: Knowledge of behavior facilitates safe and humane handling, helps recognize signs of pain or distress, and preserves the human-animal bond .
A traditional approach was "restrain and proceed." A behavioral approach is "cooperate and treat."
For decades, the practice of veterinary medicine was predominantly reactive. A farmer noticed a cow was off its feed; a pet owner saw a dog limping; a zookeeper observed an ape was lethargic. The veterinarian would arrive, diagnose a physiological pathology (infection, fracture, organ failure), and prescribe a pharmaceutical or surgical solution. The animal’s behavior was usually just the opening act—the smoke signal that hinted at the fire within.