The old paradigm was "restrain and proceed." A fractious cat was scruffed. A nervous dog was muzzled and held down. The justification was speed and safety for the human. But research in veterinary endocrinology has revealed the hidden cost: chronic stress hormones (cortisol) suppress the immune system, delay wound healing, and can even skew lab results (transient hyperglycemia in stressed cats).
A cat suffering from feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) may begin urinating outside the litter box because they associate the box with pain. Similarly, a cat with arthritis may stop jumping onto high surfaces or become aggressive when touched near its lower back. Zooskool - Dog A Doberman Knot Anal
And for the first time, we are leaning in to hear it. The old paradigm was "restrain and proceed
Behavioral signs are often the first, cheapest, and least invasive vital signs available. Pain, fear, anxiety, and neurological dysfunction all manifest in behavior before they manifest in blood chemistry. But research in veterinary endocrinology has revealed the