Ultimately, viewing veterinary medicine through the lens of animal behavior ensures that our treatments protect not just the physical bodies of animals, but their minds as well.
Or take a cockatiel that begins incessant screaming and feather-plucking. While boredom is a common cause, a workup might reveal lead toxicity from a toy, or a cloacal papilloma causing chronic pain. Even aggression—the most common reason for euthanasia in dogs—has organic roots: hypothyroidism, brain tumors, seizures (manifesting as episodic rage), or chronic pain from hip dysplasia. Ultimately, viewing veterinary medicine through the lens of
Every species has hardwired, evolutionary behaviors. A failure to provide outlets for these natural behaviors leads to chronic stress and behavioral disorders. seizures (manifesting as episodic rage)