Exam 1 - Stress Related Behaviors Flashcards
what are the 2 main types of stressors?
physiological & psychological
what are some examples of physiological stressors?
pain, hunger, thirst, chronic illness, sleep deprivation, & extreme temperatures
what are some examples of psychological stressors?
unpredictable environments, frustrating situations, exposure to novelty. social conflict, & fear provoking stimuli (previously learned - vet clinics)
what are some factors that cause individual variation on stressors?
genetics, temperament, experience, environment, & learning
what are some examples of how stress is expressed as medical problems?
immune suppression, gi upsets, & feline interstitial cystitis
what are some examples of how stress is expressed as behavioral problems?
anxieties, fears, & phobias
what is the most common conspecific factors of stress-related behaviors?
social stresses - especially the protection of a highly favored prize
what is an example of stress behavior in regards to predators?
cat cowering when something is above them - mimics natural predator
what are some natural dangers causing stress-related behavior in regards to the environment?
unpredictable occurrences especially with rapid movement, things out of place
T/F: it was found in racing greyhounds that entered an animal hospital, their blood pressure raised by 30 points
what is this an example of?
true
environmental factor
what is an example of genetic influence in stress-related behavior?
nervous pointers - 20 years of inbreeding for ‘nervous’ traits
hyperstartle, decreased exploration, & immobility in proximity to people
large sized animals are associated with __________ ________, small sized animals are genetically connected to several types of problems, & working dogs are associated with _______ & ________-________ _________
increased trainability
energy & separation-related problems
T/F: genetic influences can override environment & training
true
what are epigenetic effects?
alter genetic expressions of stress in offspring brains for many generations
what is an example of prenatal effects of maternal stress on offspring?
affects the HPAA axis of the offspring resulting in mood disorders such as - reactivity, hyperactivity, & attention disorders
what is anxiety defined as?
feeling of apprehension due to the anticipation of some unidentified threat or danger based on previous experience
what are some examples of psychogenic grooming?
psychogenic alopecia, acral lick dermatitis, & self-mutilation
what are some examples of self-directed behaviors related to anxiety?
psychogenic grooming, psychogenic vomiting, psychogenic diarrhea, psychogenic drinking, & flank sucking
what are some examples of different expressions of anxiety?
attention-seeking (velcro dogs), confinement anxiety/barrier frustration, self-directed behaviors, OCD, generalized anxiety disorder, & separation anxiety
what are the general treatment recommendations for anxiety?
rule out medical causes & have a neutral interruption of inappropriate behavior (head collars, auditory stimulus, not dependent on attention)
environmental management
counterconditioning
dietary management/pheromones
drug therapy
how can environmental management be used for treating anxiety?
avoid stressors, have a rigid schedule, & increased exercise
what is an example of using counterconditioning for treating anxiety?
happy vet clinic visits
when may drug therapy be used for treating anxiety?
there is mild/infrequent exposure to the trigger, you are unable to control the stimuli, & acute vs. chronic anxiety
how is fear defined in regards to stress-related behavior?
feeling of apprehension resulting from the nearness of an object or situation
how is a phobia defined in regards to stress-related behavior?
a fear that is excessive & out of proportion to the actual threat
how is fear developed in animals?
2 step process
threat happens/noticed by the senses - threat response/survival mode with related events stored in memory (~20% develop generalized fear memory)
subconscious memories lead to avoidance behavior that is self-reinforcing (internal & external cues)
what behaviors are seen with avoidance behavior as an expression of fears/phobias?
animal flees or hides
what behaviors are seen with confrontation behavior as an expression of fears/phobias?
submission, conflicting behavior, & aggression
what behaviors are seen with freezing behavior as an expression of fears/phobias?
animal looks uncomfortable but usually will let work continue
why is it important to consider behavior as a veterinarian in a vet clinic?
many dogs are fearful on exam tables/won’t enter the practice calmly making the owners lose trust in the vet
T/F: phobias are primarily seen in cats
false - seen in dogs
how is dissociating a trigger used as a treatment for fears/phobias?
avoid the exposure at expected times & recreate triggers at unassociated times
how is neutral interruption of inappropriate behavior used as a treatment for fears/phobias?
don’t reward fear with attention, head collars, & auditory stimulus
how is desensitization used as a treatment for fears/phobias?
present the stimulus at a low level (lower volume, longer distance, shorter duration) & allow the animal to habituate to the stimulus
gradually increase the level of stimulation
work on only one stimulus at a time!!!
how is counterconditioning used as a treatment for fears/phobias?
change the association with the triggering stimulus or pair the trigger with something pleasant (food, play, positive training)
when is drug therapy useful for treating fears/phobias?
useful for predictable, short-term situations & generalized fears & phobias
drug therapy increases success rate by 20% with diet change but alone may not be helpful
what affects the prognosis of fears/phobias?
client compliance!!!!
