Historically, behavioral problems were viewed as "training issues" rather than medical ones. If a dog was aggressive, owners called a trainer. If a cat urinated outside the litter box, it was labeled "spiteful." Veterinary science focused on organic pathology—broken bones, kidney failure, infections.
Repetitive behaviors, such as a horse cribbing or a dog obsessively licking its paws (acral lick dermatitis), can stem from gastrointestinal discomfort, neurological conditions, or severe environmental stress. infections. Repetitive behaviors