A veterinary visit that terrifies a cat today might result in a urinary blockage tomorrow due to stress. A dog that snaps on the exam table is not "dominant"; it is terrified of the slick stainless steel, the stranger in a mask, and the smell of antiseptic mixed with the pheromones of a thousand other anxious animals.

The sterile, cold, stainless-steel exam table is becoming a relic of the past. Thanks to the integration of animal behavior science, veterinary clinics are redesigning their spaces and protocols to reduce stress.