ESVCE position statement on risk assessment

Within the field of veterinary behavioral medicine requests are often made to assess the risk posed by a given dog. This article represents a position statement from the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology on the matter of risk assessment. This position statement ese was developed from the principles and applications published by national and international governmental bodies and institutions. ESVCE supports the following framework for the assessment of risk of a dog in a well defined situation as a model of good practice. This position statement identifies five stages, which are described and expanded upon in relation to veterinary behavioral medicine: identify the hazards (risk factors), decide who might be harmed/at risk and how, evaluate the risks and decide on precautions, record your findings and implement them and review your assessment and update if necessary.