SA Behaviour Flashcards
Why is the social behaviour of wolves different to originally thought?
Wolf behaviour theory was based on captive wolves - dominance hierarchy with an alpha male and female, others subordinate and ranked (= dominance theory)
Actually in the wild are very social - exist in family groups led by the breeding pair (based on leadership), younger wolves learn from older wolves
How can the dominance theory be applied to dogs?
Only used to describe a stable relationship between a pair of individuals in a specific context and time
Depends on the resource holding potential
Feral dog behaviour?
Scavenge rather than co-operate to hunt
More promiscuous than wolves
More fluid relationships
Why are some breeds more likely to get involved in physical fights?
Can’t communicate well visually
E.g. can’t raise hackles well, short tail, droopy ears
So can only show the more intense ‘aggressive’ signals
Can’t warn dogs off
Which breed types show more agonistic signals (repulsion and appeasing)?
Breeds that resemble juvenile or neonatal wolves e.g. pekingese
Dog play signals?
Exaggerated approaches, then withdrawing rapidly wagging tail
Play-bow
Open mouth and exaggerated panting
What could a whimper/whine be to show?
Appeasement Defence Greeting Pain Attention seeking
What could a teeth-chatter be to show?
Play Defence Warning General excitement Anticipation
What could a grunt be to show?
Greeting
Sign of contentment
What could a growl be to show?
Defensive warning
Threat signal
Play
What could a bark be to show?
Defence Play Greeting Call for attention Warning
What could a howl be to show?
Call for attention
To announce presence
Where are social odours produced on a dog?
Facial area Feet Mammary region Perianal region and upper surface of tail base Urogenital region
Communication via faeces in wolves?
Faeces deposited where they are likely to be located by other wolves
Indicate residency without need for the territory owners to be present
Communication via faeces in dogs?
Urine gives information about sex and sexual receptivity and status
Females in oestrus:
- urine rich in social odours that indicate sexual receptivity
- increased frequency of urination to spread it over a wider area to attract a mate
Anal sac communication in dogs?
Individual recognition
Alarm pheromones
Basic principles of feline social behaviour?
Solitary
Social relationships are largely limited to relatives
Fundamental need to be in control
Free and immediate access to resources is needed at all times
Limited co-operation
Avoidance is their preferred strategy
Need ability yo avoid sources of potential stress
Access to privacy and seclusion needed
What are feline social interactions like?
Low intensity, high frequency
Possible consequence of highly cat populated neighboured or multi-cat households?
Chronic low grade stress
Or less commonly, overt conflict
What must be provided in multi-cat households?
Free and immediate access to important resources when required
Provision of privacy
Ability to escape from potential stress
Natural (semi feral) cat social behaviour?
Feline society based on social co-operation between related females
Groups consist mostly of female cats and their offspring
One adult tom breeds the majority of females in his territory
Other males generally not tolerated
Communal den for kittens with communal nursing
Rare and mild overt physical aggression within social groups
But can have intense aggression and injuries between strangers (less so if neutered)
What is allorubbing and allogrooming in cats?
Allorubbing - raised tail will often precede mutual rubbing
Allogrooming - mutual grooming is a reciprocal behaviour, seen post-conflict as a reconciling behaviour
What are the 4 behavioural responses?
Avoidance (flight) - preferred option for cats
Inhibition (freeze) - gather information passively
Repulsion (fight)
Appeasement (fiddle) - gather information actively (very limited in adult cats)
How are overlapping territories used by cats?
Time share basis
Urine used to navigate around each other
What are the different Panksepp motivational-emotional systems?
Social play system = positive interactions with another individual
Desire seeking system = resource acquisition
- e.g. fridge raiding, chasing cats, cats attacking birds
- (predatory behaviour is not aggression)
Lust system = reproductive drive
- e.g. recall/roaming problems
Care system = nurture (mainly maternal)
- e.g nurturing toys when having false pregnancy (don’t remove toys as will frustrate the care system)
Frustration system = failure to meet expectations
- e.g. when holding a cat (lack of control), laser pens with cats
- bengals prone to frustration (need large territory)
Fear-anxiety system = present perceived threat, or anticipation (usually of threat)
Panic-grief system = separation from caregiver
Pain system = perception of physical pain
Which motivational/emotional system causes separation related problems?
