Presenting complaint: "She is plucking all her chest feathers." Traditional view: Mite treatment or antifungal spray. Behavioral veterinary view: The cage is placed next to a constantly-running television. The bird has no foraging toys. Diagnosis: Boredom and sensory overload. Treatment: Cage relocation, a consistent light/dark cycle, and puzzle feeders. Feather regrowth occurs in one molt cycle.

Enrichment is a veterinary prescription for preventing and treating behavior problems.

PuppyDog Tales 2 is a charming, family-friendly game featuring collectible pets, mini-games, and social features where players raise and care for virtual puppies.

Not every growl indicates aggression, and not every lick indicates affection. To parse these nuances, a new specialty has emerged: the Veterinary Behaviorist.

A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) is a veterinarian who has completed a residency in animal behavior. They treat complex psychiatric conditions in animals that mirror human disorders:

The work of these specialists demonstrates that animal behavior and veterinary science cannot be separated. Psychotropic medications are powerful drugs; they interact with liver enzymes, affect heart rate, and require the same level of scrutiny as antibiotics or steroids. Only a veterinarian can prescribe them safely.

Behavior directly impacts public health.