Lecture 11 Flashcards

Principles of fear-free and low-stress handling

1
Q

Why do you do a distant exam?

4pt

A
  • Increases safety
  • Improves animal comfort
  • Decreases fear, anxiety and stress
  • Allows time to build a relationship with the owner
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2
Q

What do you look at during a distan exam?

2pt

A

Facial expression
body language

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3
Q

what are the thresholds and intensity for dogs?

6 pt

A

Very high arousal
* reactivity
* threatening warnings (growl, snarl, lunge)
* escape movements

High arousal
* displacement (multiple, clustering)
* conflict behaviours

Low arousal
* normal behaviour

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4
Q

what is the ladder of aggression?

2pt

A
  • 0.2 seconds between each step - Steps can be skipped
  • Intensity of stress / threat matters
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5
Q

What are displacement behaviours?

3pt

Stress signal

A
  • Unconscious behaviour
  • Normal behaviours out of context.
  • Because they are normal, we tend to miss them.
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6
Q

What are examples of displacement signals

7pt

stress signals

A
  • 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
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7
Q

How do you prevent fear, anxiety and stress?

5pt

A

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

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8
Q

What are pheromones?
Give cat and dog examples.

3pt

A

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

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9
Q

What are the principles of restraint?

10pt

A
  • 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
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10
Q

What happens if restraint fails?

5pt

A

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

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