Journal of Veterinary Behavior | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
The separation of "physical health" and "mental health" in animals is an artificial construct. A dog with a broken leg suffers physically and psychologically. A cat with anxiety will develop feline lower urinary tract disease. A horse that lives in isolation will develop stereotypies (cribbing, weaving) that cause physical dental and muscular damage. zooskool-forum-rapidshare
Historically, veterinary visits were governed by "restraint." Animals were held down "for their own good." But behavior science has demonstrated that physical force triggers the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight), leading to elevated cortisol, suppressed immune function, and inaccurate vital signs (a stressed cat’s heart rate may spike by 50 beats per minute, mimicking heart disease). Journal of Veterinary Behavior | ScienceDirect
For decades, veterinary medicine focused almost exclusively on the physical health of animals—vaccinations, surgeries, and the eradication of parasites. However, as our understanding of the animal kingdom has evolved, so too has the realization that mental and physical health are inextricably linked. Today, the intersection of represents one of the most dynamic and essential fields in modern animal care. The Evolution of Clinical Ethology A horse that lives in isolation will develop