Abstract

KEY POINTS
� Stress may affect the physical, mental, and social health of an animal.
� The effect of stressors is individual to the animal concerned and results from the appraisal
of the stressor by the animal.
� Emotional states are not mutually exclusive and emotional conflict can also have serious
behavioral consequences.
� Treatment of animals presenting with problems deemed to be stress-related should focus
on the amelioration of background stress as well as specific stress-related triggers.
� Providing animals with certain coping mechanisms as well as teaching them some key life
skills may be beneficial for the prevention of stress-related problems.