Behavioral problems are among the most common reasons for companion animal relinquishment and euthanasia, yet behavioral veterinary medicine remains underutilized as a welfare intervention.
Behavioral veterinary medicine represents one of the highest-leverage welfare interventions available in companion animal care because it addresses the primary risk factor for relinquishment and behavioral euthanasia. An animal with severe separation anxiety, fear-based aggression, or compulsive disorder is suffering — experiencing states of fear, distress, or frustrated compulsion repeatedly throughout daily life. This suffering is largely treatable with behavioral modification combined with appropriate medical management. Yet owners who do not know that behavioral referral exists, cannot access a behaviorist, or cannot afford the cost of behavioral consultation often reach euthanasia as their only perceived option. Expanding behavioral referral services, reducing cost barriers through training of more specialists, and educating primary care veterinarians in behavioral screening would prevent the welfare harm of untreated behavioral conditions and the ultimate harm of behavioral euthanasia.