Lecture 11 Flashcards
Principles of fear-free and low-stress handling
Why do you do a distant exam?
4pt
- Increases safety
- Improves animal comfort
- Decreases fear, anxiety and stress
- Allows time to build a relationship with the owner
What do you look at during a distan exam?
2pt
Facial expression
body language
what are the thresholds and intensity for dogs?
6 pt
Very high arousal
* reactivity
* threatening warnings (growl, snarl, lunge)
* escape movements
High arousal
* displacement (multiple, clustering)
* conflict behaviours
Low arousal
* normal behaviour
what is the ladder of aggression?
2pt
- 0.2 seconds between each step - Steps can be skipped
- Intensity of stress / threat matters
What are displacement behaviours?
3pt
Stress signal
- Unconscious behaviour
- Normal behaviours out of context.
- Because they are normal, we tend to miss them.
What are examples of displacement signals
7pt
stress signals
- Lip licking
- Yawning and squinting or blinking
- Body shake/stretching
- Scratching/shifting weight
- Panting/smiling, sneezing/huffing and puffing
- Ears back, Whale eye, lip lick, looking away (glancing)
- Conflict behaviour
How do you prevent fear, anxiety and stress?
5pt
Set the stage
* Animals comfortable with the environment, handlers and positions more likely to remain calm and cooperative for procedures
* Quiet environment
* Non-slippery flooring / tables
Pheromones
Location
* Many large dogs prefer the floor
* Small dogs may feel less threatened on the table
* Make sure they are secure and supported
* Cats prefer to be up high
* Some cats prefer to hide
Restraint
constant touch
What are pheromones?
Give cat and dog examples.
3pt
Chemical compounds produced by animals
* Physiologic and behavioral effects on animals of the same species
Dog Appeasing pheromone (Adaptil)
* Reduction barking amplitude, restlessness, sniffing behaviour) in shelters with long term application
* Positive effect on learning ability in classes and long term socialization
* Puppies showed less signs of fear with unfamiliar people
* Relaxation but no effect on aggressive behaviour during clinical exam
Feline facial pheromone analogue (Feliway)
* Salivary cortisol decreased in cats (35-day exposure)
* Calmed but not reduce struggling before (restraint) venous catheterization
* Stress reduction during veterinary visits
What are the principles of restraint?
10pt
- Be organized
- Wait until the pet is relaxed before starting
- Encourage calm behaviour - Provide distractions /reward often
- Minimal restraint - Use food
- Towel wraps for cats
- Most prefer least amount of restraint necessary- Provide physical support
- Use your hands and body to control movement in any direction
- Move deliberately and slowly
- Maintain constant touch if possible
- Adjust handling based on the patient’s needs
What happens if restraint fails?
5pt
If a patient struggles for more than 3 seconds (dogs), 1-2 seconds (cats) or struggles repeatedly
* Fix your technique
* Switch restraint position
* Get assistance
* Try chemical restraint before the animal becomes too aroused
Is it a must or a want?
* Can you send the animal home with a plan B?
* In hospital training (desensitization and counter conditioning) Send home with a counter conditioning plan
* Sedation - Previsit medication