Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynne Seibert
Hi Lynne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am the only board-certified veterinary behaviorist (animal psychiatrist) in the Atlanta metro area, and I serve clients from all over Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and the Florida panhandle at my office in Gwinnett County. I spent 15 years in higher education, preparing for this profession. I have been treating all types of animals for behavior problems for almost 30 years now.
As an undergraduate college student at Indiana University, I had planned to be a chemist and had my goals set for pharmaceutical research. During college, I had two cats with whom I was highly bonded. I had so much admiration for their veterinarian, Dr. Christina Swanson. I was in awe of her confidence, skill, and enthusiasm for her profession. I changed my focus late in my undergraduate studies and set my sights on veterinary school. I ultimately graduated from veterinary school at the University of Tennessee and went to work at a practice in New York after graduation.
As a newly licensed veterinarian, there were many challenges. At that time, there were far fewer specialists and emergency hospitals available for referral of difficult cases. I felt competent in most areas of veterinary medicine, but quickly realized that I was not prepared to help my patients with behavior problems. I saw emotional suffering and life-threatening behavior conditions (aggression, phobias, separation anxiety) and there were no resources to help these patients and their caregivers. I could not accept my limitations, nor could I watch patients suffer without having the skills to assist. So I headed back to school.
I elected to apply for graduate school (a PhD program) in psychology at the University of Georgia, because I wanted to learn everything I could about animal behavior and neuroscience. I was able to go to graduate school with a full scholarship. While I was completing full-time coursework and research for my Master’s and PhD degrees in psychology, I had the opportunity to start a residency training program in behavior medicine at the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, under the direction of board-certified veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Sharon Crowell-Davis. The residency prepared me to take the examination to become board-certified as a specialist through the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (one of many specialties available in veterinary medicine). At the time that I started my training, there were only about 20 board-certified veterinary behaviorists in the world, Today there are closer to 100 of us.
I have been involved in almost every type of veterinary practice. I have been a general practitioner, an emergency veterinarian, a relief veterinarian, a resident, a specialist at a multi-specialty hospital, and I have taught veterinary behavior courses at 6 different veterinary colleges. A common theme in all of these scenarios is that veterinary medical professionals are often poorly equipped to address mental health issues in their patients. In additon to being a leading cause of euthanasia in companion animals, behavior problems impact physical health and overall well-being. As a veterinarian, I feel obligated by my oath to address both physical and mental well-being.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Veterinary behavior specialists are a small group. We have struggled for a place in the veterinary curriculum at veterinary colleges. The majority of veterinary colleges in the United States do not employ full-time veterinary behaviorists. Most veterinary colleges offer minimal behavior instruction and clinical experiences for veterinary students. This oversight continues to be an issue for new veterinarians as they enter practices without the tools to address the inevitable behavior issues of their patients. Due to the lack of focus on behavioral health in veterinary colleges, many veterinarians are uncertain how to include behavior counseling services in their practices and when to refer their patients to a veterinary behavior specialist.
Behavior science is a complex area of study. There is so much misinformation about animal behavior, as a result of self-proclaimed ‘experts’ and poorly conceived television programming, that the small number of actual experts in the field of animal behavior are unable to rise above the noise. Misinformation is harmful and can result in tragedy if an anxious or aggressive patient is mishandled.
The profession of dog training is unregulated, with no standardized educational program or licensing available. There are a variety of different online courses and certifications available for non-veterinary behavior consultants and trainers, some more robust than others, but no university-accredited degree programs exist specifically for trainers or behavior consultants. With the development of new certifications for non-veterinary animal behavior consultants, there is enormous confusion for pet guardians who are seeking professional help for their pets. The field of animal behavior consulting needs standardized university-based degree programs for non-veterinarians, with licensing and clear role delineation for individuals working with behavior patients.
One of my biggest struggles occurred in 2015, when after years of chronic renal failure, I finally needed to start dialysis for a heredity kidney disease, My journey to kidney transplantation tested the limits of my mental and physical endurance. I received a new kidney from an angel donor in 2018 thanks to the brilliant team at Piedmont Transplant Center, I was given this incredible gift of life, because my donor’s life was lost. Despite the challenges of being a transplant recipient, I wake up every morning with a determination to make the world a little better. I never want to take this blessing for granted.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a veterinary psychiatrist (officially known as a board-certified veterinary behaviorist). I treat all species, except humans, for conditions that are primarily psychological, as well as medical conditions that have a behavioral component. I treat mostly dogs and cats, but also see pet birds, rabbits, ferrets, pigs, horses, and livestock. The most common complaints in my practice are anxiety, noise phobia, aggression, separation-related distress, compulsive behaviors, self-injury, social stress, and house-soiling.
In addition to my clinical practice, I teach veterinary students at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. In the past 25 years, I have presented over 2,500 hours of behavior education in 45 states and 4 countries.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I work with a wonderful network of certified trainers and consultants in the area, We collaborate to help guardians and pets achieve success with their behavior modicifation plans. I also rely on the cooperation and support of a fantastic network of veterinarians in the area, who help to implement my recommendations, assist with patient monitoring and ongoing care, refer their difficult cases to me, and make me proud to part of this profession. While the majority of my referrals come from veterinarians, trainers, and consultants, pet owners are always welcome to self-refer by visiting my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gavetbehavior.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gavetbehavior
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gavetbehavior
Image Credits
These are all my photos
