The physiology of stress and its relationship to mechanisms of disease and therapeutics.

Although stress reactions are organized to protect the homeostatic state of animals, they contain elements that may either enhance or diminish susceptibility to disease processes; in many instances, however, stress reactions themselves may induce pathologic change. It is important, therefore, that the veterinary clinician recognize the elements of a stress reaction and understand the mechanisms of disease with which they interact. This article provides a classification of stress stimuli that can be applied when considering interactions between stress reactions and disease processes.