Devices like FitBark, Petpace, and horse heart-rate monitors allow continuous collection of behavioral and physiological data. A drop in activity plus night-time restlessness? That suggests pain. A spike in heart rate at the sound of a car door? That suggests anxiety. Vets will use this data to diagnose in ways impossible five years ago.

Animals often behave in ways that challenge our expectations: Fainting Goats

Unlike trainers or applied animal behaviorists (who have advanced degrees but cannot prescribe medication), veterinary behaviorists can:

| Disorder | Species | Clinical Signs | Differential Medical Causes | |----------|---------|----------------|-----------------------------| | Separation anxiety | Dog | Destructiveness, vocalization, hypersalivation when left alone | Cognitive dysfunction, pain, hyperthyroidism (cats) | | Compulsive disorder | Dog, cat | Tail chasing, flank sucking, excessive grooming | Neurological lesions, dermatological allergies | | Inter-cat aggression | Cat | Blocking resources, fighting, inappropriate elimination | Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), osteoarthritis | | Stereotypies | Horse | Crib-biting, weaving, box-walking | Gastric ulcers, high-concentrate diets, confinement |