Why this matters: The internet is full of dog trainers. But only a veterinary behaviorist can distinguish between a dog who is "stubborn" and a dog who has a compulsive genetic disorder requiring fluoxetine.

The demand for experts who hold dual expertise in animal behavior and veterinary science has exploded. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB) is a veterinarian who has completed a residency in behavioral medicine.

| Sign | Consider | |------|----------| | Head pressing | Forebrain disease | | Sudden tail/ear mutilation | Nerve pain (e.g., cauda equina) | | Fly snapping (dog) | GI disease, seizures | | Excessive vocalization (senior) | Pain, CCD, hyperthyroidism (cats) | | Coprophagia (sudden) | Malabsorption, pancreatic insufficiency |