Could be:
- panic
- anxiety
- frustration
- desire seeking
Which motivational/emotional system causes mounting behaviour?
Could be:
- lust
- fear (anxiety)
- frustration
What is emotional stability?
Normal emotions being triggered by appropriate contexts and resulting in appropriate behavioural responses
Depends on animal having adequate emotional capacity
What is emotional capacity? What is it determined by?
The amount of emotional challenge an animal can withstand before there are significant behavioural consequences
= size of sink
Determined by:
- genetics
- experiences <7-8 weeks old
- experiences during the first year of life
What is emotional resilience? Drainage behaviours?
Ability to reduce arousal after a trigger
Helps maintain a low level of residual emotion
= drainage
Drainage behaviours:
- Sleeping
- Chewing
- Grooming
What are displacement behaviours?
High level of emotional arousal - full sink close to flooding
= Normal behaviours in an abnormal context
E.g. yawning, stretching, licking lips, sneezing
When is there a risk of emotional ‘overflow’?
Low emotional capacity
Emotional disorder (negative emotion when not justified)
Inappropriate physical or social environment (negative emotion when justified)
High arousal
Poor emotional resilience
People don’t recognise or act on species specific signs of impending overflow
What is emotional intelligence?
The capacity to be aware of, control and express one’s emotions and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically
What type of newborns are puppies and kittens?
Altricial
= Born helpless - deaf, blind, unable to move except crawl
Totally reliant on mother to survive
How often should puppies and kittens nurse after birth?
Every 2 hours
What are the phases of development of puppies and kittens?
Pre-natal phase (conception-birth):
- learn about chemosensory cues
- important for olfactory development post-natally
- maternal stress can affect pre-natal development of the HPA axis
Neonatal phase (0-2 weeks):
- dependent on mother
- eyes and ears open at the end
- mother starts to withdraw attention, causing them to become more active
Transition phase (end of neonatal to beginning of socialisation period):
- more responsive to environmental stimuli
- begin walking and start exploring
- start to notice each other
- begin to eat solid food
Socialisation phase (3-12 weeks):
- seeks non maternal interactions
- play
- interact with people
- important learning stage (e.g. experiencing normal stimuli of a domestic environment)
Juvenile phase (end of socialisation phase - sexual maturation):
- sexual maturation at 6-12mo in dogs
- 5-8mo in cats
What can affect the adult temperament of a dog/cat?
Genetics
Pre-natal stress
Level of maternal care as puppy
What are the maternal and paternal influences on a puppy/kitten?
Maternal
- adult temperament
Paternal:
- ‘boldness trait’ - friendliness, reaction to confinement and novel objects etc (catteries, vet environments)
What do you have to be careful of when socialising and habitation a puppy/kitten?
Often done inappropriately
Fine line with sensitisation (developing a negative perception of a situation)
Animal needs to be in control
How to influence a cat’s ability to live comfortably with humans when they are a kitten?
Touch kittens all over, lift frequency and gently restrain (multiple short sessions to make up to 1hr per day of handling is beneficial = high frequency, low intensity)
Presence of littermate shown to increase confidence and increase benefits of human handling (and poss mother, not if feral)
Multiple people to avoid acceptance of only one or two people
Helps prepare them for physical interaction which owners expect
Benefits of neutering?
Prevention of unwanted breeding
Prevention of use of dogs with unsound temperament passing genes to future generations
Reduction of RTA’s due to male dogs seeking out mates
Prevention of dog fights related to bitches in season
Avoidance of inconvenience of bitches in season
Reduction in inter-bitch aggression in multi dog households
Prevention of frustration in entire males associated with cycling females in the neighbourhood
When do dogs become socially and behaviourally mature?
Social: 12-24 months
Behavioural: 18-36 months
When do cats become socially mature? Behaviour changes?
Social: 2-3 years
Adults have reduced motivation of desire-seeking in relation to social contact, play, care etc
More solitary - less compatible with owner expectations
What are the 5 pillars to environmental optimisation for cats?
