Historically, animal behavior was the domain of ethologists (scientists who study animal behavior in natural environments) and pet owners. Veterinary school curricula dedicated minimal time to behavioral medicine, treating it as a "soft science" compared to pathology or pharmacology.

Just like humans, animals experience complex emotional states including anxiety, fear, depression, and compulsive disorders. Veterinary behavioral science investigates how neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) regulate these states. When an animal's neurochemistry is imbalanced, it can manifest in destructive behaviors that cannot be trained away through standard obedience methods alone. Psychopharmacology in Veterinary Care

Understanding the Bond: The Intersection of Animal Behavior and Veterinary Science