companion animals Flashcards
how is obesity defined?
an excess of body fat sufficient to result in impairment of health or body function
dog obesity risks?
anaesthesia and surgery
heat / exercise intolerance
CVS complication
cat obesity risks?
musculoskeletal problems
diabetes mellitus
hepatic lipidosis
endodgenous factors of obesity
age sex repo status hormonal abnormalities genetics
exogenous factors of obesity
activity food intake diet compostions palatability environment lifestyle
what is the dog maintenance energy requirement?
dog MER = 132 (BW) ^ 0.75
Cat MER?
Cat MER = 70 (BW)
or
= 100 + 44(BW)
cat / dog recommended energy requirement?
RER = 70(BW) ^0.75
or
= 30(BW) + 70
Weight loss plan
no more than 2% loss / week start with giving RER for current weight over 8-12 months include treat feed regular to increase metabolism and decrease begging
clinical consequences of high energy
obesity hip dysplasia osteochondrosis panosteitis osteoarthiritis
clinical consequence of high calcium
osteochondrosis
panosteitis
radius curvus syndrome
wobbler syndrome
clinical consequence of high Vit D / Ca / P
oesteochondrosis,
radius curvus syndrome
clinical consequence of low calcium
hyperparathyroidism
pathological fractures
clinical consequence of low vit D
rickets
bowled legs
pathological fractures
clinical consequence of low protein (growing dog)
dilated cardiomyopathy
clinical consequence of low taurine (cat)
dilated cariomyopathy
retinal degeneration
clinical consequence of low thiamine
neurological signs
When was the first association of humans with dogs?
40-150,000 years ago
what was the first truly domesticated animal?
dog
when did the dog population become properly independent?
8-15,000 years ago
what is domestication?
the process by which a population of animals becomes adapted to man and the captive environment
how does adaptation occur?
genetic changes
environmental events that reoccur each generation
what wouldve been the original use for dogs?
food
amusement
guarding
hunting companions
traits favouring domestication?
easy to breed from - promiscuous easy to utilise easy to live with highly structured social groups strong maternal bonding precocial development of the young
What behavioural changes have occured in dogs from domestication?
- increased duration of sensitive period
- loss of pair bonding
- extension of breeding season
- retention of juvenile patterns of behaviour
- less vocal signals
- bark more
- limited tail and posture display
- few facial postures
- heavy jowls
what were the two steps in domestication of the dog?
1) producing a blueprint domestic dog with traits that made it acceptable as a general purpose working animal
2) selection of specific traits and personality types that were specialise for certain roles
how was cat domestication different to that of dogs?
- cats have had an association with human civilisation since there were settlements as they supported prey for the cats
- cats that could deal with closer proximity to people were able to take better advantage of this
- this created a selection pressure towards boldness and sociability
What are some documented health benefits of pet ownsership?
- lower health impact after bereavement
- reduced bp
- reduced anxiety
- reduced CVS risk
- positive lifestyle effect
what 2 things suggest the human-animal bond is bidirectional?
- attachment
- reciprocity
how does a positive human-animal bond help working animals?
- higher milk yield
- higher welfare
- lower cortisol
what are some examples of exaggerated behaviour?
- increased hunting behaviour
- territoriality
- aggression and self - defense : pain
- food guarding / stealing - polyphagia
- indoor elimination - PU
what are indicators that a behaviour is abnormal?
- developmental course and life-stage
- behaviour at odds with environment and experience
- sudden change in behaviour in a previously well adjusted animal
- not attributable to an adverse experience
- self destructive
- altered mental state
- neurological signs
what is a phobia?
upgraded, excessively intense, inappropriate and persistent fear
- interferes with normal behaviour and is maladaptive
- most common behavioural problem
what are some common phobias?
thunder fireworks gunshots flashing lights kties hot air balloons
what is a compulsive disorder?
abnormal repetitive behaviours
-ritualised, repetitive, worse during emotional stress
what are some common canine compulsive disorders?
tail chasing flank sucking self mutilation fly snapping shadow/light chasing barking
what are some common feline compulsive disorders?
self mutilation/overgrooming
shadow/light chasing
what can predispose to compulsive disorders?
- high risk breed
- poor early husbandry
- inadequate environment
- emotional disorder
- progressive
how can you treat compulsive disorders?
- medication - clomipramine, fluoxetine
- behavioural therapy
- environmental modification
- training
what can compulsive disorders sometimes be confused with?
seizures
what is feline hyperaesthesia syndrome?
Behavioural changes - highly agitated, tail swishing, dilated pupils, manic episodes, jumping, unusual vocalisation, pacing, inappropriate mounting
Spinal / skin sensitivity - twitching / biting at tail, rippling on skin above tail, sensitive to touch around tail / spine
- can be provoked by stroking
- more likely when animal stresed
at risk breeds for feline hyperaesthesia syndrome?
burmese
siamese
himalayan
abyssinian
1-4 yo
how do you diagnose feline hyperaesthesia syndrome?
- by eliminating :
- skin disease
- epilepsy
- spinal disease
- investigation of the environment
how can you treat feline hyperaesthesia syndrome?
- manage / treat underlying cause
- reduce environmental stress
- anti-epileptic medication
- SSRI medication
what is feline orofacial pain syndrome?
- behaviour suggesting facial, oral or tongue discomfort
- exaggerated licking / chewing / pawing at mouth
- unilateral
what is the typical signalment / history of cats with orofacial pain syndrome?
- burmese
- siamese, tonkinese, burmilla, DSH
- male
- any age
- episodic (5m -2hr)
- appear anxious before it starts
- can be distracted
- may be anorexic
what can cause feline orofacial pain syndrome?
- oral lesions triggering trigeminal nerve endings
- environmental factors - poor social coping strategies, multi-pet house
- pregnancy
- systemic liver or kidney disease
how do you treat feline orofacial pain syndrome?
- prevent mutilation (collar, soft claws)
- address underlying cause
- address pain
how was cat domestication different to that of dogs?
- cats have had an association with human civilisation since there were settlements as they supported prey for the cats
- cats that could deal with closer proximity to people were able to take better advantage of this
- this created a selection pressure towards boldness and sociability
what can predispose to compulsive disorders?
- high risk breed
- poor early husbandry
- inadequate environment
- emotional disorder
- progressive
