Behavioral problems in dogs and cats: pain syndromes to consider

A recent study analyzed the relationship between pain and behavior in order to increase veterinarians’ and pet owners’ awareness of this important correlation. The potential role of pain in behavioral problems (e.g., aggressive behavior, sensitivity to noise, etc.) is widely recognized, but available evidence is still scarce. The prevalence of cases in which pain is the cause of a behavioral problem would seem to vary widely, from 28 to 82 percent of cases, and many of these conditions can be suspected through careful observation of the animal. The presence of clinical abnormalities, such as an unusual gait or unexplained...