Welfare and ethics

Question 1

What are the 5 animal needs under the Animal Welfare Act 2006?

Answer 1

• The need for a suitable diet
• The need to exhibit natural behaviours
• The need for a suitable environment
• The need to be housed with or without others
• The need to be protected from injury, pain, disease and suffering

Question 2

What are the 3 main animal welfare laws?

Answer 2

• The Animal Welfare Act 2006
• Animal Health and Welfare Act (Scotland) 2006
• Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Question 3

Give 3 potential hazards when working with animals

Answer 3

• Broken enclosure
• Equipment being out
• Animal with aggressive behaviour
• Knives in the kitchen
• Incorrect handling
• Scaring animals
• Wearing accessories
• Unclean rooms

Question 4

What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

Answer 4

• A hazard is something that could cause harm
• A risk is the harm that could be caused because of the hazard

Question 5

Give 3 considerations needed when housing animals

Answer 5

• Natural behaviour
• Physical enrichment
• Space
• Temperature / humidity
• Construction materials
• Substrate / bedding / water
• Access to accomodation
• Size of accomodation
• Companions
• Dimensions
• Appropriate use of space
• Ventilation
• Infrastructure

Question 6

Give 3 welfare issues that could be a result of poor accomodation

Answer 6

• Aggression / frustration
• Weight issues
• Respiratory issues
• Malnutrition
• Disease
• Abnormal behaviours
• Injuries
• Foot problems
• Mental health issues

Question 7

Give 3 common nutrition / diet related issues

Answer 7

• Obesity
• Diarrhoea
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Gastric ulcers
• Metabolic bone disease
• Behavioural issues
• Lower life expectancy
• Choking
• Cholic
• Diabetes

Question 8

What are circadian rhythms?

Answer 8

The changes in an animal’s activity levels during the day and night

Question 9

What are the 3 types of circadian rhythms?

Answer 9

• Diurnal
• Crepuscular
• Nocturnal

Question 10

What are the 3 classifications of animal socialty?

Answer 10

• Solitary
• Eusocial
• Presocial

Question 11

Why do solitary species come together?

Answer 11

Courtship and mating

Question 12

Give 3 examples of social behaviour

Answer 12

• Grooming
• Performing other behaviours together like hunting , sleeping
• Playing
• Social communication
• Dominance hierarchies
• Ritualised aggression
• Courtship
• Altruism

Question 13

Give 3 considerations needed when handling small animals

Answer 13

• Size, fragility, speed
• Biting
• Temperament
• Feeding times
• Injury / disease / medical condition
• Hormonal cycles
• Time of day
• Mood
• Sex
• Stress levels

Question 14

What are the 3 rules when handling small animals?

Answer 14

• Approach slowly
• Avoid loud noises
• No sudden movements

Question 15

Give 3 types of exercise provisions

Answer 15

• Large enough enclosures
• Taking them for walks
• Structures that encourage flying / climbing
• Riding
• Exercise run
• Exercise wheel
• Outside access
• Pool for swimming
• Enrichment activities

Question 16

What are the 5 categories of animal enrichment?

Answer 16

• Food
• Cognitive
• Sensory
• Social
• Physical environment

Question 17

What is the most common type of abnormal behaviour?

Answer 17

Stereotypical behaviour

Question 18

Give 3 examples of oral abnormal behaviour

Answer 18

• Overeating
• Bar biting
• Chewing limbs
• Crib biting
• Feather plucking
• Wal licking
• Undereating
• Wind sucking
• Self mutilation

Question 19

Give 3 examples of locomotory abnormal behaviour

Answer 19

• Oversleeping
• Overgrooming
• Hyperactive
• Pacing
• Circling
• Box walking
• Weaving
• Over aggression
• Head bobbing
• Self mutilation
• Over vocalisation

Question 20

When can a behaviour be defined as normal?

Answer 20

If it serves a function and is performed in the correct context

Question 21

When can a behaviour be defined as abnormal?

Answer 21

If it falls outside the normal behaviour pattern for the animal’s class / age. This only happens in captivity

Question 22

What is autogrooming?

Answer 22

When an animal cleans themself.
Example : a cat

Question 23

What is allogrooming?

Answer 23

When animals clean each other
Example : monkeys

Question 24

Give 3 examples of feeding behaviour

Answer 24

• Prey capture
• Striking
• Foraging
• Selective grazing
• Scavenging
• Filter feeding
• Browsing
• Rooting
• Burrowing
• Stalking prey

Question 25

What are the words for positive and negative stress?

Answer 25

Eustress = positive
Distress = negative

Question 26

Give 3 negative consequences of stress in animals

Answer 26

• Suppressed immune system
• Infertility
• Poor embryonic development
• Appetite changes
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hair loss
• Skin issues
• Abnormal behaviour

Question 27

Give 3 common stresses in domestic and captive animals

Answer 27

• Noise
• Isolation
• Presence of other animals
• Overcrowding
• Confinement / restraint
• Unfamiliar surroundings
• Lack of food / water
• Inappropriate temperature
• Unfamiliar people
• Inappropriate handling
• Negative social interactions
• Inability to express normal behaviour
• Fear
• Pain
• Smell
• Removal of their own scent

Question 28

What are the three types of venom?

Answer 28

• Hemotoxic
• Neurotoxic
• Cytotoxic

Question 29

Whats the difference between a poisonous and venomous animal?

Answer 29

• Venomous - delivers toxins by wounding another animal
• Poisonous - Administer secretions passively

Question 30

What should you do if you encounter an aggressive venomous snake?

Answer 30

1. Stay calm and still
2. If you can, identify the snake
3. Get assistance

Question 31

What percentage of all animals are invertebrate?

Answer 31

97%