Animals like horses, rabbits, and sheep instinctively mask pain and illness to avoid targeting by predators.

A 2018 randomized controlled trial (n=62 FIC cats) compared:

Understanding how animals act and how we treat their ailments are two sides of the same coin. While (ethology) focuses on the "why" behind their actions, veterinary science provides the "how" for their physical well-being. Together, they form a holistic approach to animal welfare. 1. The Intersection of Mind and Body

When a behavioral issue is strictly psychological, a structured treatment plan is required.

Every species carries behavioral traits honed by millennia of evolution. Vet providers must understand these traits to separate normal, instinctual actions from abnormal pathology.