Mental health and behavioral wellbeing in companion animals is an increasingly recognized dimension of welfare that extends beyond physical health.
Behavioral health is a critical and often overlooked dimension of companion animal welfare. Animals experiencing anxiety, fear, or compulsive disorders suffer genuinely from these conditions. The connection between behavioral health and relinquishment or euthanasia means that addressing behavioral welfare has direct life-and-death implications. Veterinary behavioral medicine is an important but underutilized resource.