Provide a safe place
Provide opportunity for play and predatory behaviour
Provide positive consistent and predictable human-cat social interaction
Provide an environment that respects the importance of the cat’s sense of smell
Provide multiple and separate environmental resources: food, water, toileting areas, scratching areas, play areas and resting or sleeping areas
How long do cats spend in the wild acquiring/consuming food?
6-8h per day
Only successful in 10-15% of expeditions
100 attempts per day
What is Feliway?
Feliway classic:
- analogue of the F3 fraction of the facial pheromone complex
- indicates the territory is safe and secure
Feliway friends:
- analogue of feline appeasing pheromone
- produced from the intermammary sulcus of lactating queens
- ‘harmony marker’
- increases sense of personal safety
What are the 5 welfare needs?
Provide:
- a suitable environment
- a suitable diet
- for the need to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
- for the need to be housed with or apart from other animals
- for the need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
What is involved in providing a dog with a suitable environment?
Comfortable, clean, dry, quiet, draught free rest area
Safe and clean
Protection from hazards
Somewhere to avoid things that frighten it
Checked on frequently if kenneled/tethered to check not in danger or distressed
Access to somewhere away from its resting area which it can use to toilet as regularly as needed
Large enough for effective ventilation and temperature control and so dog can move around
Comfortable and safe during transport
Not left unattended for any period of time that is likely to cause it distress
What is the difference between a behavioural problem and disorder?
Behavioural problem = defined by people e.g. the owner (may be a normal justified behavioural response)
Behavioural disorder = emotional responses which are not proportional or appropriate to the situation or where the behavioural response is not justified or acceptable in reaction to that emotional response (not always detected by owner if doesn’t cause them a problem, or can be a normal justified behaviour but at abnormal intensity or duration)
How to assess emotional health when dealing with a behaviour disorder? What to determine?
Assess:
- the emotional motivation for behavioural response being reported
- the influences on that emotional motivation including genentics, early life history, current and previous physical or social environments and physical health
- the level of emotional arousal
- the level of emotional resilience
Determine:
- is animal emotionally stable?
- do alterations in its environment cause it to feel uncomfortable?
What are the 3 things to determine when a patient is showing behavioural indicators of negative emotion? What to do in response?
Determine whether:
- The emotion is justified by the context
- The behavioural response is justified by the emotion
- The behavioural response is proportional in intensity and duration
If no, identify which emotional motivation is involved and its triggers
If the emotional motivation is inappropriate in relation to the triggers:
- initially either prevent exposure to the trigger or ensure animal has ability to express and respond to the emotion
- work to alter the emotional response using behavioural medicine tools
If yes, check if social and physical environments are meeting animal’s needs, or if any evidence of frustration, emotional conflict or inappropriate learning
What is classical (Pavlovian) conditioning? Example for puppy?
Involves involuntary or reflex responses
No reward
E.g. Pavlov’s dogs
House training:
- unconditioned stimulus = full bladder/bowel
- unconditioned response = urination/defecation
- conditioned stimulus = substrate and location
- conditioned response = urination/defecation
(Problems arise because owners find it difficult to pair the stimuli consistently due to frequency of urination)
- can use external reward to increase positive associations with owner but don’t need to
What factors affect the success of house training a dog?
Owner availability
Lack of easy access to outdoors
Use of interim conditional stimuli (newspaper, puppy pads) due to ‘blocking’
Use of punishment (can lead to negative associations with people in the presence of urine/faeces -> not toiling in front of people, eating faeces)
What is ‘blocking’?
The learning phenomenon whereby the establishment of an association between an unconditional and a conditional stimulus is blocked by the pre-existence of an association with an alternative conditional stimulus e.g. puppy pads for house training (blocks the formation of an association with grass, so puppy might wait to urinate until back inside on pad)
What is instrumental (operant) conditioning?
Involves:
- a stimulus
- a response
- a consequence
Define: positive and negative reinforcement and punishment?
