They are less likely to be harbouring twenty other mental states hidden under this first layer. If this general rule is true then selecting remedies for animals really is a simple process of empathy and understanding, as Nora Weeks used to point out. Where it becomes harder is at those points where communication between species breaks down - in other words, when we misread or simply fail to read what an animal is telling us. For example, two dogs start to bark. One may be aggressive or barking in anger, and the other may bark just as loudly due to fear or excitement.
Human beings communicate using a mixture of verbal and non-verbal communication.
So do animals. This means that to be able to select remedies for animals with real confidence we need to take time to learn a little about how animals use their bodies to communicate. Lets imagine an actual case and how the selection process might work. Suppose your dog, who is usually happy, playful and loving towards you, suddenly begins moping around, tail between its legs, and shies away whenever you show concern or affection. You know immediately from this change in manner that something is troubling him.