Every pet owner knows the "midnight crazies"—when a cat tears through the house like a demon or a dog spins in circles chasing its tail. Most people laugh it off.

The integration of animal behavior science into veterinary medicine is no longer optional but essential. Behavioral problems are a leading cause of morbidity (e.g., stress-related illness), mortality (e.g., euthanasia for aggression), and abandonment. This paper provides a practical framework for veterinary professionals to: (1) recognize behavior as a vital sign, (2) implement low-stress handling techniques to improve medical outcomes, (3) differentiate behavioral signs from underlying organic disease, and (4) offer primary prevention of common behavioral disorders. We argue that every veterinary interaction is inherently a behavioral interaction.