Camps, Amat, and Manteca (2019) examined the intricate relationship between medical conditions and behavioral problems in companion animals. For decades, behavior and medicine were treated separately, but evidence now shows they are deeply interdependent. Behavioral changes may be the earliest or only sign of an underlying illness.
The review highlighted several key factors: pain-related conditions, endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and neurological problems including mild traumatic brain injury, ischemic attacks, epilepsy, and tumors in “silent zones” of the brain. Alterations in the vomeronasal organ and cardiac disorders were also linked to behavioral changes.
Interestingly, sleep and pain appear to share a reciprocal relationship, with sleep deprivation often intensifying pain sensitivity—yet this remains underexplored in veterinary medicine. Similarly, cognitive dysfunction in dogs and cats can disrupt sleep–wake cycles, compounding behavioral and medical issues. Neuroimaging in humans and lab animals suggests that hypothyroidism alters brain structure and function, a finding that may carry over to pets.
The authors argue that veterinary diagnostics must evolve to consider hidden medical drivers of behavior. By improving knowledge of these links, veterinarians can refine diagnostic protocols, offer more effective treatments, and ultimately enhance animal welfare.
Source: Camps, T., Amat, M., & Manteca, X. (2019). A Review of Medical Conditions and Behavioral Problems in Dogs and Cats. Animals, 9. Authors: Tomás Camps, Marta Amat, Xavier Manteca. Journal: Animals, Volume 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121136
