Mental health is increasingly recognised as a distinct and important dimension of companion animal welfare. Addressing psychological needs alongside physical health is essential to providing holistic animal care.
Mental health is not a peripheral welfare concern but a central dimension of companion animal quality of life. Animals that live in chronic anxiety, fear, or boredom are experiencing genuine suffering regardless of their physical health status. The growing field of veterinary behavioural medicine recognises psychological disorders as legitimate medical conditions requiring diagnosis and treatment. Preventive mental health through appropriate socialisation, enrichment, stable routines, and positive human relationships is as important as preventive physical health through vaccination and parasite control. Owners and veterinarians who integrate mental health into routine animal care provide substantially better welfare for companion animals.