Positive reinforcement = giving a positive consequence to increase the frequency of a behaviour
- e.g. giving a treat
Negative reinforcement = Removing/avoiding a negative consequence to increase the frequency of a behaviour
- e.g. pushing dog down into sit, stop pushing when sat
Positive punishment = giving a negative consequence to decrease the frequency of a behaviour
- e.g. shock collar, rattle cans
Negative punishment = removing a positive consequence to decrease the frequency of a behaviour
- e.g. putting lead away when puppy jumping up
Most commonly reported operant conditioning related behavioural problems? Why does it go wrong?
Lack of recall
Pulling on the lead
Not getting down from furniture
Not releasing objects such as food or toys
Goes wrong due to:
- lack of consistency
- lack of patience
- poor training environment
- inappropriate response selection
- poor selection cue
- poor timing of delivery of cue
- poor selection of consequence (not salient enough, not appetitive for that individual)
- inappropriate use of punishment
Which diseases are risk factors for alteration in emotional state and arousal? Why?
Any physical disease that leads to irritation and debilitation
- Chronic skin disease
- Chronic orthopaedic pain
Pain or the emotional effects of a physical health issue can lead to reduced emotional resilience so animal more likely to exceed its emotional capacity when challenged with a stimulus
When should stress be investigated?
Diseases associated with breakdown of mucosal integrity
Infectious diseases
Pain related conditions
Which particular condition in cats has stress as a risk factor?
Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC)
They also respond to stress differently:
- show more displacement activity when stressed
- marked increase in activity in their locus coeruleus
- increased sympathetic activity
- but not increased plasma ACTH or cortisol
- = uncoupling of HPA axis
Why can obesity be a disease related indicator of stress?
When eating in sympathetic state, risk laying down glycogen stores
What impact can severe illness in the first few weeks of life have for behavioural development?
Can have serious implications
May be isolated from adequate socialisation and habituation
May develop negative associations with certain forms of handling due to the necessity for medication and nursing
Behavioural change may not be evident until weeks-months later
When can animals have habits?
= Stimulus bound response
Emotional response no longer needed for the behavioural response
E.g. Dog urinating in specific place in house due to lust for years is unlikely to stop after being castrated
How to use dog body language (head, ears, tail, eyes) to determine whether in a positive (confident) or negative (anxious) emotional state?
Head: anatomically normal position vs lowered/ducking
Ears: forward and relaxed vs back and down
Tail: proximal 1/3 follows line of spine vs clamped to perineum
Eyes: can maintain eye contact for a few seconds vs avoidance of eye contact/whites of eyes (‘whale eye’)
Relationship between acute pain and behavioural change? Examples?
Aggressive defensive behaviour e.g. when fractured limb is manipulated
Negative emotional state increases perception of pain - should tailor analgesia to pain perception of individual, not just how painful we assume it is
Possible behavioural changes seen with hypertension?
Aggression
Irritable
Difficult to handle
How may a cat’s behaviour change in response to pain which differ to dogs?
Lack of vocalisation
Lack of overt resentment of palpation
Lack of overt changes in mobility
What behavioural consequences can arise from chronic pain?
Indoor toileting if limited mobility
Anxiety related behaviours - avoidance, decrease in play
Coping strategies can become compulsive
Incorrect learned associations e.g. if painful when plays
What are the 4 options to aim for with behavioural medicine?
Prevention
Acceptance or redirection
Management = emotional response remains unaltered but behavioural response is now acceptable in form, intensity and duration
Resolution = emotional response is altered and behavioural response is therefore altered on a long term basis
Which 4 things affect how effective operant conditioning is when training?
Contingency = degree of correlation between the behaviour and the consequence (more rapid if consequence happens every time)
Contiguity = how closely the consequence follows the behaviour (more rapid if shorter interval)
Characteristics of the reinforcer = higher value reinforcers (food, play or social contact) likely to produce better learning
Deprivation = if been denied a reinforcer e.g. if hungry may be more motivated to learn when then delivered
What are the most commonly reported operant conditioning related behavioural problems?
Lack of recall
Pulling on lead
Not getting down from furniture
Not releasing objects
What is extinction?
The unlearning of any behaviour pattern
E.g. to stop begging, remove the reinforcer (food) - must be 100% consistent
Why does operant conditioning for training go wrong? (9 things)
Lack of consistency Lack of patience Poor training environment Inappropriate response selection Poor selection of cue Poor timing of delivery of cue Poor selection of consequence Problems with the delivery of the consequence Inappropriate use of punishment
When is medication needed for behavioural cases?
