Behavioral problems are the leading cause of companion animal relinquishment and euthanasia, yet behavioral health receives less veterinary attention than physical health in most practices.
Animals with untreated behavioral problems experience chronic psychological suffering that is as significant as physical pain — anxiety, fear, frustration, and compulsive behaviors all represent negative welfare states. Owners who cannot manage behavioral problems are more likely to relinquish animals, exposing them to the additional stress of shelter environments. Animals euthanized for behavioral problems die for reasons that were often preventable with earlier intervention. The gap between the welfare burden of behavioral problems and the veterinary attention they receive represents a major unmet need in companion animal care.