Animal behavior and veterinary science are two closely related fields that aim to understand and improve the health and well-being of animals.

For a veterinarian, behavior is often the first and most reliable diagnostic tool. Because animals cannot communicate their symptoms verbally, clinical signs are frequently behavioral. A cat that stops grooming, a dog that becomes uncharacteristically aggressive, or a horse that begins "weaving" in its stall are all expressing underlying physical or environmental distress. By integrating behavioral science, practitioners can differentiate between a primary behavioral issue and a secondary behavioral symptom of a physical ailment, such as chronic pain or neurological dysfunction.