• Behavior Problems Associated with Pain and Paresthesia Pain is a subjective, aversive sensory and emotional experience and can cause or exacerbate problem behaviors. In this review, the biobehavioral model of pain is introduced and used to improve understanding by veterinarians of pain mechanisms and their re...  more
  • Behavior Changes Associated with Metabolic Disease of Dogs and Cats Like many physical disorders, the clinical signs associated with metabolic diseases affecting thyroid, adrenal, and pancreatic function are reflective of nonspecific changes in behavior. Additionally, patients who have underlying disorders associated with...  more
  • Inflammation and Behavior Changes in Dogs and Cats Sickness is a normal response to infections or stress triggered by proinflammatory cytokines that drive local and systemic inflammatory responses. Proinflammatory cytokines act on the brain causing the so called “sickness behavior,”which is thought to imp...  more
  • The Effects of Fitness Training on Working Dog Behavior Working dogs perform complex tasks that require both physical and behavioral soundness. Two case studies demonstrate how fitness training moderated arousal levels, facilitated training, and improved performance measures in different situations. Fitness tr...  more
  • Cognitive Changes Associated with Aging and Physical Disease in Dogs and Cats Behavior changes may indicate primary physical disease or primary behavioral disorders in veterinary patients. It is imperative to recognize that secondary behavioral problems can develop due to medical causes. The incidence of systemic disease increases ...  more
  • Separation-related Problems and Their Interaction with Physical Disease The condition of separation-related problems (SRPs) is common in companion dogs and clinicians should be comfortable diagnosing it. There are numerous diagnoses related to physical disease that have clinical signs similar to SRP, that exacerbate SRP, or m...  more
  • The Interaction Between Behavioral and Physical Health in Rabbits Behavioral and physical health are intricately interconnected in most animals, and the rabbit is no different. Medical or physical conditions can lead to anxiety and stress, and anxiety and stress can lead to physical illness. Rabbits are very prone to fe...  more
  • The Relationship Between Aggression and Physical Disease in Dogs Aggression is a very common behavioral problem in dogs. Although aggression can be part of the normal behavior of dogs, medical conditions can either trigger aggression as in the case of intracranial tumors or aggravate an existing aggression problem as i...  more
  • Veterinary Psychopharmacology The stress response affects the central nervous system and multiple other systems in the body. Chronic mental and behavioral pathologies are associated with inflammation, dysfunctions in the immune response and an increased risk for other chronic inflamma...  more
  • Cat Inappropriate Elimination and its Interaction with Physical Disease Inappropriate elimination or behavioral periuria/perichezia is likely the most reported feline behavioral problem worldwide. A change in behavior is often one of the early signs of physical disease and in addition can aggravate an existing behavioral resp...  more
  • Cantharidin Cantharidin is the toxic component of blister beetles of the genus Epicauta. Cantharidin is a potent vesicant which causes blisters, erosions, and ulcerations in the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, and can cause myocardial necrosis. Blister beetles a...  more
  • Snake Envenomation Snakebite envenomation (SBE) in horses can have devastating outcomes. Tissue damage, cardiotoxicity, coagulopathy, and neurotoxicity can be concerns with SBE. Understanding the actions of venom components is important in developing a successful treatment ...  more
  • Ionophores Ionophores are a class of polyether antibiotics that are commonly used as anticoccidial agents and growth promotants in ruminant diets. Ionophores transport ions across lipid membranes and down concentration gradients, which results in mitochondrial destr...  more
  • Use of Stem Cells for the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Horses Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used as a regenerative therapy in horses for musculoskeletal injury since the late 1990s and in some regions are standard of care for certain injuries. Yet, there is no Food and Drug Administration–approved MSC therapeuti...  more
  • Equine Autologous Conditioned Serum and Autologous Protein Solution Orthobiologics are used with increasing frequency in equine musculoskeletal disease to improve the quality of the repair tissue and prevent reinjury. Autologous blood-based products, or hemoderivatives, are made by processing the patient’s blood using dif...  more
  • Use of Biologics and Stem Cells in the Treatment of Other Inflammatory Diseases in the Horse Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are powerful immunomodulatory cells that act via multiple mechanisms to coordinate, inhibit, and control the cells of the immune system. MSCs act as rescuers for various damaged or degenerated cells of the body via (1) cytoki...  more
  • Dedications This issue is dedicated to Dr Alan Nixon, BVSc, MS, Diplomate, ACVS (1955–2023). Alan was a true horseman and a pioneer in the fields of equine musculoskeletal regenerative therapies and orthopedic surgery. He was an outstanding mentor, teacher, colleague...  more
  • Overview of Equine Stem Cells Over the past 2 decades, equine veterinarians are turning increasingly to stem cell therapies to repair damaged tissues or to promote healing through modulation of the immune system. Research is ongoing into optimizing practices associated with stem cell ...  more
  • Introduction to Equine Biologic and Regenerative Therapies Regenerative medicine is defined as the process of replacing or regenerating cells, tissues, or organs to restore or establish normal function. The use of regenerative medicine in equine practice to treat injured musculoskeletal tissues with limited capac...  more
  • Considerations for the Use of Biologic and Regenerative Therapies in Equine Practice Biologic and regenerative therapies are commonly used in equine practice, yet many questions remain among practitioners regarding their use and safety. The purpose of this issue is to explain what the main biologic and regenerative therapies are in terms ...  more