The application of animal behavior principles has revolutionized clinic operations. The "Fear Free" and "Low-Stress Handling" movements emphasize minimizing fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) during medical examinations.
Veterinary professionals must determine whether an animal’s unwanted behavior is rooted in a medical condition or a psychological issue.
For decades, veterinary medicine and animal behavior operated in silos. Veterinarians focused almost exclusively on the physiology, pathology, and surgery of the animal. Meanwhile, behaviorists and trainers handled obedience, aggression, and psychological conditioning.
Veterinary science and animal behavior intersect to provide holistic care. Physical illness directly alters behavior, and psychological stress can cause or worsen physical disease.