“Owners would say, ‘He’s just getting old and grumpy,’” notes Dr. Marchetti. “But that grumpiness was the lameness.”
Consider a case from the University of Pennsylvania’s Behavior Clinic: A two-year-old Labrador retriever was brought in for severe aggression toward family members. The owners had tried three trainers and considered euthanasia. A veterinary behaviorist ordered a thyroid panel. Results showed —a deficiency easily treated with daily medication. Six weeks later, the aggression vanished. zooskool.
Similarly, repetitive circling in a geriatric rabbit isn’t stubbornness; it’s often a brain tumor. A stallion that suddenly won’t be saddled isn’t dominant; he may have a gastric ulcer. “Owners would say, ‘He’s just getting old and