Our services

Helping your pet find medical-backed, compassionate behavioral care

How We Help

Through strong, positive reinforcement training and Fear Free Certified techniques, we provide compassionate, science-backed care that integrates behavioral therapy with veterinary medical expertise to identify underlying health issuesand support your pet’s emotional and physical well-being.

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1. Before Your Visit

    1. Please complete the behavioral history form 72 hours prior to your appointment. You can find it on the Forms page, or we'll send you a link by email and text.

    2. We will request your pet's medical history, including current medications, at least 72 hours prior to the appointment. If you prefer us not to do this, please notify us in advance.

    3. If possible, email photos of your home environment and videos of concerning behaviors to enhance safety. However, please do not do anything that could endanger yourself, others, or your pet(s) while capturing this content.

    4. Recent blood work (within the last 3 months) is recommended but not required and should be included in the medical history.

    • Dr. Hilliard will conduct a comprehensive two hour review of your pet's medical history, including diagnoses, treatments, medications, and past behavioral concerns, while also considering their age, breed, and overall health.

    • She spends considerable time reviewing records in advance to help ensure your appointment is focused, thorough, and personalized.

    • Our thorough assessment helps uncover underlying health issues that may be contributing to behavioral concerns, ensuring care that is informed, concise, and compassionate.

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2. In-Depth Behavior Consultation

    • During your in-clinic consultation, Dr. Hilliard will place a strong focus on understanding your pet's behavioral challenges, including aggression, fear, anxiety, and noise phobias.

    • She will thoroughly review their history and medical records and evaluate any underlying health conditions that may be contributing to these issues, helping to ensure a well-rounded and compassionate assessment.

    • Based on these observations and your pet's medical history, Dr. Hilliard will provide a diagnosis, long-term prognosis, and outline which behaviors can be improved versus those that may be more challenging. She will also make any additional recommendations for further diagnostics if needed.

    • Her comprehensive assessment allows her to develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your pet's medical and behavioral needs.

  • The in-clinic consultation lasts two hours, providing dedicated time for a comprehensive evaluation and thoughtful discussion of your pet’s behavioral concerns.

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3. After Your Visit

    • After the consultation, Dr. Hilliard will spend 1-2 hours creating a detailed treatment plan.

    • The plan includes practical handouts and notes to support your pet’s progress at home.

    • It outlines recommended behavioral and environmental modifications.

    • Potential medication options will be considered to ensure the best care for your pet.

    • Medication progress rechecks Medication progress rechecks (30–45 minutes) are done virtually about 4–6 weeks after the initial consultation. During this time, we assess your progress and make any needed adjustments to your treatment. If helpful, additional check-ins can be scheduled. After this initial period, follow-ups are typically every six months or as needed.

    • Ongoing check-ins take place every 6 months, with a thorough 60–90 minute review. The first 6-month recheck is conducted virtually, followed by annual in-person visits, with virtual rechecks in between.

    • Continuous, compassionate support is provided to help your pet thrive emotionally and behaviorally.

    • Our Zoom Training Sessions are led by Leticia, a highly experienced animal trainer and licensed veterinary technician.

    • She provides expert, personalized guidance on a range of behavioral challenges, including leash reactivity, poor recall, crate aversion, separation anxiety, excessive barking, aversion to touch, and resource guarding.

    • For cats, we provide support with litter box training, scratching habits, and stress management. Each session is tailored to your pet’s unique needs, providing a smooth and comfortable experience.

    • We’re here to support you and your pet with patience and understanding every step of the way.

    • If a muzzle is considered beneficial, dogs are introduced to it using only positive, fear-free training methods.

    • Our complimentary Muzzle Training sessions helps your pet become comfortable wearing a muzzle in a stress-free way.

    • We offer flexible scheduling with as many sessions as needed to support you and your pet.

    • Led by Leticia, our highly experienced animal trainer and licensed veterinary technician, the training incorporates gentle desensitization techniques to create a safe, positive, and reassuring experience for your pet.

    • Ideal for grooming, vet visits, and other situations, it reduces stress for both you and your pet.

    • We recognize that administering medication to cats can be challenging.

    • To support you, we offer multiple complimentary personalized Zoom consultation with Leticia, our highly experienced animal trainer and licensed veterinary technician.

    • During this session, she will guide you through effective techniques for medication administration and explore food options that can help disguise it.

