Here is the follow-up Q&A from January's Shelter Med Live episode, "Behavior Belongs in Shelter Medicine: The Shelter Vet's Role in Behavioral and Emotional Health":
Q: Could you repeat the Gabapentin alternative? Pregabalin is controlled, right? Any considerations there? What side effects do you see--are they same as in humans--ataxia, sedation, etc.
Yes, it's a Schedule V substance. So same as most cough syrup. This means:
Q: We are municipal; what do you do with dangerous dogs/dogs we are holding for hearings? They tend to stay the longest.
Q: Re: gabapentin in cats- any tips on how to get them to take it without additional stress? It tastes bitter and most of our high FAS cats are already not eating. We use TD mirataz (often applied with a stick/tongue depressor) but they often avoid food with gabapentin in it (we have flavored compounded liquid, tiny tabs, and capsules). Transdermal gabapentin doesn't appear to be consistently absorbed. We have avoided pregabalin as it's controlled here.
You can get this compounded into any form that works.
Additional replies from chat:
From Emilia Wong Gordon: Will they eat Churu? You can try putting the whole capsule or tiny tab at the opening of a Churu tube and give a big bolus into their mouth. There are some good videos of this online. If they won't eat mirtaz or a benzo (but also controlled) can be tried to increase appetite. I have even used injectable midazolam a few times. If it's bc they are sick with URI, cerenia (parenterally) helps in my hands. And if all else fails you can give it with a tomcat catheter, which is safer and a less direct approach.
From Nell Thompson: Or kitten pate, A/D, raw meat balls…
Original Message:
Sent: 01-23-2026 02:44 PM
From: Elise Winn
Subject: 1/21 Shelter Med LIVE - Behavior Belongs in Shelter Medicine: The Shelter Vet's Role in Behavioral and Emotional Health
Thanks to everyone who joined us for this week's Shelter Med Live! If you attended live, you'll be receiving a CE link soon. Here are links to the slide deck, as well as resources shared by our presenters:
Recommended studies and further reading:
https://ucdavis.box.com/s/8rzqnl59bk4leahuob85yeb78z4fg4kyUnfortunately, we were all so wrapped up in the conversation, we failed to hit record. 🤦♀️Big apologies to anyone who was planning to watch later! We promise to get it right next month for February 18's episode,
Navigating Access to Care: Veterinarian Roles and Goals Inside and Outside the Shelter, with Dr. Charlotte Burns (Mendocino Animal Hospital) and Dr. Jean Goh (Animal Fix Clinic).
Stay tuned for Q&A, and post any questions below for Drs. Bennett, Delany, Gordon, and Mantovani!
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Elise Winn
UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program - www.sheltermedicine.com
Original Message:
Sent: 01-06-2026 02:07 PM
From: Elise Winn
Subject: 1/21 Shelter Med LIVE - Behavior Belongs in Shelter Medicine: The Shelter Vet's Role in Behavioral and Emotional Health
Register to explore the shelter veterinarian's impact and often overlooked role in shaping and managing dog and cat behavioral and emotional health. On 1/21, join host Dr. @Jennifer Bennett, DVM, MS (Behavioral Neuroscience), CAWA, and guests @Cindi Delany, DVM, KPA-CTP; @Emilia Gordon, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice); and Sarah Mantovani, DVM, MS (Shelter Medicine), at the first Shelter Med LIVE conversation of 2026.
Behavior might have felt like a blip on the vet school radar, but in the shelter it's a critical skill to develop and essential to helping animals cope. Care for an animal's mental and emotional state is a part of a shelter veterinarian's daily workload and one of the most important aspects to supporting whole animal health. As a shelter vet, only you can determine when a medical issue is behind behavior changes, legally diagnose conditions, and prescribe treatments, and you're uniquely positioned provide guidance on balancing human and animal health and safety to staff, volunteers, adopters, community members, and colleagues caring for animals who need behavior support.
After this conversation, you'll be ready to:
- Clearly articulate the goals of behavior management and how those differ before and after the shelter stay
- Identify the most common behavioral diagnoses in sheltered animals and best practices for medical management
- Understand the shelter veterinarians' role in pathway planning and behavioral decision making and how they can impact capacity for care
This event has been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit by CAWA and NACA. Can't make it live? Register to receive the recording and resources after the event, accessible through the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program Shelter Learniverse, #ThanksToMaddie!
Register now: https://www.ShelterLearniverse.com/events
About Shelter Med LIVE
Shelter medicine bridges gaps in veterinary care access, ensuring animals are sterilized, vaccinated, and have the medical treatment they need before going home to the people and communities who care for them.
Ask questions (or send them in ahead of time). This isn't a lecture-it's a conversation for everyone who wants to nerd out on shelter medicine. Kick back and recharge with your colleagues in the middle of a long week.
#AccesstoCare
#AdmissionsandIntake(includingIntake-to-placement)
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization
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Elise Winn
UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program - www.sheltermedicine.com
California for All Animals - www.californiaforallanimals.com
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