European School for Advanced Veterinary Studies
Clinical Case Management – Behavioural Medicine
5 live sessions
Management success in behavioural medicine – case oriented approach
5 sessions of this online series will feature a blended approach of lectures and case-based discussions and will delve into the fundamental aspects of animal behaviour and welfare as applied to clinical practice. Dr. Stefania Uccheddu (Dipl. ECAWBM) will share her expertise, so that the participants can use it in their daily practice.
Key Focus Areas:
1. Ethological Principles: Exploration of core principles relevant to veterinarians, with a focus on caregiver education and welfare promotion.
2. Multidisciplinary Approach: Integration of behavioural medicine within evidence-based clinical care.
The full series consists of 5 online case discussion sessions, each of 90 minutes. The cases will be released in advance as a PDF or PP and will be interactively discussed in a live format. An open forum will be set up for any questions and discussion for 1 week after each session. The number of participants is limited to provide optimal interaction.
23
September
2026
Virtual Event
Introduction: Feline neurobehavioral disorders are frequently misdiagnosed due to a lack of understanding of the species-specific corticolimbic architecture. This session focuses on how the feline brain processes emotional stimuli and the consequences of limbic system dysfunction.
Aims:
• To provide an in-depth analysis of the feline corticolimbic system and its role in emotional regulation.
• To clarify the pathophysiology of common feline neurobehavioral disorders.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Recognizeand focus on Hyperestesia, FOPS and more.
• Formulate diagnostic plans based on the latest feline neuroscientific research.
Behavioural Medicine, Session 1
The Great Misunderstood: Feline Neurobehavioral Disorders
Introduction: Feline neurobehavioral disorders are frequently misdiagnosed due to a lack of understanding of the species-specific corticolimbic architecture. This session focuses on how the feline brain processes emotional stimuli and the consequences of limbic system dysfunction.
Aims:
• To provide an in-depth analysis of the feline corticolimbic system and its role in emotional regulation.
• To clarify the pathophysiology of common feline neurobehavioral disorders.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Recognizeand focus on Hyperestesia, FOPS and more.
• Formulate diagnostic plans based on the latest feline neuroscientific research.
20
October
2026
Virtual Event
Introduction: While "OCD" is a common term in veterinary medicine, true compulsive disorders are rarer than clinical shorthand suggests. This session differentiates between stereotypies, displacement behaviors, and genuine obsessive-compulsive pathologies.
Aims:
• To establish strict diagnostic criteria for compulsive disorders in cats and dogs.
• To explore the genetic, environmental, and neurological triggers that lead to repetitive behaviors.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Correctly differentiate between medical differentials and primary behavioral OCD.
• Develop targeted therapeutic interventions that address the root cause of compulsive behaviors.
Behavioural Medicine, Session 2
How Many Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Do You Know?
Introduction: While "OCD" is a common term in veterinary medicine, true compulsive disorders are rarer than clinical shorthand suggests. This session differentiates between stereotypies, displacement behaviors, and genuine obsessive-compulsive pathologies.
Aims:
• To establish strict diagnostic criteria for compulsive disorders in cats and dogs.
• To explore the genetic, environmental, and neurological triggers that lead to repetitive behaviors.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Correctly differentiate between medical differentials and primary behavioral OCD.
• Develop targeted therapeutic interventions that address the root cause of compulsive behaviors.
18
November
2026
Virtual Event
Introduction: Routine gonadectomy is being increasingly scrutinized within the veterinary community. This session evaluates the behavioral and welfare implications of castration in cats, challenging the "one-size-fits-all" approach to population and individual management.
Aims:
• To analyze the long-term behavioral effects of Castration/neutering in cats.
• To discuss the welfare balance between population control and individual behavioral health.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Advise caregivers on the behavioral pros and cons of castration based on individual risk assessments.
• Identify specific cases where castration may not be the key.
Behavioural Medicine, Session 3
Is Castration the Right Choice for Your Cat Patient?
Introduction: Routine gonadectomy is being increasingly scrutinized within the veterinary community. This session evaluates the behavioral and welfare implications of castration in cats, challenging the "one-size-fits-all" approach to population and individual management.
Aims:
• To analyze the long-term behavioral effects of Castration/neutering in cats.
• To discuss the welfare balance between population control and individual behavioral health.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Advise caregivers on the behavioral pros and cons of castration based on individual risk assessments.
• Identify specific cases where castration may not be the key.
16
December
2026
Virtual Event
Introduction: Feline patients are significantly under-represented in clinical follow-ups, largely due to the stress of transportation and the clinical environment. This session focuses on optimizing the clinic-client-patient interface to ensure continuity of care.
Aims:
• To provide practical strategies for low-stress feline handling and hospital environment modification.
• To improve feline patient retention through enhanced caregiver education and welfare-focused protocols.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Implement "Cat-Friendly" protocols in various clinical scenarios, from emergency to routine check-ups.
• Communicate effectively with owners to reduce pre-visit stress.
Behavioural Medicine, Session 4
Do Not Exclude Feline Patients from Follow-Up
Introduction: Feline patients are significantly under-represented in clinical follow-ups, largely due to the stress of transportation and the clinical environment. This session focuses on optimizing the clinic-client-patient interface to ensure continuity of care.
Aims:
• To provide practical strategies for low-stress feline handling and hospital environment modification.
• To improve feline patient retention through enhanced caregiver education and welfare-focused protocols.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Implement "Cat-Friendly" protocols in various clinical scenarios, from emergency to routine check-ups.
• Communicate effectively with owners to reduce pre-visit stress.
20
January
2027
Virtual Event
Introduction: The decision to neuter a dog has profound implications for their behavioral development and long-term health. Using an evidence-based approach, this session reviews the latest data on how gonadectomy influences behaviour too.
Aims:
• To review recent literature regarding the impact of sex hormones on canine neurobiology.
• To provide a framework for ethical and clinical decision-making regarding neutering.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Evaluate the behavioral risks and benefits of neutering for individual canine patients.
• Offer evidence-based alternatives and timing recommendations for surgical or chemical castration.
Behavioural Medicine, Session 5
Is Castration the Right Choice for Your Dog Patient?
Introduction: The decision to neuter a dog has profound implications for their behavioral development and long-term health. Using an evidence-based approach, this session reviews the latest data on how gonadectomy influences behaviour too.
Aims:
• To review recent literature regarding the impact of sex hormones on canine neurobiology.
• To provide a framework for ethical and clinical decision-making regarding neutering.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Evaluate the behavioral risks and benefits of neutering for individual canine patients.
• Offer evidence-based alternatives and timing recommendations for surgical or chemical castration.