: Behavioral changes are increasingly recognized as early warning signs of medical conditions. For example, recent 2026 studies highlight the interplay between chronic enteropathy (CE) and emotional health in dogs, suggesting that gut health issues directly impact a pet's emotional state.

Veterinary science viewed behavior through a disciplinary lens. The problem, however, was that this approach ignored the physiological drivers of behavior. Today, we know that a dog who bites when touched on the back isn't "dominant"—he likely has undiagnosed hip dysplasia or intervertebral disc disease. A cat who urinates outside the litter box isn't "spiteful"—she may have feline interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder condition.