Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Disorders of Animal Behaviour > Behviour of Exotic Pets and Cage Birds > Flashcards

Behviour of Exotic Pets and Cage Birds Flashcards

1
Q

Explain the natural history and behaviour of rabbits.

A
  • Domestic rabbits are descendants of the European rabbit, Oryctollagus cuniculus, from Western Europe and Northwestern Africa
  • Live in large groups in warrens or burrows (where they spend most of their life)
  • Primarily nocturnal, emerging from burrows to forage at night
  • Highly developed social hierarchy
  • Prey species
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What has been the process of domestication of rabbits?

A
  • Have been kept as pets since the early sixteenth century
  • The wild European rabbit was originally kept in cages ~3000 years ago
  • Portable source of fresh meat
  • In ~6thcentury AD, breeding of various sizes and colours
  • Domestication has resulted in rabbits that are more placid with humans and that are not as stressed by confinement
  • Selective breeding has led to over 100 recognised breeds
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why might a rabbit stop using the litter tray? Is there anything we can do to fix this?

A

Causes:
- Stress
- Changes in schedule
- Changes in household
- Box not being cleaned frequently enough (should be every 1-2 days)

How to fix:
- examine environemntal changes and restore
- retrain the rabbit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Is it normal for rabbits to eat faeces?

A

Yes, they eat caecotrophs to aid digestion. This is normal.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How do you train a rabbit to use a litterbox?

A
  • Usually easy to train to use a litterbox (naturally eliminate in latrines)
  • Training: confine rabbit to area of house or to a cage and observe where it eliminates –place the litterbox in this location
  • May be necessary to have more than one litterbox
  • Scent of own excrement can encourage use of a box in a new location
  • Place a washable mat under the box in case of ‘spillover’
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What can reduce spraying and faecal marking?

A

Neutering

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Can rabbits be aggressive to other rabbits?

A

Yes, introductions should be gradual and supervised and its best to introductions to be when rabbits are young.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Why might rabbits become aggressive to humans?

A
  • medical problem
  • fear
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What can be done about human aggressive rabbits?

A
  • physical exam to rule out medical cause of aggression
  • Neutering
  • have a barrier and offer treats if aggression is fear based
  • Ignore aggression
  • environmental enrichment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Are chewing and digging appropriate behaviours for a rabbit?

A
  • Yes, these are natural normal behaviours. Ensure rabbit proof areas and offer appropriate enrichment so as not to chew dangerous or inappropriate things.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What kind of environmental enrichment should be provided for a rabbit/s?

A
  • Rabbits need to be able to move and explore environment
  • Need access to a suitably large area or be trained on a leash
  • Rabbits need objects to chew, manipulate and explore - Rotate enrichment devices to keep them novel
  • Large outdoor enclosures can be appropriate as long as they are predator, insect and weather proof
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are some characteristics of parrots (Psittacines)?

A
  • Highly social
  • typically live in large social groups that have a hierarchy
  • opportunistic foragers
  • Daily activities include flying, foraging, resting, and self-maintenance
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the common complaints of behaviour in parrots?

A
  • Aggression and biting
  • feather picking or self inflicted injuries
  • social avoidance of family members
  • Excessive vocalisaiton
  • destructive behaviour
  • fears and phobias
  • inappropriate sexual behaviours
  • overeating
  • failure to accept new diets
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the reason for inappropriate behaviours in parrots?

A

Ususally a result of
- Inappropriate environmental conditions
- Poor social interactions
- Misunderstanding of normal behaviour
- Early adverse experiences (early separation from clutch mates, maternal and paternal separation, hand weaning practices, and inadequate socialisation)
- May also be related to the cognitive capabilities and lack of occupational and intellectual challenges
- Single housed birds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What forms of enrichment can be given to parrots to avoid problem behaviours?

A
  • Environment: consider expression of natural behaviours and time budget (including sleep)
  • Feeding techniques to encourage foraging ie ‘puzzle feeders’
  • Intellectual stimulation/training
  • Exercise
  • Beak activity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are some other options for treating behavioural problems?

A
  • Behaviour modification (Operant conditioning)
  • If all else fails - Pharmacotherapy
17
Q

What can/should be done to address fears and phobias in parrots?

A
  • Identify and remove sources of fear
  • Remove birds from high traffic areas and allow them to explore novel objects on their own terms
  • Make sure the bird is getting adequate and quality sleep
  • Avoid rewarding fear behaviours
  • Use positive reinforcement to build confidence
  • Use gradual desensitisation and counter-conditioning
  • Anti-anxiety medications can be used in severe cases
18
Q

What can/should be done to address aggression and biting in parrots?

A
  • Play: Provision of chew toys, interaction/play, positive reinforcement of desired behaviours
  • Fear: Desensitisation and counter-conditioning
  • Conditioned: Avoidance, positive reinforcement of desired behaviours
  • Territorial: Remove cage from high traffic area, desensitisation and counter-conditioning
  • Sexual: As for reproductive behaviours, non-preferred person to feed and care for bird
19
Q

What can/should be done to address feather picking and self-inflicted injuries in parrots?

A
  • Consider environmental factors
  • Foraging enrichment and stress reduction
  • Neurochemical abnormalities should be considered
  • Adjunctive use of medication (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
20
Q

What can/should be done to address excessive vocalisation in parrots?

A
  • Ignore screaming for attention seeking/negative punishment (don’t ignore distress calls)
  • Reward quiet bird and encourage acceptable vocalisation
  • Preemptive scheduling of interactions
  • Environmental and behavioural modification
21
Q

What can/should be done to address inappropriate sexual behaviours in parrots?

A

Decrease photoperiod, provide more dark time, remove nesting sites, reduce fat content of diet

22
Q

What kind of environement do lizards need in captivity?

A
  • Each species require environments similar to natural environment when kept in captivity. Note that each species are suited to survive in a specific microhabitat, so its important to match this to their captive environment.
23
Q

What forms of enrichment can be given to lizards to help them express natural behaviours?

A
  • Foraging
  • Hiding
  • Sunbathing
  • Digging
  • Swimming
24
Q

What is the most common reason for behavioural problems in lizards?

A

Inappropriate husbandry

25
Q

What signs indicate that something is wrong with a lizard?

A
  • Abnormal behaviour
  • spending all time in just one or two location
26
Q

What are some environmental stressors for lizards in captivity?

A
  • Excessive or inappropriate handling
  • Inappropriate enclosure construction and/or location
  • Inadequate shelter
  • Improper thermal range
  • Inappropriate heat sources
  • Improper substrate
  • Inappropriate cage accessories
  • Improper light spectrum
  • Improper diurnal and seasonal cycles
  • Inappropriate prey or feed
  • Overcrowding
27
Q

Is aggression normal in lizards?

A

Sometimes.
- It can be a normal response (territorial or competition for resources - fighting amongst males).
- It is abnormal when occuring in response to aversive events or pain

28
Q

What can be done to address aggression in lizards?

A
  • House individuals alone if appropriate
  • Increase number of resource locations
  • Reduce number of daylight hours
  • Increase the complexity of the environment
  • Increase visual barriers between individuals
  • Desensitisation and counter-conditioning
29
Q

Can abnormal repetative behaviour of lizards in captivity result in injury? How can this be addressed?

A
  • Jumping species may leap into translucent barriers and forceful impact of rostrum into translucent barriers. These behaviours have medical implications.
  • Solution: Reduce glare and reflection, provide additional refuges, put a physical obstruction in the area that the behaviour is occuring, opaque visual barrier, provide a larger more complex enclosure and/or provide biologically relevant enrichment.

Disorders of Animal Behaviour (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions