Our pets' inability to communicate through words gives us the upper hand in the relationship. This includes assuming a caretaker position where we're responsible for everything from food, water, and shelter to caring for them when sick.
While our pets deserve the best care, it can be hard to determine the severity of their injuries or ailments, especially if your pet is known to be a little dramatic. For example, some dogs have pretended to cough because they know they'll get attention for it.
Similarly, it's also possible for us as owners to take caretaking a tad too far by coddling pets or taking our pets everywhere so the pet doesn't have to be left at home.
But what is the psychology behind these behaviors of dramatic pets and overly obsessive pet owners? Well, the answer may lie in a behavioral disorder called Munchausen syndrome.