When emotional state is inhibiting learning
E.g. high arousal, negative emotions, compulsive responses
Medications for anxiety?
SSRIs - Fluoxetine: - Benzodiazepines: TCAs: - amitryptiline - clomipramine - doxepin Beta blockers - propanolol: - situational anxiety Setraline: - panic disorders
Medications for fear?
Selegiline
Benzodiazepines for behavioural medicine: How works? When used? Examples and which products?
Dogs
Cases requiring memory blocking or anxiolytic and sedative action
Must give test dose due to possibility of paradoxical excitement
Should be given before agitation to get best anxiolytic and sedative effect (give 1hr before event)
Can give anterograde and retrograde amnesia
Hepatic side effects
E.g. exposure to fear inducing stimuli:
- predicted fireworks, vet visit etc -> alprazolam/diazepam
- unpredicted e.g. encounter with sound on a walk -> alprazolam
- veterinary intervention or premedication for procedures -> midazolam
Not for daily use
Gabapentin for behavioural medicine? How works? When used?
Works via Ca channels
Part of multi-modal analgesia
Good for neuropathic pain
Also anxiolytic for cats pre-vet visit
Microdose of dexmedetomidine for behavioural medicine: When used? How given? How does it work? Duration of effect? Is it licensed?
Oromucosal gel (don’t prescribe if owner can’t get it in mouth)
Situational use for mild fears where environmental management is successful as no amnesic effect
E.g. fireworks
Stops sympathetic activation so doesn’t stop the anxiety itself but then can have reduced anxiety because of not having the physiological changes (only blocks production of noradrenaline, not adrenaline so often not useful for very petrified dogs)
Lasts for 2 hours but can be given again when effects wearing off
Licensed
Imepitoin: When used?
E.g. Noise related fears
Can use situationally
Or can use on daily basis e.g. often used for dogs which get anxious as soon as days start getting shorter
Topiramate for behavioural medicine: When used?
Compulsive mutilation disorders
Options for chemical castration of dogs? Can they be used as a behavioural trial?
Deslorelin (suprelolin):
- implant
- lasts 6-12 months depending on size
- reduces testosterone with no other behavioural side effects so good for behavioural trial to see if will cope with surgical castration
Delmadinone acetate (Tardak):
- injection
- lasts 1 month
- reduces testosterone and anxiety so not useful for behavioural trial
- useful for very anxious dogs that are showing lust behaviours
Cabergoline for behavioural medicine: when used?
Pseudopregnancies
Medications for canine cognitive dysfunction?
Nutraceuticals (Nutramind)
All contain antioxidants, essential fatty acids
Important things to know about feliway and adaptil diffusers?
Diffusers:
- Have an oil carrier
- Must be switched on all the time and need 24hr to work
- Should not be placed under a surface or can’t circulate
- Advisable to remove other air fresheners
- Don’t use in same room as caged birds or sleeping asthmatics
- Cartridges need replacing once per month
Spray:
- uses alcohol carrier so should spray onto material e.g. bandana, car boot half an hour before using it
Collar:
- works by being heated up by skin temperature so needs to be snug
Define desensitisation and counter conditioning?
Desensitisation = neutralising an emotional response
Counter conditioning = substituting an emotional response (must be in positive emotional state while in the presence of the previously negative stimulus for this to work)
How to interpret a waggy tail?
Wagging the tip only, often in a frantic manner = negative state
Relaxed and rhythmic wagging of whole tail = positive state
‘Windmill’ wagging = appeasement gesture associated with emotional conflict
What 4 questions should you ask to determine whether a dog is an optimist or pessimist? Ie how anxious are they?
- Startle recovery (how rapidly they recover)
- Reaction to being left alone
- Reaction to novelty
- Greeting behaviour to other dogs and people
Relationship between compulsive disorders and pain?
E.g. chasing reflections
>60% pain related so pain relief trial beneficial
Why is it important cats have access to clean water? And have a wide enough bowl? Material to avoid?
