Common behavioural presentations in general veterinary practice Flashcards
Give 3 examples of common behaviour presentations seen in general practice
- Firework fears
- Depositions of feline urine in the house
- Neutering requests
What are the emotional motivations behind firework related fears?
- Fear-anxiety
- Frustration (can’t locate the source of the noise)
What are the aims in prevention of firework related fears?
Create emotional stability and encouraging a positive cognitive bias
- Maximise emotional capacity (genetics, early life)
- Optimise emotional drainage
- Encourage positive emotional responses
- Decrease trigger salience
What advice would you give to breeders in the prevention of firework related issues?
- Select appropriate breeding stock (genetic effect)
- Care appropriately for bitch during pregnancy (pre-natal effect)
- Adopt behaviourally aware rearing practices
What advice would you give to caregivers in the prevention of firework related issues?
- Provide exposure to a complex range of social and environmental experiences whilst the puppy is in a positive emotional state including exposure to a range of noises
- Provide a secure emotional environment when they are exposed to these noises/triggers
- Ensure appropriate behavioural examples
How can firework related fears be managed?
- Environmental modification: hideouts, reliable escape place
- Pheromone support: Adaptil calm
- Changes in human interaction: do not punish, ignore or reassure. Be passively present
What are the short term medication aims in the management of firework related fears?
- Reduce emotional response to predicted fear inducing incidents
- Limit the cumulative effects of repeated exposure
- Prevent relapse or worsening of the fear during the treatment process due to exposure to an unavoidable event
What is the role of benzodiazepines in managing firework related fears?
Amnesia, anxiolytic, sedative
- Block the memory of aversive events
- Limit the rate of generalisation
Which drugs can be used in the medication approach to firework related fears?
- Benzodiazepines
- Micro dose of dexmedetomidine
- Trazodone
- Nutraceuticals
What are 3 treatment approaches for firework related fears?
- Behavioural modification
- Pharmacological intervention
- Pheromone therapy
What are the 2 behavioural modifications used to treat firework related fears?
Desensitisation
Counter conditioning
Which drugs can be used in the treatment of firework related fears?
- Monoamine oxidase B inhibitors e.g. Selegiline
- Specific Serotonin reuptake inhibitors
What are the emotional consequences of not having appropriate toileting facilities?
- Fear-anxiety: lack of privacy, social tension
- Frustration
How can urine deposits in the house be treated?
- Optimise the environment
- Provide suitable litter facilities: location, substrate
What are some reasons that a cat might mark in the home?
- Lack of secure core territory
- Threats to security from inside or outside the house
What are some treatment approached to stop a cat marking in the house?
- Remove the scent signal entirely from the feline perspective
- Create a safe a secure core territory
- Optimise the environment
What are the behavioural objectives of neutering?
- Control the genetic influence on canine emotional stability
- Reduce unwanted sexually related behaviours
- Modify the effects of hormones on: Social behaviours and Emotional state
Give examples of behavioural problems which prompt caregivers to request neutering as a solution
- Mounting
- Boisterous behaviour
- Lack of recall
When can neutering be an effective solution?
In relation to behaviours which are hormonally dependent and related to the lust system or the care system
What is important to decide before making the decision to neuter?
The emotional motivation for the behaviour
Other than hormonal influence why might lack of recall behaviours develop?
Poor training, related to desire- seeking for alternative stimuli such as food or social interaction with other dogs or related to anxiety issues
Other than hormonal influence why might boisterous behaviours develop?
Expression of underlying anxiety - in these situations neutering can be detrimental
What are some behavioural reasons for neutering in female dogs?
- Inner bitch confrontation within a household
- To prevent pheromone synchronisation
Which effect leads to bitches coming into season at the same time?
The Whitten effect
Which hormone is linked to frustrated care in a situation of false pregnancy?
Prolactin
When is castration and neutering reccomened?
Males - just after puberty
Females - Before their first season
What is the role of prolactin in the timing of neutering bitches?
- Need to neuter in anoestrus when hormone levels are low
- Neutering during a phase of elevated prolactin can risk retention of that elevated level following surgery
