WHY VETERINARIANS SHOULD UNDERSTAND ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

Abstract

Behavior is the fastest way of animal adaptation to changes that occur in its
organism or in its habitat. This is a visible feature of animals. Therefore, veterinarians
can use knowledge about animal behavior in many branches of veterinary practice and
veterinary science. Knowledge of animal behavior can also be helpful in diagnostics
in veterinary practice. In addition, knowledge of animal behavior can be applied in
all animal treatment procedures, as well as in their restraint, animal examination,
animal learning and training, animal tracking, feeding, reproduction and many other
activities. Accommodation systems and all kinds of enrichment of living conditions
are part of applied animal behavior science. Veterinarians must know how to prevent
behavioral disorders and pathological forms of animal behavior, but also how to
treat them. They also need to know how to apply knowledge about animal behavior
to protect animal welfare. Applied animal behavior science can be applied to control
game animals and pests in a more humane way as well as in conservation of species.
There are many other examples of application of animal behavioral knowledge in
veterinary practice, as it is presented in this paper.