Behavior

Veterinary Behavior at AMC

NYC’s First Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist

The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center’s new Behavior Service is led by Vanessa Spano, DVM, DACVB, New York City’s first board-certified veterinary behaviorist. We provide specialized behavior care to all species of companion animals (dogs, cats, exotic pets, and farm animals) and their families.

 

1113 York Avenue (at 61st Street)

AMC’s Behavior Service is located across York Avenue from our main hospital location. Please go directly to 1113 York Avenue for all Behavior appointments.

Veterinary Behavior Services

AMC’s veterinary behaviorist specializes in diagnosing and treating behavioral issues in animals, combining expertise in medicine and behavior. Our team seeks to address problems stemming from medical conditions, neurochemical imbalances, learned fears, or social conflicts.

Our services include:

  • Initial behavior consultations
  • Reassessments for established patients
  • Behavior and medical assessments for pathway planning of shelter patients
  • Behavior assessments for patients part of forensic/cruelty cases
  • Comprehensive Vet-2-Vet consults for patients of referring veterinarians nation-wide
  • Pre-adoption counseling
  • Functional behavior assessments and environmental management counseling
  • Behavior modification plans

Veterinary Behavior Conditions

AMC’s veterinary behaviorist is trained to treat behavioral issues in all species, including dogs, cats, exotic pets, and farm animals. Common conditions we treat include:

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Aggression (fear, conflict, impulsive, territorial, and possessive)
  • Fear and Panic Disorders
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Noise and Storm Phobia
  • Compulsive Disorder
  • PTSD
  • House-soiling
  • Cognitive Dysfunction
  • Pain-related Anxiety and Aggression
  • Feline Hyperesthesia
  • Unruly Behaviors (jumping, counter surfing, leash pulling, climbing, digging)
  • Puppy & Kitten Socialization

Our Team

Dr. Vanessa Spano

DVM, DACVB

Head of the Behavior Service