2 Companion Animal Welfare

Question 1

Companion vs pet

Answer 1

Might use the word pet when we talk about some of the lower order animals (fish, reptiles) to establish further distance between us and the animals.

Question 2

Anthropomorphic selection and example

Answer 2

Giving human traits or attributes to animals; not traits based on survival but traits that we like

We choose particular traits that are appealing to us. For example, we like the puppy behaviour so we breed dogs to show that behaviour.
- labs act as puppies for the first 12 years of their life and we get surprised when the animal becomes dependent on us though we bred them to do so

People believe that dogs leave messes because they are angry when people go out for the day. And of course, when they come home they believe the dogs “know they did bad” because of an anthropomorphic misinterpretation of the look on their dog’s face.

Question 3

Drawbacks of anthropomorphic selection

Answer 3

We’re setting the dog up for failure; some of these behaviours that we have bred into these animals eventually clash with our lifestyle and they end up medicated or euthanised bc people can’t cope with the dog

Question 4

Separation anxiety

Answer 4

Dogs typically eliminate, vocalise or engage in destructive behaviour when alone

Question 5

Dog bites: two main forms of dog-human aggression

Answer 5

1. offensive aggression: securing/defending vital resource/place against unwanted intrusion
2. defensive aggression: countering a perceived/actual threat asserted by rival

Question 6

Offensive aggression (3)

Answer 6

Occurs in situations in which:
- fear low, anger high
- other motivations such as hunger may be influential
- previous aggression under similar circumstances have been successful
For example, if a dog is protecting a bone from a human because they are worried it will be taken away, they may growl. If that works (I.e. the human leaves them alone), they will learn that this sort of behaviour is rewarded (I.e. they got to keep their bone).

Question 7

Defensive aggression characteristics (3)

Answer 7

• high fear
• escape/avoidance opportunities are limited (if cant flee, forced to fight)
• previous aggression may have been successful

Question 8

Behaviour problems (cats) (4)

Answer 8

• scratching furniture
• eating plants
• aggression (cats and human)
• house soil

Question 9

Behaviour problems (dogs) (5)

Answer 9

• agression
• obedience and control
• house soil
• vocalisation (barking)
• over excitable

Question 10

Behaviour problems (horses) (3)

Answer 10

• stable “vices”: undesirable habits that often develop as a result of being confined in a stable with insufficient exercise, boredom, hunger, excess energy or isolation
• agression
• misbehaviour under saddle

Question 11

Behaviour problems (others)

Answer 11

• rabbits: aggression (problem chewing)
• reptiles: stereotypical pacing leading to injury, aggression
• caged birds: biting, screaming feather picking and self mutilation
• mice and rats: stress; barbering (remove all the hair and whiskers off a more submissive animal thats housed with them
  hamsters etc: compulsive wheel running

Question 12

Causes of behaviour problems: general (4)

Answer 12

1. ordinary species typical behaviour (a lot of these are not problematic for the animal at all)
2. attempt at coping (eg confinement)
3. reinforced behaviour
4. pathophysiology (disease)
   - eg a dog chasing it’s tail could indicate broken bone

Question 13

Causes of behaviour problems: reinforced behaviour

Answer 13

Many animals learn to do certain behaviours to gain the attention of their owner. Sometimes can accidentally teach pet wrong response

Question 14

Owner’s role in behaviour problems (6)

Answer 14

1. obedience training
2. feeding dogs after the owner
3. dogs sleeping near owner
4. level of owner attachment
5. owner experience
6. reason for acquiring dog (companionship, protection, exercise, showing)

Question 15

Obedience training: advantages (3)

Answer 15

• less competitive aggression
• less roaming and escaping
• fewer problems with separation

Question 16

Dominance vs territorial aggression

Answer 16

Dominance: around people
Territorial: around places

Question 17

Owner’s role (dogs sleeping near owner)

Answer 17

• more separation problems

- competitive aggression

Question 18

What do owners typically expect when getting a new dog?

Answer 18

Often people will expect their pets to act/have a certain personality just bc of their previous experiences with the same breed. Need to understand that same breed does not mean same animal.

Question 19

perception of over vs underweight dogs

Answer 19

Obese dogs are at higher risk of dying compared to underweight, but we react completely differently to both
Obese=chonky boi <3
Skinny=ewww

Question 20

Definition of overweight and how to check (2)

Answer 20

10-25% over the optimum weight for the breed. Can refer to either:

• breed standard
• body condition score (BCS)

Question 21

BCS 2 (3)

Answer 21

Underweight

• ribs easily palpated (felt) and may be visible with no palpable fat
• tops of lumbar vertebrae visible
• obvious waist and abdominal tuck

Question 22

BCS 3 (2)

Answer 22

Ideal

• ribs palpable without excess fat covering
• abdomen tucked up when viewed from side

Question 23

BCS 4 (4)

Answer 23

Overweight

• fleshy appearance
• ribs palpable with difficulty
• fat deposits over lumbar spine and tail base
• abdominal tuck may be absent

Question 24

BSC 5 (3)

Answer 24

Obese

• large fat deposits over chest, spine and tail base; neck and limbs too
• waist and abdominal tuck absent
• abdomen distended (bulging)

Question 25

Problem with being overweight (general)

Answer 25

Causes/complicates many veterinary conditions such as arthritis, joint problems, organ failure

Question 26

Causes of overweight (dog specific factors)

Answer 26

3% bc of dog factors

• gender/reproductive status
• breed
• age

Question 27

Causes of overweight (human specific factors) (3)

Answer 27

97%

• diet (quantity and quality)
• exercise (intensity and duration)
• treats

Question 28

Overweight: Diet (food scraps vs dried food)

Answer 28

Less likely to have overweight dogs with dry food than table scraps

• table scraps not quantifiable and contains more fat
• dry food has instructions accompanied with it (cups can be a vague measurement, but better than nothing)

Question 29

Overweight: Feeding Frequency

Answer 29

More likely to be normal weight when fed 2x a day

• 3x more likely to be obese as if we’re making a mistake with measurements, i will be multiplied three times a day
• 1x also more as we give the entire ration of food first thing in the morning
• -> food coma, converted to fat and slows down metabolism

Question 30

Overweight: Exercise

Answer 30

Dogs must be walked regularly. Often owners think leaving their dog in their big yard will be enough. They expect the dog to exercise itself when in reality the dog just sleeps.

Question 31

Owners vs. vets expectations

Answer 31

Vets should try to be empathetical with owner and be careful with the language they use. Owners often feel worried about going to the vet as they might promote their own expensive product as a necessity (or owner will perceive it that way)

Vets should advice to reduce intake (cheap) vs modify diet ($$$) as an initial strategy