severity & duration of symptoms - many are difficult to treat & a cure is unlikely, so control of the problem is the goal
what are the pitfalls of therapy for treating fears/phobias?
incorrectly identifying triggers, inability to recreate the triggers, inadequate management, relying solely on drug therapy, & rushing desensitization/counterconditioning
what is the number one fear of sharp noise in dogs?
fireworks - severity can range from mild shaking to severe destruction
how is fear of sharp noise treated in regards to fireworks?
minimize the noise & provide item of strong owner smell
what is the number two cause of fear of sharp noise in dogs? what is it related to?
thunderstorms
thunder, lightening, rain, wind
how is thunderstorm fear treated?
modify the environment - white noise or teach the animal to go to a safe spot
countercondition - high value food treats & play
desensitization & counterconditioning are key - identify all stimuli & grade severity of response
introduce one stimulus at a time staying below threshold, play continuous, gradually increasing volume, & have numerous sessions where the volume is gradually increased during each one - must reinforce periodically!!!! storms are sporadic & can interfere with training
what treatment can be used for severe cases of thunderstorm fear?
desensitization/counterconditioning & equipment - thundershirt, etc
drug therapy!!! alprazolam, trazodone, sileo
why should you not use acepromazine alone in treating severe cases of thunderstorm fear?
it doesn’t shut their mind off - they are still very anxious but are unable to react
when do we see problems occur with confinement anxiety?
when the dog is confined in a crate, room, car
what are some differentials for confinement anxiety?
boredom, destructive chewing/teething, digging, excessive vocalization, house soiling, medical problems, & separation anxiety
how is confinement anxiety treated?
look to see if confinement is actually necessary - use desensitization & counterconditioning in both mild & more intense cases
more intense - different crate, different location, re-crate train - put a scent cloth & high value food treat in the carrier
what are some influencing factors of separation anxiety?
affected individual is more likely to:
come from a shelter, have been a stray, have been rehomed, have a noise phobia, show hyperattachment to a human (needy personality & velcro dogs), & show aggression (territorial, fear induced, or status related)
when do we see older dogs develop separation anxiety?
often follows a major change - outside job or major illness
when do clinical signs of separation anxiety appear?
within 5-30 minutes of you leaving - may have anticipatory signs
what are some differentials for separation anxiety?
confinement anxiety - dog does fine when not confined/dog is fine when owner is gone (not separation anxiety)
boredom, medical problems, etc
video recording is helpful because often the degree of the problem is under appreciated
what are some common presenting signs of separation anxiety in dogs?
aggression at departure, destructive chewing, diarrhea, excessive licking/salivation/vocalization, self-mutilation, house soiling
how do you avoid rewarding the behavior seen with separation anxiety?
distract the dog prior to returning home
avoid emotional coming/going
don’t continue the previous routine when leaving - use maintenance while treatment protocol is worked on (doggie day care, house sitter, take the dog to work, etc)
what has been shown to be the key to success for treating separation anxiety?
behavior modification
how is behavior modification used to treat separation anxiety?
use independence training - safe cue before departure with word/action/cue & give a prized toy/treat only during practice sessions
how is a baby gate used for treating separation anxiety?
use it as a safe space - give the animal the cue & step out of view of the baby gate & come right back gradually increasing the amount of time out of site
how is a safe location established for treating a dog with separation anxiety?
condition the dog to the cue & location that is safe for them - security blanket, closet, crate (if not afraid)
owner first remains seated at dog’s side, stand up/sit down, stand up 1 step forward, sit down, etc gradually working out of the room
T/F: young, newly homed dogs will usually outgrow separation anxiety
true - use independence training with gradual departures
important to establish a schedule of interactions
use a lot of positive reinforcement
T/F: when utilizing independence training for a dog with separation anxiety, it is okay if the animal becomes anxious or seeks the owner during training
false - don’t let this happen
don’t rush the steps
what are some examples of departure cues you may have to desensitize a dog with separation anxiety to?
car keys, going to the front door, taking a shower, picking up a bag
what medications are commonly used for dogs with separation anxiety?
SSRIs, TCAs, & general anxiety medications
what is the prognosis for dogs with separation anxiety?
guarded - severe cases may relapse
overall improvement rate is 62-84%
if not treated - will remain the same or will get worse
what are some reasons why a dog with severe separation anxiety may relapse?
long separations or abrupt changes in the household such as new introductions or illness/death
what are some examples of equipment that can be used for treating dogs with separation anxiety?
calmer canine - pulsed electro-magnetic field
thundershirt
what is the difference between anxieties, fears, & phobias?
anxiety - feeling of apprehension due to the anticipation of some unidentified threat or danger based on previous experience (velcro dogs, confinement anxiety)
fears - feeling of apprehension resulting from the nearness of an object or situation (dog at the vet scared of being moved to the scale)
phobias - fear that is excessive & out of proportion to the actual threat
