| Behavior Exhibited | Potential Underlying Disease | | :--- | :--- | | Sudden house-soiling in a trained dog | Urinary tract infection, diabetes, kidney disease | | Pica (eating dirt/rocks) | Anemia, pancreatic insufficiency, dietary deficiency | | Excessive licking (air or surfaces) | Nausea, gastrointestinal obstruction, seizure activity | | Night-time restlessness/sundowning | Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (doggie Alzheimer's), pain | | Compulsive tail chasing | Seizures, neuropathic pain, high cholesterol |
The Golden Rule of Veterinary Behavior: Always rule out medical disease before diagnosing a behavioral problem. A veterinarian who skips the blood work and goes straight to the tranquilizers is practicing bad medicine. hombre negro tiene sexo con una yegua zoofilia
One of the most significant revelations in modern veterinary medicine is that behavior is a vital sign. Just as heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature provide a snapshot of physical health, changes in behavior often provide the earliest warning of underlying disease. | Behavior Exhibited | Potential Underlying Disease |
The future of veterinary science is quantitative behavior analysis. One of the most significant revelations in modern
Not all behavioral problems are caused by underlying disease, and not all are fixed by training. Some behavioral conditions are, in themselves, medical disorders requiring veterinary treatment. This is where animal behavior and veterinary science merge into veterinary behavioral medicine—a boarded specialty.
From a veterinary standpoint, fear is not an emotion; it is a cascade of physiological events. When a cat is terrified during an exam:
A stressed patient yields inaccurate vital signs. More dangerously, a patient who associates the clinic with terror is less likely to return for preventative care.