are two sides of the same coin. By treating our animals as sentient beings with complex emotional lives, we don't just add years to their lives—we add life to their years.
To bridge the gap between behavior and medicine, both parties must change how they communicate. are two sides of the same coin
: Some animals exhibit behaviors to treat their own ailments , such as eating specific plants to kill parasites. : Some animals exhibit behaviors to treat their
Here’s where things get even more interesting. We now know that chronic pain—arthritis, dental disease, hip dysplasia—is a leading cause of "behavior problems" in companion animals. A cat who urinates outside the litter box? Often, it’s not spite (cats don’t do spite). It’s pain from arthritis making it painful to step into a high-sided box. A horse that bucks under saddle? Could be "naughty." Or could be kissing spines or gastric ulcers. A cat who urinates outside the litter box
: Many "behavioral" issues are actually symptoms of underlying pain or disease. For example, a cat urinating outside the litter box might have urinary stones, or an aggressive dog may be reacting to joint pain. HCI College 3. Core Principles of Learning and Modification