Evaluation of a canine and feline behavioural welfare assessment tool for use in companion animal veterinary practice

•Veterinary care impacts canine and feline behavioural welfare.•A tool to assess behavioural welfare practices was developed for veterinary clinics.•Interviews had higher reliability and feasibility than appointment observations.•Interview responses were inconsistent with observations, indicating low validity.•A mixed method approach is needed to maximize reliability, feasibility and validity.