Veterinary Behavior Service
Mission Campus.
Behavior Treatment for Your Pet
Our growing team of veterinary behaviorists is passionate about the emotional and physical well-being of animals, and we are dedicated to providing pets and their families with the highest quality of care. Our team is here to provide personalized expert care and guidance for any behavior issue you may face.
Schedule a Consultation
To schedule a consultation please email us at behaviorinfo@sfspca.org.
No time to chat? You can also complete the form linked below.
Consultation Process
Physical Exam
Whenever possible*
Diagnosis
Identification of concerns
Treatment
Personalized pet plan
Support
Behavioral support included
*without increasing the animal’s fear or anxiety.
Our Behavior Consultation Process
Every pet’s situation is unique, but here’s what most clients can expect when working with our Behavior Specialty team. We also offer flexible options depending on your pet’s needs and your budget.
Initial Consultation
Start with an in-person visit
To meet legal requirements, your pet’s first consultation must take place in person. If your pet is especially anxious or fearful, we may conduct a brief outdoor exam, followed by a virtual consultation in a quieter setting.
Understanding the Behavior
Gather insights beyond the exam
We’ll ask for detailed information about your pet’s behavior: your observations, past medical records, and any naturally recorded videos (never staged). This gives us a more complete picture than what we might see during a single visit.
Treatment Plan
Tailored strategies for improvement
After your consultation, you’ll receive a customized behavior plan. This may include training strategies, changes to your pet’s environment, and medication if appropriate.
Ongoing Support
Guidance throughout the journey
Lasting behavior change takes time. Most pets benefit from 3–6 months of structured support, with follow-up appointments every 1–2 weeks. We’ll adjust the plan as needed and be with you every step of the way.
Additional Options for Care
We understand that not every pet can come to our clinic, and not every family can commit to a full consultation right away. We also offer:
- Vet-to-Vet Consults: A 15-minute call between our behavior specialist and your regular veterinarian to discuss treatment options. This can be a cost-effective first step.
- Flexible Payment Options: We accept CareCredit to help make treatment more accessible.
Behaviors We Treat
- Aggression and reactivity
- Anxieties, fears, and phobias
- Separation-related behaviors
- House soiling
- Noise phobias
- Behavior changes in elderly pets
- Preparation for baby
- Compulsive disorders and repetitive behaviors
- Excessive vocalization
- Nocturnal/nighttime behaviors, such as vocalizing overnight and sleeplessness
- Destructive behaviors
- Excessive grooming and self-injurious behaviors
Why Choose Us?
Pricing
Working with a veterinary behaviorist is an investment in your pet’s well-being and future. We offer a range of services to meet different needs and budgets.
- Initial Consultation & Follow-Up Care – Starts at $595
This is our most comprehensive service and includes a full behavior assessment, diagnosis, and a personalized treatment plan, plus follow-up support with our team.
- Vet-to-Vet Consultation – Starts at $150
A cost-effective option where our veterinary behaviorist consults directly with your primary veterinarian to offer guidance and treatment recommendations.
We’re committed to making expert behavioral care accessible. Please contact us to learn more about pricing, payment options (including CareCredit), and which plan might be the right fit for you and your pet.
Meet Our Doctors
Alison Gerken, DVM, DACVB Veterinary Behaviorist
University of California, Davis
Dr. Alison Gerken is the only board-certified veterinary behaviorist in San Francisco and one of just over 100 worldwide. After earning her veterinary degree from UC Davis, Dr. Gerken completed a rotating internship at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, followed by a three-year residency in clinical behavior medicine at Florida Veterinary Behavior Service under Dr. Lisa Radosta. She is also Fear Free Certified, with a focus on reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in pets.
She is passionate about improving pets’ emotional well-being and guiding families through behavior challenges with empathy and expertise. In addition to seeing patients, she lectures nationally and contributes to publications like PetMD, Psychology Today, and The Dodo.
Outside work, Dr. Gerken enjoys hiking around the Bay Area and spending time with her human and animal family. She’s traveled to over 50 countries—highlights include tracking tigers in India, swimming with hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos, and coming face-to-face with a wild jaguar in Belize.
Kevin Pflaum, DVM Veterinarian, Resident,ACVB
University of California, Davis
Dr. Kevin Pflaum graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2017 and, after working in general practice, completed a Residency Training Program in Behavior through the University of Tennessee under the mentorship of Dr. Julie Albright in 2024. Dr. Pflaum joined the San Francisco SPCA in 2025 and is excited to continue his practice while preparing for his board certification exam.
He has contributed to articles in the Clinician's Brief and Today's Veterinary Practice, lectured at veterinary conferences, published research on psychopharmacology, and won the prestigious R.K. Anderson ACVB Resident Award in 2024. He is passionate about practicing high-quality medicine, animal welfare concerns, and strengthening the human-animal bond.
He recently moved to San Francisco with two dogs and one cat and is grateful to be back in California where his heart belongs. Outside the clinic, he enjoys hiking, reading, film, sports, video games, and eating local food.
Behavior Resources
You can access helpful information and expert guidance here.
We’ve had dogs for over 40 years and had experience with all types of trainers. Nothing has ever worked for us like the SF SPCA program.