18. companion animal Flashcards
pets
animals kept for pleasure rather than for utility.
Companion animal
animal whose owner has an
intense emotional bond with the animal
Most pet owners consider their pets to be family
members, what percentage of pet owners consider this?
62.3% (2012 study)
95% (2015)
what percentage of U.S. households have a dog?
37%
what percentage of U.S. households have a cat?
32%
what percentage of U.S. households have at least one pet?
57%
what percentage of U.S. households have more than one pet?
~15% have at least one cat and one dog
What are the approximate
percentages of
spending on pets in
the major categories?
food = 39% veterinary care = 27% supplies and over the counter drugs = 23% services (grooming, boarding) = 7% live animal purchases = 5%
what are the benefits of Human-Animal Interactions? (6)
- Improved social access and skills
- Increased physical activity
- Increased joy and happiness
- Decreased stress
- +/- Improved immunity
- Improved sense of safety and security
Types of Service/Working/Therapy animals
Herding Hunting Guarding Racing Pulling Scenting Police Military Service/Guide Therapy
Feral cats
live in a wild state after domestication
what did domestic cats evolve from?
african wild cat about 5,000 to 9,500 years ago
what is the order and family of cats?
carnivora
felidae
difference of small cats and large cats
Small cats purr = hard hyoid bone (attached to the top of the larynx)
Large cats roar = hyoid bone is incompletely ossified or elastic
Cat Nutrition
Obligate carnivores - rely on nutrients in animal tissues to meet their nutritional requirements
taurine is one of their 11 essential amino acids
Puberty of cats
Queen - female cats
4-18 months of age
Tom - male cat
7-10 months of age
feline estrous cycle
seasonally polyestrous
Queens cycle at 4-30 day intervals without ovulation
Induced Ovulator
Average length of the estrous cycle = 14 to 21 days
estrus lasts about 7 days
Ovariohysterectomy (OHE)
spaying
Benefit:
no unwanted pregnancies
no estrus behavior
Spaying a cat at 6 months of age reduces her chance of getting mammary cancer by 90%.
cons
surgical risk
anesthetic risk
permanent
what is the order and family of dogs?
carnivora
canidae
what is the scientific name of domestic dogs?
Canis familiaris
what gave rise to the first domestic dog?
the gray wolf about 12,000-14,000 yrs ago
puberty of dogs
4-9 months
non-seasonal monoestrous