Evolved to drink clean water as liver not so good at detoxification
Don’t like whiskers touching things - can get very frustrated by this
Avoid plastic as taints taste
Scents cats don’t like?
Citrus scents - consider air fresheners etc
Other cats - consider if owner in contact with other people who own lots of cats etc
What is the problem with covering areas a cat urinated with a citrus cleaner?
Makes feel less safe as don’t like the scent so may urinate more to make self feel safe
What to do in consult if a dog jumping up?
May be anxious
Turn sideways and offer arm down to sniff scent if safe to do so
Helps dog chill out quicker
How to assess whether a cat is relaxed?
Look at its feet!
If genuinely relaxed, likely pads are not in contact with the horizontal surface
If pretending, will all be in contact
What is the problem with negative cognitive bias? When formed by?
By 8 weeks
Makes socialisation difficult as more likely to be sensitised
Better memory for negative experiences than the good ones
Treatment options for noise phobia on firework night/around firework night?
Short term, situational (e.g. for firework night):
- micro-dose of dexdetomidine (Sileo)
- benzodiazepines
- if don’t know how a dog will react e.g. rescue, could give sileo and monitor – if ok leave, if not give benzo
Long term:
- nutraceuticals (nutracalm, yucalm)
- imepitoin
- pheromones (adaptil) (can work for slightly anxious dogs, and in combo with other drugs)
Fluoxetine (Prozac): When used? How often? What does it do? Onset of action? Contraindications? Licensed?
Used on a daily basis to reduce anxiety
Increases threshold for behavioural reactivity
Can increase optimism
Can take up to 8 weeks to work
Don’t want to use with anything that increases serotonin (e.g. nutraceuticals) as minimal risk of severe hyperthermia
Not licensed?
Clomipramine: When used? Licensed?
To reduce anxiety
Licensed but not as effective as fluoxetine
How to use treats in consults as a vet?
At beginning of consult:
- throw on floor/table, not from hand otherwise (increases arousal and risks conflict)
- use to assess dog’s response
- good if eats treats calmly and methodically
- sees you as a threat if snatches them up quickly while eyeballing you
- anxious if won’t take treats so need to go slow etc
- also tries to set up positive emotional state
As a distraction:
- e.g. smeared on table to vaccinate
- not intended to teach dog to like injections, just pure distraction
At end of consult:
- not necessary as will not change dog’s feelings about what has just happened but owner likes it if you do and won’t do any harm
- likely won’t take if stressed
How to tell a client to put a buster collar on a dog that hates it being put on?
Teach dog to put it on itself
Put buster collar on floor with treats inside
How to get dog try to get dog to eat a treat with medication in it?
Make exciting
E.g. roll along floor
Ddx for the following owner descriptions in entire male dogs:
- humping
- dominant/aggressive
- roaming/poor recall
- inappropriate urination
- boisterous?
Humping: - lust or frustration Dominant/aggressive - fear or anxiety - frustration - pain Roaming/poor recall: - desire seeking - lust - social play - fear - deaf - lack of training Inappropriate urination: - lust - anxiety - fear - panic-gried - medical (UTI, incontinence, CCD, PUPD) - lack of training Boisterous: - social play - desire seeking - frustration - anxiety (-> excessive appeasement) - lack of training
Why is it important to determine if a male dog is a confident or anxious dog before deciding whether to castrate?
Testosterone has a role in maintaining self confidence
So not ideal to castrate an anxious dog as will become more anxious
How to determine if a behaviour is due to last?
When did it start? More likely lust if coincided with puberty (but still might not be)
When does it occur? E.g. humping visitors at the door is most likely frustration
Should you neuter an anxious female? When to neuter? What happens if wrong timing?
Beneficial as steady hormonal state - neuter ASAP (before first season if possible to avoid first hormonal fluctuation, but if close to 6mo, close to first oestrus so risk of riskier surgery)
Aim to neuter 3 months after season when progesterone has gradually reduced so prolactin doesn’t get involved
If spay too soon after oestrus, progesterone still high so drops rapidly and prolactin increases in response (-> anxiety)
Also problem if spay when pregnant or pseudopregnant (prolactin high)
Effect of prolactin on bitch, physically and behaviourally?