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Who We Treat

We specialize in treating dogs and cats with pain-induced aggression, fear, anxiety, noise phobias, and separation anxiety.

Our expertise extends to complex cases, including repetitive behaviors, house soiling, destructiveness, inter-household aggression, and hyperactivity.

Benefits of Working with a Veterinarian Specializing in Behavior

  • Root Cause Diagnosis

    We take the time to understand the deeper reasons behind your pet's behavior, so we can create a compassionate and effective plan that addresses the root cause with care.

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    Expert-Led Care

    With over 20 years of animal experience and more than a decade in veterinary care, Dr. Hilliard and her team offer expert guidance so your pet receives the highest level of care.

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    Customized Treatment Plan

    Receive a plan that addresses your pet's specific behavioral issues, from aggression to separation anxiety, so you know exactly what steps to take for long-term change.

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    Sustainable Behavioral Change

    Our focus is on achieving lasting results, so you can stop worrying about temporary fixes and feel assured that your pet’s behavior will improve over time.

  • Gentle, Fear-Free Techniques

    We use calming, compassionate methods that reduce stress, helping ensure your pet feels safe and comfortable throughout the process.

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    Continuous Support

    We provide regular follow-up sessions to track progress and adjust the plan as needed, giving you ongoing support in maintaining your pet’s behavioral improvements.

Our Facilities

Feeling Pawsitive Veterinary Behavioral Solutions, located in Greenville, SC, is a carefully designed sanctuary for pets struggling with anxiety and behavioral challenges.

Our clinic provides a calming environment with soothing scents, gentle white noise, and a stress-free ambiance to help pets feel safe and relaxed.

Every detail is tailored to support their emotional well-being, fostering positive behavior and a sense of security in a nurturing space.

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FAQs

    • Advanced Medical Training – A vet specializing in behavioral care has specialized medical education, allowing them to diagnose and treat health issues that may contribute to behavior problems.

    • Medical & Behavioral Approach – They have the ability to address both the medical and behavioral aspects. A large percentage of behavioral disorders have medical roots that contribute to issues, even if they aren’t apparent at home.

    • Ability to Prescribe Medication – A vet specializing in behavioral care can prescribe medications when necessary to support treatment, while trainers focus on teaching behaviors and commands.

    • Diagnostic Expertise – They know which specific medical tests to recommend in order to identify underlying health conditions that may affect behavior.

    • Therapy & Treatment Plans – Their approach often combines therapy, behavior modification, and medical interventions for lasting results.

  • Not always! A common misconception is vets specializing in behavioral care rely on medication for every case. While it can be helpful in certain situations, it’s never prescribed lightly.

    • Medication is a tool, not a solution – When recommended, it’s to support your pet’s progress, not to sedate them.

    • Supports learning & well-being – It helps reduce anxiety and makes pets more receptive to training, especially when stress has blocked their ability to learn.

    • Part of a bigger plan – Medication alone isn’t enough. We combine it with behavior modification, training, and lifestyle changes for lasting results.

    • Safety first – Side effects are rare, and we closely monitor your pet’s response to support their well-being.

    Every pet is different, and our approach is always tailored to their unique needs!

  • Every pet is unique, so progress depends on factors like the severity of their behavior, consistency in training, and their individual response to treatment.

    • Some pets show improvement within a few weeks, especially with structured guidance and management.

    • For more complex cases, progress may take months, as behavioral changes require patience and consistency.

    • Medication (if recommended) can take time to reach full effectiveness, and adjustments may be needed along the way.

    Our goal is lasting, meaningful change, and we’ll support you throughout the process to ensure the best outcome for your pet.

  • No, a referral is not required! However, we strongly recommend:

    • Sending your pet’s veterinary records to our email in advance for review.

    • Having recent bloodwork (within the last 3 months) to ensure a thorough evaluation.

    This helps us get a complete picture of your pet’s health and provide the best possible care.

  • Not at all! When introduced properly, muzzle training can be a positive and stress-free experience for your dog.

    • Muzzles are a safety tool, not a punishment – They protect both your dog and others in certain situations, like vet visits or high-stress environments.

    • Prevents negative associations – Proper training ensures your dog sees the muzzle as a normal and even rewarding experience.

    • Encourages confidence – Many dogs feel more relaxed when they and their owners feel safe in unpredictable situations.

    With positive reinforcement, your dog can learn to wear a muzzle comfortably, just like a harness or collar!