Currently, most veterinary schools dedicate fewer than 10 hours to behavioral medicine across a four-year program. This is a dangerous gap. As a result, general practitioners often resort to euthanasia for manageable behavioral problems (like separation anxiety or inappropriate elimination) or prescribe psychotropic medications without a behavioral modification plan.
To advance the field, we need:
Rule #1: Always rule out organic disease before diagnosing a primary behavioral disorder. dog zooskool com
Example Case: A dog suddenly becomes aggressive when touched on the back.
Common Medical Mimics:
Used when behavior is severe, refractory to behavior modification, or when neurochemical imbalance is suspected.
| Class | Drug Example | Indication | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | SSRI | Fluoxetine, Sertraline | Impulse control aggression, anxiety, compulsive disorders | | TCA | Clomipramine | Separation anxiety, OCD (tail chasing, acral lick) | | SARI | Trazodone | Situational anxiety (vet visits, storms) | | Benzodiazepine | Alprazolam | Phobias (short-term use; risk of disinhibition) | | MAOI | Selegiline | Canine Cognitive Dysfunction | Currently, most veterinary schools dedicate fewer than 10
Note: Drugs are not cures—they lower threshold so learning can occur.
Veterinarians must recognize subtle changes that precede overt signs. Common Medical Mimics:
| Species | Pain Indicators | | :--- | :--- | | Dog | Decreased social interaction, guarding posture, whining, restlessness, reluctance to lie down. | | Cat | Hiding, flattened ears, hunched posture, hissing when approached, failure to groom (or overgrooming a site). | | Horse | Teeth grinding, flank watching, pawing, depressed appetite, head pressing (neurologic). | | Livestock | Isolation from herd, bruxism (teeth grinding), decreased rumination, kicking at belly. |
