14/15. Behaviour consults, and Fear and anxiety Flashcards
Behaviour Consult Flowchart
the complaint
>medical exam, lab tests
>trainer referral, or consult in clinic, or referral to behaviourist
>diagnosis
>prognosis
>treatment plan
> > owner education, modify environment, modify the pet
> follow up
Options for referral for behaviour problem
- Board certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB)
- Certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB/ACAAB)
> Clinical component not as extensive as for DACVB, not necessarily veterinarian - Behaviour consultants & Trainers
> Minor to moderate issues requiring regular assistance, but not for serious behaviour issues
> Industry is not standardized
> Some have advanced training – do your research
how much time for initial behavioural consult?
1-2 hours
what is fear
- Emotional response to a present or threatened danger
what is anxiety
- Reaction to a prospective or imagined danger or uncertainty
what is a phobia
- Marked, persistent, excessive fear of clearly discernable objects or situations
Common fear-related behaviour problems
- Fear of people, places, objects, noises
- Generalized anxiety
- Separation anxiety
General treatment recommendations for fear
Owner education:
* Identification of fear
* Remain calm, no excessive soothing to reduce anxiety transfer * Pet is not ‘bad’, just scared
Environmental management:
* Identify all problem stimuli, and avoid exposure outside of training
* Use barriers when necessary
* Use muzzle for potential aggression
* Use leash-head halters to improve control
Behaviour modification:
* No positive punishment
* Never appropriate with fear and anxiety
* General training for control and to build confidence
* Train for settle, watch and touch for use during training
* Desensitization and counterconditioning
* Ensure appropriate exercise and mental stimulation
* Medication – dependent on severity, ability to manage, level of anxiety * Allows for adjustment of threshold & increased learning ability
good commands to teach to deal with fear
settle, watch, touch
how to develop a plan for desensitization and counter conditioning
- Step 1 – Identify fear threshold and train client to identify signs
- Step 2 – Develop a clear gradient for exposure
- Intensity, duration, distance
- Step 3 – DS & CC using gradient
- Progress to next step when animal is calm
- Repeat and increase over multiple sessions
types of behavioural meds
- Situational
>eg. Benzodiazepines
Maintenance (daily)
* eg. Tricyclic antidepressants & SSRIs
Pheromones & homeopathics
* eg. DAP (Adaptil) for dogs
how common are noise phobias
- 20-50% of owners report fear of noises
noise phobias prognosis
- Good for specific noises, reduced for general sensitivity
- Chance of relapse is high without maintenance
- Thunderstorm phobia can be more than just noise, better resolution if treated before it becomes associated with other stimuli
noise phobias treatment
- Owner education
> Continued reinforcement is going to be necessary for maintenance - Management
> Try to prevent/reduce impact of exposure outside training
» White noise, anxiolytics prior to expected event
» Try distraction – play/treats beforehand
> Limit potential for self-harm – safe, contained, dark - Behaviour modification
> DS & CC specifics
> Medications for unpredictable exposure
> Compression wraps may be helpful (eg. Thundershirt)
Generalized anxiety associated with:
- Previous negative experience(s), generalized
- Inadequate socialization
- Cognitive decline
- Unavoidable stressors in environment
generalized anxiety prognosis
- Good for improvement, but often poor for complete resolution * Key factor is level of socialization
Generalized anxiety treatment
- Management
> Triage concerns based on animal welfare and owner needs
> Provide predictable routines, calm environments, stable social environment - Behaviour modification
> Teach settle, watch, touch exercises; preferably specific safe location
> Develop detailed plans for DS & CC based on triage
> Medications likely useful – clomipramine, fluoxetine
what can reduce separation anxiety?
lots of social exposure
behaviours associated with separation anxiety
- Destructive behaviours (often exits, owner items)
- Urination/defecation
- Vocalizations
- Repetitive locomotion/inactivity
- Escape attempts
- Self-injury
- Anorexia
- Excessive greetings at return
risk factors for separation anxiety
- Single owner
- Neutered
- Rehomed animals
- Recent changes to home and family composition
- Lack of obedience training
prognosis for separation anxiety
- Good for improvement, complete resolution may not be possible in severe cases
- May take weeks to months to resolve
- Setbacks due to extended time away/at home, changes in household routines
separation anxiety treatment
Owner education
* Dispel anthropomorphic reasoning – response is due to fear/anxiety, not intended to ‘punish’ owner
management
* Safe environments to prevent destruction and self-injury
* During treatment avoid separation/reduce impact
* Situational meds for unavoidable separation
* Other care options
* Exercise and mental stimulation, especially before separation
* Crates not necessarily a good idea
behaviour modification
* Increase independence around the home
* Drugs, distraction and good things at separation
* People are calm during separation & greeting
* Identify extra triggers and treat separately
* Desensitization to departure cues
* DS & CC for departures
* Medications in combination with behaviour modification
