The Fascinating World of Animal Communication: Insights from Veterinary Science

Leading veterinary institutions now argue that behavior should be considered the "fifth vital sign," alongside temperature, pulse, respiration, and pain assessment. Why? Because changes in behavior are often the earliest indicators of illness.

Skipping step one leads to iatrogenic harm—e.g., treating a painful cat with fluoxetine while the undiagnosed cystitis worsens.

2.2 Neurological and Endocrine Links