Introduction to veterinary behavior

Question 1

Veterinary behavior

Answer 1

branch of veterinary medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of behavior problems in non-human animals

Question 2

Why study it?

Answer 2

#1 reason animals are relinquished to shelther/euthanized
Educate pet owners (myths/bad training techniques)
Prevent injuries (to self/owner/animal/other animals)
Diagnostic tool (know normal/abnormal)

Question 3

Animal welfare

Answer 3

includes physical and psychological welfare animals

Question 4

Information sources for veterinary behavior

Answer 4

Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Journal of Ethology, Animal Behaviour, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, JAVMA, AVJR, VIN

Question 5

Certification

Answer 5

veterinarians only- ACVB, receive title of “diplomate”

DVM, MS, PhD- Animal Behavior Society, title of “Applied animal behaviorist”

Question 6

ACVB

Answer 6

American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, recognized by the AVMA in 1993, 62 diplomats, meet annually (july11-14th 2015) in boston

Question 7

Behavior Residency

Answer 7

vet schools that offer: UC- Davis, Tufts, Purdue, U of Montreal, NC State, UMinn, UPenn, LTC Daniel E Holland Military Working Dog Veterinary Hospital Program- LAFB, Tx
behaviorist on staff (no residency): UGA, UF, UT, Texas A&M, Michigan State, St. Matthews, Western U-CA
process: 1 yr general internship/practice, 3 year conforming residency (FT), non-conforming residency- board certified member takes longer but is PT

Question 8

AVSAB

Answer 8

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior; includes vets, vet students and non-vets with advanced degrees

Question 9

AVSAB goals

Answer 9

promote the discipline of applied animal behavior within veterinary medicine
to facilitate the exchange of information among interested individuals
to serve as an informational resource for veterinarians and the general public
to promote and protect animal welfare and the human-animal bond

Question 10

SCAVSAB

Answer 10

Student chapter of the AVSAB; $10/year, $30/4 years- full priviledges, listserv, free registration at AVSAB annual meeting

Question 11

Award for student excellence in applied animal behavior research

Answer 11

Winner- $1500/present paper; Runner up- $500/poster
for AVSAB/ACVB annual meeting
Recent winning topics- Beef cattle responses to noise
Non-aversive trailer-loading training for horses
Feline toy preference

Question 12

What a veterinary behaviorist does

Answer 12

diagnose and treat behavior problems
teach veterinary students/technicians
give CE courses to veterinarians
research
consulting on legal cases (animal abuse)
consult with zoos
consult with companies (animal food/pharm/production animal industry)
consult with writers
write books/articles
consult with other veterinary services (shelter/neuro)

Question 13

Research

Answer 13

types veterinary behaviorist does
product efficacy
treatments of behavior problems
documenting normal behaviors
understanding various behaviors

Question 14

Chief behavior complaints

Answer 14

dogs- aggression, separation anxiety, noise/storm phobia, inappropriate elimination, compulsive disorders, cognitive dysfunction
cats- inappropriate elimination, aggression, compulsive disorders
horses- stereotypies/compulsive disorders, aggression, phobias, separation anxiety

Question 15

Behavioral medications

Answer 15

3 approved drugs (dogs)- clomicalm (SA), anipryl(CD), reconcile (SA/no longer being manufactured); none approved in cats

Question 16

Off-label drug use (examples and what you need to have when using them)

Answer 16

fluoxetine, valium, alprazolam, paroxetine (anxiety)

Need “informed consent” in writing

Question 17

What informed consent entails

Answer 17

explain that the drug is “extra label” or off label
explain why the drug was chosen
explain the potential for side effects
explain the human abuse potential