: Research shows that pain is often behavioral before it is physical. Subtle shifts in movement or demeanor can signal issues like osteoarthritis, which affects over 80% of dogs over eight years old. Cognitive Health

: How does the behavior help the animal survive and reproduce? 2. Behavioral Assessment & Diagnostic Techniques

Differential diagnoses must always include a behavioral branch. “First, do no harm” means avoiding aversive training or drugs when untreated pain is the root cause.