Medical Problems

Question 1

What does behaviour ultimately occur due to?

Answer 1

A consequence of internal appraisal of external stimuli

Question 2

What four factors influence behavioural changes?

Answer 2

Changes in external stimuli

• perception of stimuli
• factors influencing appraisal
• ability to display behaviour

Question 3

Give an example of medical conditions which can impact at each level of stimulus response and thus influence behaviour

Answer 3

Sensory perception - otitis, halucinations
threat appraisal - oestrogen
emotional response - concurrent pain
motor output - neuromuscular disease
ability to show behaviour - osteoarthritis

Question 4

Give eg.s of conditions affecting the vision

Answer 4

Cataracts, PRA,glaucoma, keratoconjuntivitus sicca/corneal ulceration

Question 5

Give conditions that affect the hearing

Answer 5

Otitis externa/media

Question 6

Give conditions that affect olfaction

Answer 6

URTIs

Question 7

Give conditions that affect taste

Answer 7

URTIs, oral disease eg. gingivitis

Question 8

Give a condition that affects touch

Answer 8

Sensory neuropathy

Question 9

Give a condition that affects balance

Answer 9

Vestibular disease

Question 10

What are the three ares of the neural pathway for sensory perception that may be damaged?

Answer 10

The sensory organ
Sensory nerve pathways
Somatosensory cortex

Question 11

What are the three forms of sensory neuropathy?

Answer 11

Allodynia - nonpainful stimuli feel painful
Paraesthesia - perception of touch when not present
Hyperaesthesia - increased sensitivity to touch

Question 12

What are the different forms of nerve damage?

Answer 12

Generation of ectopic impulses
Attempted nerve regrowth
Immune mediators activating other local nerves
Spinal and central sensitisation

Question 13

Which areas of the brain are involved in threat appraisal

Answer 13

Multiple areas eg retrieval of memory from hippocampus

Question 14

Give a metabolic or endocrine disease that can affect behaviour

Answer 14

Hepatic Encephalopathy

Question 15

How does hepatic encephalopathy influence the limbic system?

Answer 15

Direct effect eg. Ectopic focus

Effect on inhibitory pathways from prefrontal cortex

Question 16

Give an example of a condition affecting the motor cortex

Answer 16

Ectopic focus - fixed action tics

Question 17

Give an example of a condition caused by spinal damage

Answer 17

Loss of bladder tone

Question 18

Give an example of a condition affecting motor nerves

Answer 18

Diabetic polyneuropathy

Question 19

Give an example of a condition affecting the NMJ

Answer 19

myasthenia gravis

Question 20

Which conditions will affect the ability/desire of an animal to display behaviours

Answer 20

Muscular problems eg.myopathies (infection/immune mediated/inherited)
Skeletal joint disease
Other pain

Question 21

In what two ways may current pain affect behaviour?

Answer 21

Direct response to pain eg. Licking area or not using limb

Emotional component of pain affecting appraisal of other stimuli w

Question 22

How may previous pain affect behaviours?

Answer 22

Learnt avoidance response
Eg. Aggression towards stroking area where painful abscess has been
Avoidance of other dogs due to osteoarthritic joint pain

Question 23

How may idiopathic cystitis be diagnosed?

Answer 23

Rule out other causes
Double contrast cystotraphy/ultrasonography -> focal/diffuse thickening of bladder wall, irregularities in bladder mucosa
History of disease

Question 24

What are the behavoiural signs of FIC?

Answer 24

Change in elimination posture to standing to alleviate pain (do not confuse with spraying)
Excessive grooming Of ventrocaudal abdomen and perineal region
Changes in demeanour and interaction with owners - anxiety or aggression
Changes in location of urination due to pain - learnt avoidance of specific context of urination due to the pain
Behavioural changes prior to elimination as predicting that it will be painful eg. Vocalisation, restlessness, v/^ owner contact