Increased care, fear and anxiety (to protect young)
Milk let down
Treatment of high prolactin/pseudopregancy?
Cabergoline (Galastop)
14 day course
Spay 5 days later?
Can use post-spay if spayed too soon after season too
What to ask an owner before spaying a dog? What to check on physical exam?
Any changes in behaviour since last season e.g. more anxious meeting people, collecting toys, guarding - checking for possible pseudopregnancy
Check for milk letdown
What to do if suspect chronic pain as a cause of a dog’s behaviour?
Treatment trial
Meloxicam if suspicious of musculoskeletal pain
Gabapentin if suspicious of neuropathic pain
Needs to be long enough to learn the behaviours it thought were painful aren’t: 2-8 weeks
If positive result:
- investigate cause/keep on pain relief
- continue monitoring, may need more analgesia later on
If negative result:
- could be very painful and need multimodal analgesia
- could be wrong analgesia for pain type
- could now be a learned behaviour
- too short a trial
- pain not the cause
Make sure to manage owner expectations e.g. may need more than one trial
Role of cortisol? How does it affect behaviour and physical health?
Can be positive or negative emotional stress - anxious dogs vs super active dogs
Suppresses immune system -> recurrent infections
Detrimental effect on mucous membrane integrity (GI, urinary, respiratory, skin)
How does the emotional state when eating food affect weight?
CRH peaks - weight loss?
Cortisol peaks after CRH and decreases gradually - parasympathetic promoted, fat laid down
Canine cognitive dysfunction: Aetiology? Diagnosis? Clinical signs? Earliest age correctly diagnosed? How prevalent?
Aetiology:
- canine equivalent of alzheimers
- formation of B amyloid plaques = sticky proteins between neurones
- accelerates cell degeneration and death
Diagnosis:
- only certain by histopathology so most are presumptive
- CCDD or CADES questionnaires used to help diagnose (good for monitoring each year too)
Clinical signs:
- DISHAA
- Disorientation
- changes to social Interacions
- changes to Sleep-wake cycle
- loss of learnt behaviours (inc. House soiling when extreme)
- increased Anxiety
- reduced Activity
Earliest age diagnosed = 7yo
Prevalence:
- 68% of dogs >7yo shown to be positive for some aspects on questionnaires
Treatment for canine cognitive dysfunction? Considerations about whether to treat?
If want to treat, the earlier the better
If start later on, will be maintaining on a lower quality life
If don’t want to treat, discuss euthanasia as option for later on
Manage expectations as will still decline on treatment but slower
Medications: - Selegeline - Propentofylline - Nutramind - contain antioxidants and precursors to ketones (brain prefers ketones to glucose when plaques have formed) - Hills BD Management: - consistency of routine - consistency of resource location - mental stimulation: puzzle feeders
Why do dogs with CCD urinate in house? Is it a welfare concern?
Loss of learnt behaviours
Not stressful as forgotten they shouldn’t toilet there
But if were ever told off for urinating/defecating in house, may get stressed if then see it in the house
What to do if puppy stealing items?
Teach a swap - give treat and take toy, then give back
Key tips for recall?
Be exciting and unpredictable
Use word after their name as cue
Do something fun when come back
Always reward when come back even if been hours, never tell off
Teaching a puppy loose lead walking?
- Lure round to leg and give few treats for being near leg
- Take a step at a time, treating each time
- After about 20 steps, can try keeping walking
Adult dogs that pull - halt harness with lead at front of chest good
How much walking do puppies need?
5 mins per month of age
What is a ‘jackpot reward’?
Something really exciting for that individual (e.g. steak, tennis ball)
Only given for certain training
Good for recall
Once good can start to reduce how good the reward is
Which behaviours are often accidentally reinforced by owners?
Barking
Jumping up on people/furniture
How to teach sit?
Lure first above head
Then just hand signal and give food from other hand
Then say sit before hand signal
If using clicker, click as soon as sits, just before giving treat
When are clickers good to use?
Can keep using without always giving food
Good for old people as quicker than giving food so gives time to get food out
Can use a marker word like ‘good’ instead of clicker
Why to generally avoid buying littermates?
