What are changes in the body systems due to stress called?

Changes in the body systems due to stress are referred to as physiologic changes. When an animal experiences stress, various physiological processes are activated as part of the body's response. This can include the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which in turn can affect numerous bodily systems, including the cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems. These stress-induced changes are essential to understand, as they can influence an animal's overall health, behavior, and response to veterinary care.

The other choices do not accurately describe the broad spectrum of changes that occur throughout the body in response to stress. Behavior disorders pertain to actions or reactions that are influenced by stress but do not encompass the physiological aspects. Muscle wasting can be a consequence of prolonged stress but does not represent the comprehensive array of changes that occur. Rational thought decrease may reflect mental state changes but lacks the physiological dimension inherent in the stress response. Therefore, physiologic changes provide the most complete and accurate characterization of the body's response to stress.