She gave us training tips and even had us practice them to make sure we understood. Scout had blood work done and was started on a low dose of anxiety medication to be used in conjunction with the behavior modifications she suggested. She was knowledgable and easy to talk to but above everything else it was clear that she cared about Scout's well being. A few days after our visit we received a printout of everything we discussed at our appt. We have seen her about four times since then. Each appt also includes at least one half hour follow up call but I actually spoke to her and emailed her more often than that. Scout also suffers from epilepsy which added to the difficulty of getting his medication level right and Dr. Stepita was always responded quickly if I had any questions or concerns. It's been a long journey but with her support and guidance he has improved immensely and we are finally able to leave him at home alone when we go out. We have a camera in the house (per her suggestion) and it is so rewarding now to see him curl up and lay down in his bed after we shut the door instead of the frantic behavior he exhibited just a year ago. I would highly recommend her to anyone that has a pet who needs help. |