Veterinary Behavior

Question 1

What is the #1 reason animals are relinquished to shelters and/or euthanized?

Answer 1

Behavior problems

Question 2

Client’s pets behavior problems can take up to what percent of a veterinarian’s time?

Answer 2

up to 20%

Question 3

Why study animal behavior?

Answer 3

• To prevent injuries to: Yourself, your staff, clients, your patients
• To prevent euthanasia/ loss of a patient
• To answer the “why”
• As a diagnostic tool to recognize and understand “normal”

Question 4

What kind of certifications are there for animal behaviorists?

Answer 4

• American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (Veterinarians only, Title= “Diplomate”)
• Animal Behavior Society (DVM, MS, or PhD. Title= “Applied Animal Behaviorists”)

Question 5

What year was the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) recognized by the AVMA?

Answer 5

1993

Question 6

Currently, there are how many Diplomates of the ACVB?

Answer 6

65

Question 7

What is the number one behavioral concern in dogs (brought to a behavioral specialist)?

Answer 7

Aggression. Either human-directed or inter-dog.

Question 8

Other than aggression, what are other common behavioral concerns in dogs?

Answer 8

• Separation anxiety
• Noise/storm phobias
• Inappropriate Elimination
• Compulsive Disorders
• Cognitive Dysfunction

Question 9

What is the number one behavioral concern in cats?

Answer 9

Inappropriate elimination

Question 10

Other then inappropriate elimination, what other other common behavioral concerns in cats?

Answer 10

• Aggression, either human-directed, inter-cat, or a petting intolerance
• Compulsive disorders (ex:Excessive grooming)

Question 11

True or False- Behavior is stagnant?

Answer 11

False. There is an unfounded notion that a pet’s behavior must be the same all the time.

Question 12

What are some common behavior concerns for horses?

Answer 12

• Stereotypies and Compulsive Disorders (Cribbing, Weaving)
• Aggression
• Phobias (Trailers, humans)
• Separation Anxiety

Question 13

What are some common behavior concerns in birds?

Answer 13

• Feather picking (+/- mutilation)
• Screaming
• Brooding behavior
• Mating behavior

Question 14

What are the 3 behavioral drugs approved by the FDA for use in dogs?

Answer 14

1) Clomicalm - for separation anxiety
2) Anipryl - for cognitive dysfunction
3) Reconcile- for separation anxiety (Note that Reconcile is no longer manufactured)

Question 15

What are the FDA approved drugs for use in cats? (“on label use”)

Answer 15

There are no behavioral drugs approved for use in cats

Question 16

What are common off-label use medications in dogs and cats?

Answer 16

• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (paxil)
• Diazepam (Valium)
• Alprazolam (Xanax)

Question 17

What can informed consent forms be used for in reference to behavioral cases?

Answer 17

• Explain “Extra-label”
• Explain why drug was chosen (And that there is not a guarantee that drug will work)
• Explain potential side effects
• Explain human abuse potential