Even without a behavior specialty, every veterinarian and veterinary technician can incorporate behavioral knowledge into their daily workflow. Here’s how:

is the multidisciplinary science that uses behavior to diagnose and treat medical disorders. It bridges the gap between biological motivation and physical health.

Extreme reactions to thunderstorms, fireworks, or specific environmental triggers.

Instead of only dispensing medications, veterinarians can prescribe enrichment: puzzle feeders for dogs, vertical space for cats, foraging opportunities for parrots, and social companionship for guinea pigs. Enrichment is a powerful behavioral medicine tool that reduces stress-related illness and improves recovery rates.

Cribbing (biting wood and swallowing air) or weaving (rocking back and forth), usually caused by social isolation and lack of forage. 4. Low-Stress Handling and Veterinary Care

Aggression toward humans or other dogs is the number one behavioral reason for euthanasia and relinquishment to shelters. Veterinarians must first rule out medical causes: hypothyroidism, brain tumors, pain (e.g., dental disease, osteoarthritis), and neurological disorders can all lower an animal’s bite threshold. Once medical issues are addressed, a veterinary behaviorist or trained practitioner can implement a safety plan, behavior modification (e.g., desensitization and counterconditioning), and, in some cases, psychoactive medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Board-certified veterinary behaviorists (Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists or equivalent international bodies) represent the highest level of expertise in . After completing veterinary school, they undergo a rigorous residency and research requirements. Their skill set includes: