Why? Because behavior is often the first indicator of systemic illness. An otherwise friendly cat that suddenly becomes aggressive is not "mean"; it may be suffering from dental disease, hyperthyroidism, or osteoarthritis. A dog that begins urinating in the house is not being "spiteful"; it might have a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, or diabetes.
| Observed Behavior | Potential Medical Cause | | :--- | :--- | | Sudden house-soiling (cat) | Cystitis, kidney failure, diabetes mellitus | | Night-time wakefulness (dog) | Canine cognitive dysfunction (dog dementia) | | Pica (eating non-food items) | Anemia, pancreatic insufficiency, nutritional deficiency | | Compulsive tail chasing | Seizure disorder, neuropathic pain | | Scratching without skin lesions | Psychogenic alopecia or food allergy | A dog that begins urinating in the house
For centuries, veterinary medicine was primarily concerned with the physical body. A dog with a limp had a bone issue; a cat with a rash had a dermatological problem. But as the field has evolved, a revolutionary truth has emerged: you cannot treat the body without understanding the mind. But as the field has evolved, a revolutionary