Dr. Camille Squair, DVM, MSc, DACVB
Dr. Camille Squair received her DVM from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2019, followed by a one-year rotating small animal internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) in Charlottetown, PEI.
In September 2020, she began AVC's inaugural residency in Behavioural Medicine under Dr. Karen Overall, together launching the Behavioural Medicine Service at AVC - the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada. Alongside her residency, Dr. Squair completed a Master of Science at the University of PEI, with thesis research demonstrating that collaborative and adaptive changes in handling can meaningfully reduce canine stress and fear during veterinary visits.
Following her residency, Dr. Squair joined Veterinary Behavioural Medicine Specialties of Minnesota in Minneapolis, a multi-doctor behavioural medicine practice with an integrated training team, where she provided care to dogs, cats, and their families across Minnesota and the greater Midwest.
Dr. Squair is originally from Winnipeg and is thrilled to return home to bring specialist behavioural medicine care to the community and beyond. She is currently the only board-certified veterinary behaviourist in Manitoba.
Outside of work, she enjoys time with friends and family, playing soccer, and completing jigsaw puzzles. She has one cat, Winnie, who is loves to eat and clicker training.
QUALIFICATIONS
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Master of Science (MSc) - Health Management, University of Prince Edward Island
Dipolomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB)
What is a DACVB?
DACVB stands for Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists - the credential held by veterinarians who are board-certified specialists in veterinary behavioural medicine. It's often compared to psychiatry in human medicine, combining medical training with the diagnosis and treatment of behavioural conditions.
Becoming a DACVB requires four years of veterinary school, a one-year rotating internship (or equivalency within general practice), a three-year residency in behavioural medicine under the supervision of current Diplomates, published research, and a comprehensive board examination. There are only a small number of DACVBs practicing in Canada, and approximately 100 DACVBs in North America.
What makes a DACVB different?
Trainers, animal behaviour consultants, and general practice veterinarians all play valuable roles in a pet's care, and many behaviour cases benefit from that team approach. A DACVB brings an additional layer of training specific to complex or medically-linked behaviour concerns. Because Dr. Squair is a licensed veterinarian with specialty board certification, she can:
Investigate and rule out underlying medical contributors to behaviour change, such as pain, thyroid disease, or neurological conditions
Prescribe and manage psychopharmaceutical medications, with the specialty training to select, dose, and monitor them safely
Diagnose complex behavioural conditions like anxiety disorders, aggression, and compulsive behaviours within a clinical, evidence-based framework
Build treatment plans that integrate medical management, behaviour modification, and environmental changes alongside the training and support already in place
For pets with moderate to severe behavioural concerns, or where a medical component is suspected, a DACVB adds the veterinary expertise needed to complete the picture and improve outcomes.
Our Approach
Behaviour is a medical issue
Fear, anxiety, and aggression in pets are not character flaws - they're signs of an animal in distress. We approach behaviour the same way we approach any other medical condition: with a thorough assessment, a clinical diagnosis, and a treatment plan grounded in current evidence.
Humane, evidence-based care - always
We use reward-based, force-free methods. We don't use techniques that rely on dominance, punishment, or intimidation. Those techniques fall short in many ways: They rely on just telling your pet what NOT to do vs, providing vital instructions for what TO DO instead, fail to address the emotional state driving the behaviour, and importantly, they carry real risks for your pet's welfare and your relationship with them.
Your pet's safety and comfort come first
We will never provoke, pressure, or frighten a pet to demonstrate concerning behaviours during an appointment. Our goal is for every animal to feel as safe and comfortable as possible in our care. This is also why we don't need to witness the behaviour firsthand - your pet's history and body language, in combination with years of study on animal behaviour and patterns, tell us what we need to know.
We look at the whole animal
Behaviour and medicine are not separate. Pain, hormonal disease, neurological conditions, and other medical factors can drive or significantly worsen behavioural problems. Because Dr. Squair is a veterinarian, she evaluates both - and can prescribe and manage medication when it's an appropriate part of the treatment plan.
No judgment - for you or your pet
Many families come to us having already tried a lot. We meet you where you are. Our role is to understand your situation clearly and give you something practical to move forward with - not to judge how you got here.
Honest about what to expect
Behaviour change takes time, consistency, and patience. We'll give you a realistic picture of what improvement looks like for your pet specifically, and we'll be with you through the process.