study questions wk 1 and 2 Flashcards
behavior problems
leading cause of pet relinquishments to animal shelters by owners
3 examples of behavior related tasks technicians perform
pre-acquisition consulting (what type of animal someone should get), educating the client on the history of their animal, evaluating non-veterinary referrals (knowing what trainers to recommend)
what service does a behavioral consultant provide for a client with a pet exhibiting problem behaviors
they provide coaching
What services do trainers provide for pets with problem behaviors
they work with the client and their animal on learning specific skills
The success of behavior modification and training is the aligning of the…
animals behavior and the humans expectations
classical conditioning
connecting one stimulus with another that the animal already gets a response from (unconditioned: animal decides)
example of classical conditioning
when holding the leash starts to show a response from the animal for wanting to go on a walk
counterconditioning
replacing an existing conditioned response
desensitization
it uses a gradual approach to introduce a stimulus (gradual increased planned exposures)
two tools used for creative food delivery
spoons and a kong
sensitization
intensity of response to same stimulus gets stronger over time
example of sensitization
a cat getting ear medication and hating it over time to the point that petting the cat makes it growl
habituation
intensity of response to same stimulus gets weaker over time
operant conditioning
consequences drive future behavior
two categories in reinforcement and punishment (difference between positive and negative)
positive is adding or giving something to the animal; negative is taking something away from them
2-2-3 rule
If it requires more than two tries, two arms to stabilize, or the animal struggles for more than 3 seconds, a different handling plan is recommended
what does management mean in terms of behavior modification
controlling the environment and experiences to prevent unwanted behavior
applied behavior analysis (A-B-C)
antecedent, behavior, consequence
5 stages of animal development
socialization, juvenile, adolescence, adult, senior
socialization period for puppies and kittens
puppies: 3-16 weeks; kittens: 2-7 weeks
length of juvenile period
end of socialization to sexual maturity
juvenile period for dogs and cats
dogs: 5-18 months; cats: 4-10 months
adolescence
onset of puberty through social maturity
why is adolescence the common age for pets to be surrendered to shelters?
more need for physical and mental activity
body language for relaxed dogs
Soft muscles, face, mouth; normal pupils; ears forward or relaxed; neutral whiskers; natural tail (okay with interactions and treats)
body language for mildly stressed dogs
Soft muscles, mouth (maybe curled tongue tip), face
(maybe pinching between eyes); normal to slightly larger pupils; ears forward or slightly to side or back; neutral whiskers; natural tail or a little low (and yawning)
body language for moderately stressed dogs
Furrowed brow; moderately dilated pupils; ears back or down; lips back; panting; tense; fidgety. May exhibit mixed feelings, avert eyes (high value treats may mask moderate stress)
body language for severely stressed dogs
Furrowed brown; dilated pupils; ears back or down; lips back; panting; slow or frantic movements; voiding, may show defensive aggression, but usually hide and avoid; learned helplessness
relaxed cats
Soft muscles and face; normal pupils; soft, erect ears; neutral whiskers; closed mouth; softly curved tail
mildly stressed cats
mildly dilated pupils; ears slightly to side; legs, tails, and whiskers closer to body; may stay in carrier or approach then run away
moderately stressed cats
Signs of mild stress plus: tail tight to body, possible twitching tip; sternal position if lying; ears to side or back; stops exploring and refuses food
severely stressed cats
signs of moderate stress and dilated pupils, ears and body flat, whiskers flat or forward, tail tucked or held low, hissing or growling, teeth bared, strike or bites, defensive aggression or helplessness
When providing pet selection counseling for prospective pet owners, what are two questions a technician should ask?
willingness to spend time in training, and desired lifestyle
3 common unwanted behaviors that result in pets going back to a shelter
unwanted elimination, destructive behavior, aggression
play-related aggression
Aggression in the form of chasing, barking, biting, scratching, and physical contact is a normal part of play for both puppies and kittens (normal way to learn coordination and social communication)
why pairing exercises are important for young dogs and cats
helps reduce fear at each visit (stimulus is the same all the time)
2 categories behavior medications fall into
baseline or mainstay AND event based or short term
examples of behavior emergencies that require rapid action
Human-animal bond compromised, Human-directed aggression resulting in injury (or fear of injury), Full behavior history and risk assessment prior to interacting with patient, Self-harm, Animal-directed aggression resulting in injuries
why or how do dogs and cats develop an aversion to veterinary care
pheromone signals of stress and fear or social signals from other animals (and association with pain and illness)
fear and anxiety in patients leads to
a. Aggression
b. Treatment resistance from patient
c. Reluctance to test and treat on the part of staff
d. Increased cortisol and delayed healing
e. Low cooperation
what does FAS stand for
fear, anxiety, stress
considerate approach
the environment and interactions are sensitive to the need of patients (making sure everything thing is cleaned, having things we like but also work for the animals)
touch gradient
A method of touching animals in a systematic and sensitive way to decrease fear, anxiety, and stress during handling (Acclimating the patient to increasing levels of touch intensity while continuously measuring the patient’s acceptance and comfort)
What is the recommended area to start a routine physical exam when using the touch gradient method?
Begin with a skin examination, body condition score and muscle condition score, lymph node evaluation, and auscultation
6 factors of gentle control
a. Use of distractions when possible
b. Stabilization rather than forcible restraint to encourage stillness
c. Animal made to feel secure: no slipping and gently supported
d. Animal is gently kept in place with attention paid to all six directions of possible movement
e. Safely preventing harm to the pet and veterinary team
f. A plan for ways to stop the procedure and safely move away if the FAS score increases rapidly
example of a happy visit
dog is especially responsive, positive experiences throughout: parking lot, lobby, and exam room; no medical care or treatment
example of victory visit
scheduled time for onsite desensitization, counterconditioning, and operant conditioning; there may be staff or outside trainer/behavior consultant
Why is it crucial for the veterinary team to keep accurate records about how animals respond to veterinary care?
It saves a great deal of time in trial-and-error handling attempts during future visits; alerts the veterinary team member to safety concerns and protects the patient from handling events and techniques known to potentially compromise the welfare of that specific patient
mission of the veterinary healthcare team
To prevent and relieve animal suffering and promote wellness
3 indications for restraint
a. To safely position a patient so that it can receive medical care (if they experience fear)
b. To prevent the animal from harming itself while it is receiving medical care (if it attempts to escape)
c. To protect personnel (in case anything happens, the safety of the vet tech, client, and handlers comes first)