This veterinary specialty is focused on the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with the handling, behavior, nutrition and genetic selection, of dogs, cats and other companion animals. Many abnormal behaviors exhibited by companion animals are pathology related, such as aggressive dogs towards family members may be caused by joint pain, epilepsy, or by an endocrine disease such as hypothyroidism. Another example includes cats that urinate out of their tray or cats that have alopecia on the abdomen may have urinary stones, etc.
Handling problems, weaning, introducing a new pet into a multi-cat household, teaching hygiene habits in puppies, separation disorders, stress in cats, environmental enrichment for dogs and cats, and adaptation to noise and phobias are all examples of issues that require the consultation of a veterinary ethologist.
