The future of veterinary medicine is behavior-informed, from the waiting room to the operating table.

A dog that suddenly becomes aggressive when touched may not be "bad-tempered"; it may be suffering from osteoarthritis. A cat that stops using the litter box is not "spiteful"; it may be experiencing the discomfort of a urinary tract infection or kidney stones.

Changes in eating, sleeping, or social habits can signal underlying medical issues like pain or neurological disorders.