This clinical specialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral disorders.

Historically, veterinary curricula focused heavily on pathology, pharmacology, and surgery. Behavior was often an afterthought—a soft science relegated to dog trainers and horse whisperers. The consequences of this divide were profound.

: The study of animal behavior in natural habitats. Practitioners use an

These are innate, instinctive behaviors triggered by specific stimuli, such as a dog’s urge to chase moving objects.

How does it change as the animal matures?