Likely to have same behavioural problems if have any
Recall can be difficult as have each other so don’t get worried by themselves
Difficult to separate them (very strong bond) - if do get them, important to get them used to being apart when <1yo etc
Can have conflict as want to do the same thing
What to do at night with puppy just brought home?
Warm pad
Don’t be too exciting right before going to bed
If puppy screaming then go down and be passive e.g. just sit on phone for 10 mins (don’t want to reinforce behaviour by giving attention)
If think toileting reason then passively let them out but don’t give any attention (if always need to pee at 6am, start pre-emptively letting out at 5.45 e.g. for a week, then gradually make later)
Define socialisation, habituation and sensitisation?
Socialisation = learning how to interact appropriately with other individuals Habituation = process whereby animal becomes accustomed to a non threatening object (e.g. cars, bins, hoovers) Sensitisation = increased response to a perceived threat
How to socialise a puppy which is already scared of people?
Big space with just one passive person to get used to people from a distance
What is teaching a conditioned emotional response (CER)?
E.g. for fear of people/dogs
Start at a distance where not reactive
Teach a word that means ‘look at me’ e.g. ‘turnip’ (not same as teaching to watch, as can still look around) and give tasty treat (if can’t, guide them with food to look at you, if not need more distance)
Always start with people (even if not scared of people, people often appear with dogs)
Big asda car parks etc good for clients to practise
How to do muzzle training?
Step one = put on ground with treats in
Step two = hold and move towards and reward if look at it etc
Step 3 = put treats in (cream cheese) and move it away as eat it
Step 4?
Step 5 = start moving straps around face
Step 6 = when on, do fun things, e.g. agility
Noise desensitisation?
Dogs trust soundtracks
Start on lowest volume for few mins couple times per day (humans may not be able to hear it)
Gradually increase, 1 volume at a time
Anything more than an ear twitch means getting worried so reduce it again
Play in multiple rooms
Intelligent collie - may need to put under blanket etc to make sound more real
What to do if dog anxious when fireworks etc?
Don’t comfort by cuddling etc as tells them yes it is worrying
Instead be relaxed and passive
Do let them lean on you and sniff you etc
What to do for resource guarding?
If just one toy, get rid of it
Items that aren’t a problem e.g. a toy: just let guard, rather than compromise safety and over time will reduce the guarding as you show them the item isn’t exciting
If guarding dangerous item, can try distraction by shaking cereal etc to distract
If bowl causes issue, don’t feed in bowl/try plate
Pain e.g. neck pain – try pain relief (esp old dogs with new behaviour)
Give food in bowl (bit less), stand at distance they’re comfortable with and throw food to them, then build up the space (e.g. for dog that attacks owner if they pass them when eating)
Guarding room:
- confine them to a smaller ‘territory’
- leave them alone when eating in there, everything provided (remove need to guard, at least if do guard is smaller area)
- gradually increase area
- if certain areas as perceive it as high value e.g. bedroom just don’t let in there
Can guard scent - very tricky
How to teach how to clip nails?
Step 1 = place on floor and allow to sniff etc
Step 2 = present to dog from hand and reward when look at them etc
Step 3 = ask for paw, gradually increase how long holding and looking at foot
Step 4 = bring clippers to touch paw after asking for paw
Step 5 = same but clip noise away from foot
Step 6 = clip
As arousal increases, reduce back down by just asking for easy things like just normal paw, always finish on a high
Problems with thunder shirts?
Can just associate it with negative thing going to happen -> anxiety
Difficult to get them on
Probably don’t work
Idea came from autistic children and hugging, but dogs different - don’t like close contact and can associate it with being worried
If seems to make probably just inhibition to something tight on
Problems with head collars for dogs?
Not comfy to wear, can cause rubs
If v big dog and o not confident without, use good harness and attach to head bit and harness and only pull on head bit if need to
Reasons to use puzzle feeders? Things to be careful of?
Mental stimulation
Slow feeding for health reasons (obesity, vomiting etc)
Teaches frustration tolerance as frustration won’t work
Can make dry kibble more high value
Use right toy for intelligence level (e.g. if too hard -> v frustrated)
Not good idea for dog that resource guards
