Animals with severe, idiopathic aggression—such as dogs with rage syndrome or cats with hyperesthesia syndrome—may live in a perpetual state of neurological distress. Veterinary behaviorists now work alongside standard practitioners to evaluate whether a behavioral problem is treatable (via medication, training, or environmental change) or unmanageable.

| | Common Use in Animals | Behavioral Indication | | --- | --- | --- | | SSRIs (Fluoxetine) | Dogs & Cats | Separation anxiety, compulsive tail chasing, inter-cat aggression | | TCAs (Clomipramine) | Dogs | Canine compulsive disorder (flank sucking, shadow chasing) | | Benzodiazepines (Alprazolam) | Cats & Dogs | Panic disorder, thunderstorm phobias (short-term) | | Alpha-2 agonists (Dexmedetomidine) | Veterinary clinic use | Acute situational anxiety for nail trims or radiographs |

Veterinary science has matured to the point where we can no longer ask, "Is this a medical or a behavioral problem?" Instead, we must ask, "How are the medical and behavioral problems interacting?"