Dog Behaviour: In Sickness and In Health

This 6-part online series from Dr Amber Batson is aimed at behaviour professionals or those in the veterinary community, interested in updating their knowledge on how medical disorders as well as positive states of well being can affect a dog's behaviour.  The series will also consider what tools behaviour professionals have to help along with the dog's legal guardian, to identify changes in health and wellbeing and collaborate effectively with the veterinary community to assist them in making plans for any investigations or treatments.

Webinar 1: 

What is psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology? (except a particularly long word!)

What are homeostasis and allostasis and how are these affected by disease?  This will include a summary of the immediate and delayed stress responses.

How do different aspects of abnormal physiology (such as inflammation, pain, nausea, hyperglycemia) have the potential to affect behaviour of the companion dog?

This opening webinar will provide a background of body systems and their complicated interplay on influencing physical states, emotional states, cognitive processes and more.   It will also consider the role of the veterinarian in making a diagnosis, and how other non vet professionals can fit alongside the vet as other key stakeholders advocating for optimal wellbeing in the dog.

Webinar 2: 

What organs come together to form the digestive system?

What is the gut-brain-axis and why is this instrumental in overall wellbeing?

This webinar will consider up to date science on the gastrointestinal microbiome and how it impacts and is impacted by, the nervous system and further connections with the immune and endocrine systems in ways which can influence behaviour.

The function of the pancreas and liver within the digestive system will also be considered.

Common diseases of the digestive system will be listed along with the main, and some more subtle, symptoms.

How can the behaviour professional liaise with the dog's legal guardian to collate data to help inform the vet of any potential concern, as well as to record any impact of disease treatment on behaviours in the dog?

Webinar 3:

This webinar will start off with a look at the structure and physiology of the dog's skin and expand on webinar 2 to consider the links between the gut-brain-axis and the skin.

Common diseases of the skin will be listed along with the main, and some more subtle, symptoms including consideration of ear disease.

How can the behaviour professional liaise with the dog's legal guardian to collate data to help inform the vet of any potential concern, as well as to record any impact of disease treatment on behaviours in the dog.

This webinar will then consider some of the common medications used in treating skin and gastrointestinal disease and how this may influence the behaviour tendencies of the dog.   What resources are available for monitoring chronic skin and gastrointestinal issues?  What resources may be helpful for members of the professional team supporting the dog and their human family, to understand behaviour impacts from medications?

LIVE ONLINE DISCUSSION SESSION FOR Webinars 1-3

2 hours - February 2nd - 6:00-8:00pm UK time

(recorded for those unable to attend)

Webinar 4:

The Nervous System and the Head

What comprises the nervous system of the dog?

How is the nervous system intimately linked with the other body systems in ways that may affect health and behaviour?

This webinar will include a brief over view of the pain system in the dog and why pain from injury and disease may affect behaviour.

What structures in the dog's head might be injured or diseased or affect well being?   How might the behaviour professional collect information from the dog's guardians that could suggest potential concern in this / these body systems?

What science is available on the impact of nervous system disease / injury and behaviour in the dog?

What resources are available for monitoring nervous system issues?  What resources may be helpful for members of the professional team supporting the dog and their human family, to understand behaviour impacts from medications commonly used in nervous system disease?

Webinar 5:

The endocrine system

The endocrine system is made up of a variety of different glands and their hormones.  This webinar will look at the different tissues within the endocrine system most frequently affected by disease in the companion dog and how these influence other body systems and therefore behaviour.

What science is available to consider the impact of disease in different endocrine tissues and their effect on dog behaviour?

Common diseases of the endocrine system will be listed along with the main, and some more subtle, symptoms.

How can the behaviour professional liaise with the dog's legal guardian to collate data to help inform the vet of any potential concern, as well as to record any impact of disease treatment on behaviours in the dog?

Webinar 6: 

Case Studies

4 cases studies seen by the presenter will be used to reflect on the content of the series and highlight the ways in which behaviour professionals can play an invaluable role in recognising and monitoring the effect of disease on behaviour in the dog.

Cases will include those with gastrointestinal, skin, nervous system and endocrine elements and will provide opportunities for revising the methods and resources available to support the dog's guardian in monitoring their pet's health and wellbeing.

LIVE ONLINE DISCUSSION SESSION FOR Webinars 4-6

2 hours - April 27th - 6:00-8:00pm UK time

(recorded for those unable to attend)

You will get:

Access to all of the webinars and recordings of the 2 live discussions for 1 year (until 31st October 2026)

NB: Times and dates may be subject to change, but where possible we will keep to the dates and times advertised.