Handle with care: Fundamentals of behavioural first aid in general practice

General practices are uniquely positioned to play a central role in the lifelong emotional health of companion animals - we are able to proactively ask owners about their pets’ behaviour, give preventative advice, and provide early interventions if problems arise. Unfortunately, many owners delay seeking veterinary help for their pet's behaviour until the problem is severe. Veterinarians can often feel poorly prepared to manage these challenging cases, especially within the time available in first opinion practice, and unsure of what advice to give. Behaviour first aid provides a flexible, practical framework for the first response to any behaviour problem. There is always something you can do to help, and a first aid approach helps pets and owners when they need it most. Learn how to take an effective behaviour history, investigate medical comorbidities, mitigate risk, and give actionable advice to optimise welfare and prevent the problem from getting worse.