Behavioural diagnosis Flashcards
What are the four main diagnostic clues for diseases?
Behavioral changes, physical changes, lab test results, and postmortem findings
What are examples of diseases diagnosed by behavior?
Staggers in cows (low magnesium)
Swayback in sheep (low copper)
Wobbler syndrome in horses
Why is history-taking important in behavioral diagnosis?
It helps determine the onset, progression, and possible causes of abnormal behavior
What information is included in a signalment?
Name, age, species, breed, color, sex, reproduction status, and use
What factors should be considered when assessing appetite changes?
Pain, metabolic disease, pregnancy, cancer, endoparasitism, and pancreatic insufficiency
What are causes of increased thirst (polydipsia)?
Dehydration
Fever
Pain
Diabetes mellitus
Kidney disease
What is polyuria?
Increased volume of urine production
What conditions can be mistaken for polyuria?
- Straining to urinate (stranguria)
- Pain while urinating (dysuria)
- Frequent urination (pollakiuria)
What is the BRIGHT acronym in behavioral diagnosis?
Bright, alert, and responsive (BAR) indicates normal response to stimuli
What is hyperesthesia?
Increased sensitivity to stimuli such as light, sound, or touch
What are common causes of hyperesthesia?
Rabies, hypomagnesemia, and neurological diseases
What is the significance of exaggerated responses?
It can indicate pain, neurological disorders, or stereotypical behavior
Why is it important to consider an animal’s age when diagnosing behavior?
Young animals have different normal behaviors compared to adults
What are signs of illness in horses?
Belly watching (colic), teeth grinding, reluctance to jump down
What abnormal behaviors can birds exhibit when sick?
Head bobbing, excessive grooming, or lethargy
What behaviors indicate distress in reptiles?
Head and limb retraction, squirting blood from eyes (in some species)
What is signalment?
description of the animal which includes
name/number - identification, ensures continuity
→ age - congenital vs acquired
→ species
→ breed
→ colour
→ sex ⇒ anatomy/genetic specific
→ reproduction status
→ use
