BEHAVIOUR

Question 1

What are the two components of welfare

Answer 1

Physiological components
Behavioural components

Question 2

Why is understanding behaviour important?

Answer 2

Provides insight into animals emotional and welfare state
Minimises bad experience of vets for animal
Law, legal obligation
Clinical and surgical success

Question 3

How can we use locomotion as an indicator?

Answer 3

Lameness indicates pain
Look at time they spent lying down
Look at number of times foot stamped
Look at number of ear flicks

Question 4

What impact does stereotypical behaviours have on NMSK system?

Answer 4

Weaving may lead to arthritis, muscle injuries, worn feet
Awkward weight bearing affects NMSK

Question 5

Why is analysing locomotion important?

Answer 5

Evaluate what is normal/ abnormal
Assess gait patterns
Identify gait adaptations
Performance indicators
Welfare indicators

Question 6

What should you consider before assessing locomotion?

Answer 6

Space available
Surface conditions
Age of animal
Speed of gait
Handler
Any medical conditions

Question 7

What does firm surfaces assess?

Answer 7

Muscular
Can listen to footfalls and assess gait pattern

Question 8

What does soft surface assess?

Answer 8

Soft tissue

Question 9

What are gaits

Answer 9

Specific patterns of footfall during locomotion

Question 10

What is a stride?

Answer 10

Complete cycle of movement

Question 11

What are the phases of stride?

Answer 11

Stance phase —> weight bearing limb
Swing phase —> non weight bearing limb

Question 12

What are the characteristics of a walk?

Answer 12

4 beat
Symmetrical
RH -> RF -> LH-> LF
Never >3 or <2 limb weight bearing at once

Question 13

What are the characteristics of a trot?

Answer 13

Two beat
LH and RF then LF and RH
Diagonal of each pair

Question 14

What are the characteristics of a canter?

Answer 14

Three beats
If leading with left foot, then left diagonal and both right feet separately
If leading with right foot, then right diagonal and both left feet separately

Question 15

What is a transverse gallop and who uses it?

Answer 15

LH RH RF LF (them]n moment of suspension)
Dogs at low speeds
Horses
Cattle

Question 16

What is rotary suspension and who uses it?

Answer 16

RH LH * LF RF

All cats
Dogs at high speeds
Gazelle
Antelope
Running rodents

Question 17

What is counter rotary and who is it used by?

Answer 17

Opposite of rotary (anticlockwise foot falls)
Greyhounds on the track and they race anticlockwise

Question 18

Why is it necessary to change gait?

Answer 18

Physical necessity (limb flies off ground)
Metabolic advantages —> respiratory pattern, fastest speed with lowest input
Mechanical advantages —> reduces bone strain

Question 19

What 5 things control the sensation of movement?

Answer 19

Vision
Vestibular system (inner ear)- balance
Mechanoreceptors - touch
Nociceptors - pain
Proprioceptors - body position

Question 20

What is used in the motor response to stimuli in limb coordination

Answer 20

Nervous system, voluntary and involuntary
Central pattern generators
Brainstem
Cerebellum
Constant monitoring of muscle length and tension

Question 21

What is inertia?

Answer 21

The tendency for an object to resist any change in its motion

Question 22

How is a horse adapted for increase in stride length?

Answer 22

Elongation of distal limb
Mobile scapula

Question 23

How is the mass of limb minimised in horse for easier movement?

Answer 23

Muscles positioned proximal (near pivot point)
Reduced number of bones in the limb
Adaptations in mass (inertia) of lower limb

Question 24

How is the body adapted for conservation of energy with high speed horse movement?

Answer 24

Whiplash effect of limb —> small motion of upper limb > flick of lower limb
Long tendons —> transfer load, shock absorbers, energy store
Stable joints
Relatively rigid spine —> minimises up and down movement of body during locomotion

Question 25

What functional adaptations does a canine have for high speed locomotion?

Answer 25

Elongation of limbs
Tail (assists balance)
Flexible back ( arches and straightens over wide range, increasing stride length)
Digitigrade (claws for catching prey)