Behavior with Dr. Sally Foote

Doors open 8:30 am
NO BREAKFAST PROVIDED – Lunch, drinks, and an afternoon snack provided.

Dr. Sally J Foote is an international veterinary behavior consultant, writer, and speaker.  Certified by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Low-Stress Handling Certified Silver, and Fear Free Elite, she is an expert in creating a less stressful care experience for staff, patients, and clients.   Dr. Foote has presented at national conferences, including the AVMA, VMX, and Midwest Veterinary Conference, and is a guest lecturer at various Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and other universities.   With over 40 years of practice experience, Dr. Foote now focuses her time on speaking, creating online education, heading the Bella Behavior learning center in Tuscola, IL, and continuing to innovate in veterinary behavior. 

Dr. Foote received her DVM in 1984 from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Low-Stress Handling Certified – Silver, and Fear Free Elite Certified.   

Dr. Foote has served on multiple committees with the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association and is the past president of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. Dr. Foote is a member of the AVSAB, AVMA, ISVMA, and VVCA.  She was the executive director of Cattledog Publishing, the veterinary publishing company founded by the late Sophia Yin, DVM, from 2016 to 2020.    Dr. Foote’s hobbies include hiking, knitting, and enjoying the quiet life in rural east central Illinois with her family. 

Lecture Titles/Summaries:

Lecture 1: Behavior Cocktails – the plans for immediately addressing common behavior problems in pets easily and efficiently in office for clients.   1 hour

Lecture 2: No pain – No maim – fast-acting pain and anxiety-relieving medications and exam strategies to reduce in-clinic aggression for dogs and cats.  Tips for home care as well for clients and use of telehealth to assess and improve safe, less stressful care.   1 hour

Lecture 3: Alternative therapies – what works, why, and how effective they are. This will cover diets, nutritional supplements, pheromones, therapy devices, and techniques for reducing anxiety and aggression in dogs and cats.  Safety, quality of product and effectiveness will be emphasized to help medication-resistant pets and clients   1 hour

Lecture 4: Handle with Care – How to create the specific handling, medication, and exam area plan for your patient efficiently for all staff to follow.  Added info for client plans to help prep patients for care and home care.  1 hour

Lecture 5: Read them Right – how to read the in-clinic body language of dogs and cats for safe, less stressful care.  This presentation will have video of in-clinic animals showing mild and advanced behaviors that may be difficult to assess, and what to immediately do to reduce anxiety and aggression while staying safe.  This is for all staff to know – DVM, Techs, assistants, and kennel caregivers.   1 hour

Lecture 6: The 5 essential steps for low stress care of anxious and aggressive patients. Learn how to schedule time, staff skill, and avoidance of patient triggers; confirm the client’s preparation of the patient; ensure the right pre-medication and sedation cocktail for this patient; and assess after the procedure for future care.  1 hour