5 Signs Your Pet's Care Team is Truly Collaborating

Estimated reading time: 4 mins

Imagine buying a house: Your realtor, your bank, and your lawyer are all handling the exact same transaction, yet they operate in isolation. They don’t talk to each other.

Because they won’t communicate, the entire load gets dumped right back on you. You’re forced into the middle, forwarding countless emails, re-explaining details, and chasing down updates just to keep closing day on track.

You basically become an unpaid project manager, when the last thing you needed was yet one more job. What a nightmare!

Coordinating your pet’s care can feel the exact same way. Instead of focusing on your pet, you repeat the same history to your veterinarian, then your trainer, then your veterinary behaviorist. You carry updates from one appointment to the next, trying to remember exactly what everyone said.

But when your pet’s care team is truly working together, things can feel very different. That doesn’t mean every professional has to work under the same roof. They can be from various locations, have different communication styles, and completely unique approaches.

Last week I talked about finding team members that fit. With a collaborative team, the weight is lifted from your shoulders because you’re no longer carrying the entire plan by yourself. Here are 5 signs your pet’s care team is on the same page.

1.) They Talk To Each Other

This one can make a huge difference: the people on your pet’s care team should be willing to communicate when it would benefit your pet.

As a behavior consultant, I love when primary care vets and vet behaviorists ask to see copies of the treatment plans I give to my clients. They can see what recommendations I made and get an idea of where the family is at in the journey. I also appreciate receiving medical records from them after the patient meets with them, for the same reasons. This helps us to all be on the same page and reduce the chance of repeated or conflicting recommendations. It allows everyone to do their job effectively.

You shouldn’t have to be the sole messenger carrying information from one professional to another. If the people on your pet’s care team aren’t already communicating, ask them if they can start. Maybe all they need is your permission to do so.

2.) They Know Their Lane

Your vet doesn’t have to be a behavior expert. Your trainer doesn’t need pharmacist level knowledge of medications.

Here’s what matters for everyone on the team:

They know the limits of their expertise
They are comfortable referring out when something is outside their scope
They respect each other’s roles
They are willing to say things like “Let’s bring in this other professional to be part of the conversation”

A referral to another colleague is a signal of strength and confidence. After all, a good team isn’t made up of people who all know the same things. It’s made up of people who bring different perspectives and expertise to the table.

3.) They are Working Toward Shared Goals

While everyone has a different role to play, they are all working toward the same end goal.

The behavior consultant may help build skills to be around strangers
The vet may incorporate medications to help raise the fear threshold so learning is easier.
The groomer knows which methods are being practiced so they can follow safe handling procedures and stop if things are getting stressful.

All of these team members are working in different capacities, but they understand the priorities, what the family is working on, and what progress looks like.

Not sure if everyone on your pet’s team is on the same page? Ask them “What are we working toward right now?” If their answers are generally similar, you’re on the right track.

4.) They Include YOU in the Conversation

Wait, what?

Yes. You matter! The professionals on your team may each have their own area of expertise, but they also need to understand the realities of the family they’re supporting.

A truly collaborative team considers the whole picture, like your

Time and schedule
Finances
Physical limitations
Family dynamics
Other pets
Emotional bandwidth

So whatever the treatment plan is, it needs to be sustainable. If it isn’t, it’s much less likely you’ll stick to it. Check out my blog on perfectionism when it comes to dog training, it might help you take some of the pressure off.

The best plan isn’t always the most elaborate one. It’s the one that meets everyone’s needs well enough to actually be doable.

5.) Their Flexibility Shows

A good care plan leaves room for reassessing and adjusting, because not all plans follow a linear path. Your pet may respond differently than expected. Your circumstances may change. New medical information may come to light.

A truly collaborative care team sees this as an opportunity. If something isn’t working, that’s data. They can share that data with one another and keep everyone apprised of important changes. After all, no one person has all the answers. In fact, one of the best signs of a strong collaborative team might be professionals who are comfortable saying: “I hadn’t thought about it that way. Tell me more.”

A good team stays curious. They revisit assumptions. They ask questions. They adjust the plan.

Here’s to harmony,

Veronica

Now What?

Think about the professionals involved in your pet’s care.

Does everyone know who else is involved?
Are they working toward similar goals?
Is important information being shared when appropriate?
Do you feel comfortable asking questions or raising concerns?

You don’t have to coordinate everything yourself. Sometimes, getting everyone on the same page starts with asking simple question:

“Would it be helpful for you to connect with [Name/Professional] so we can make sure we’re working toward the same goals?”

That one conversation could be the first step toward a more collaborative care team.

PS: Capitalism

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About the Author

Veronica Garcia, CVT, KPA-CTP, FFCP-V

Veronica Garcia is a trainer and behavior consultant with Pet Harmony. Bringing expertise in both veterinary medicine and behavior, she loves working with clients to help their dog be their best dog self.

She found veterinary medicine in 2008 after moving to northern California. After spending much of her veterinary career in emergency and critical care, she transitioned to veterinary behavior in 2021.

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