16/17. Aggression

Question 1

as behaviour changes towards aggression, what is it important not to do?

Answer 1

dont punish warning signals

Question 2

what is trigger stacking

Answer 2

-events that would not cause issues when occurring individually all occur at the same time and cause a stress overload

Question 3

what might happen if you punish a dog for bite warning signs?

Answer 3

-may progress to biting without warning

Question 4

what does the dog owners liability act say?

Answer 4

– Ontario
* Pitbulls prohibited
* Owner is liable for damages arising from a bite from any breed of dog
* Proceedings can be commenced with a bite to a person or domestic animal, or with menacing behaviour
* Outcome either destruction or measures to ensure better control plus sterilization

Question 5

what does the health protection and promotion act say about bites?

Answer 5

• Veterinarians must report mammal bites to public health
• If risk of rabies, confined or isolated for 10 days

Question 6

what are the options for an owner with an aggressive dog?

Answer 6

• Treat the animal in the home – important to understand owners’ goals
• Relinquish to someone with more experience or a better environment for the problem
• Euthanize

Question 7

what are the options for a veterinarian dealing with an aggression case?

Answer 7

• Treat – simple cases with low risk of injury
• Consider having owner sign a release form
• Refer – anytime you are unsure if you are capable of handling it

Question 8

can aggression be cured?

Answer 8

• Can be reduced through management and behaviour modification, but there is always a chance of relapse

Question 9

What factors do we need to consider for risk assessment/prognosis?

Answer 9

• The owners
• Family composition, perceptions, experience, dynamics, dependability and
  dedication, home environment
• Lack of control = Disaster!
• The animal
• Physical characteristics, arousal/impulsivity, other behaviour problems * Assess potential for, and likelihood of, damage
• Aggression details
• Bite level, frequency, target, triggers, predictability, chronicity
• Lack of predictability = Disaster!

Question 10

general differential diagnosis for aggression

Answer 10

• Consider possible underlying or contributing medical problems
• Differentiate between different types and targets of aggression

Question 11

how can we categorize aggression?

Answer 11

1. By target
   Human-directed:
   * Familiar/owner-directed
   * Unfamiliar/stranger-directed

Interdog/intercat/interspecies:
* Familiar
* Unfamiliar

2. by motivation or function
   * Fear-related/defensive
   * Resource guarding/possessive aggression/food-related aggression/conflict
   * Territorial & protective
   * Redirected
   * Predatory
   * Play-related
   * Petting induced
   * Pain-induced/latrogenic
   * Maternal/parental
   * Pathophysiological

Question 12

Aggression + Positive Punishment =

Answer 12

DANGER
* Escalation of aggression
* Over time, lowers thresholds for aggression
* Causes redirected aggression
* Further reduces trust
* Results in injuries

Question 13

Resource guarding Treatment

Answer 13

Owner education

Management
* Don’t compete for resources
* Remove triggers
* Remember our ineffective strategy…

Change pet behaviour
* Other people and dogs mean good things are coming
* Teach ‘drop it’ and ‘leave it’
* Medication only with fear/anxiety issues
* DS & CC to others approaching items

Question 14

Fear related aggression - diagnosis and treatment

Answer 14

• Response to threatening stimuli
• Genetic/breed tendencies for dogs
• Often environmental
• Treatment
  Management:
• Identify stimuli that elicit fear and avoid
  Change pet behaviour:
• Behaviour modification
• Develop plans for DS & CC based on triage
• Medication

Question 15

Stranger-directed aggression/territorial or protective aggression diagnosis and treatment

Answer 15

Diagnosis
* Directed towards outside people/animals
* Onset generally at social maturity
* Occurs on family ‘property’ or with family
* More common in ‘guard’ breeds, intact males
* Influenced by previous success

Treatment:
Management
* Prevent access to windows, doors, fences
* Restrict interaction with targets
* Provide safe place
Change pet behaviour
* DS & CC to visitors, strangers
* Teach ‘quiet’ command for excessive barking in dogs

Question 16

Redirected aggression diagnosis and treatment

Answer 16

Diagnosis
* Heightened emotional state
* Aggression is redirected to unintended target

Treatment
* Avoid overarousal
* Avoid contact when overaroused
* Understand and treat initial trigger

Question 17

Predatory aggression diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment

Answer 17

Diagnosis
* Predatory sequence with no threat behaviours
* Stalk, chase, attack moving or screaming ‘prey’

Prognosis
* Generally poor with strong prey drive

Treatment
* Segregation for safety
* Alternative outlets for energy and play
* Training for strong recall
* Difficult to treat if motivation is high
* High effort for behaviour mod
* Alternative prey options?
* Positive punishment?

Question 18

Play-related aggression diagnosis, prognosis, treatment

Answer 18

Diagnosis
* Excessive play behaviour directed towards people or other animals
* Often encouraged by owner
* More common in young animals, but can be ongoing if encouraged

Prognosis
* Good with early prevention, poor if long-term

Prevention/management
* Do not use hands/feet for play
* Adequate enrichment to meet play needs – lots of active play toys
* Interrupt and redirect inappropriate play
* Avoid overarousal, reward calm behaviour

Question 19

Petting-induced aggression - diagnosis, prognosis, prevention/management

Answer 19

Diagnosis
* Seek attention but become aggressive
* Low threshold for physical contact
* Sometimes lack of socialization

Prognosis
* Good if owner respects boundaries

Prevention/management
* Indentify threshold for attention and respect it
* Re-training with DS & CC
* Increased arousal is a trigger to avoid

Question 20

Inter-cat and inter-dog aggression – same household; diagnosis, prevention, treatment

Answer 20

Diagnosis
* Many different possible causes
* Territorial, fear/anxiety, redirected, etc.
* Inadequate resource provision
* New addition, change in social dynamics or environment * Poor socialization, social skills

Prevention
* Gradual introductions with positive associations

Treatment
Management:
* Separate unless supervised
* Do not reinforce one animal over the other
* Provide adequate resources to avoid competition
* Avoid overarousal when together
* Dogs – consider muzzles and safety measures
Change pet behaviour:
* Neutering in males may help
* Keep them tired and busy
* Determine underlying cause and tailor treatment
* Fluoxetine/clomipramine for fear/anxiety

Question 21

Preventing problems with children

Answer 21

• Poor management leads to fear and behaviour problems
• Pets should not have to ‘put up’ with children
• Proper socialization
  > Not mini-adults
• Fast, eye-level, unpredictable, loud, don’t respond properly to signals
• Movement, noise and other factors change continuously as child ages

Proper management
* Obedience training for control
* Direct supervision at all times
* Provide a ‘safe’ place
* Teach children animal signals and appropriate interactions!

Question 22

Most treatment plans for aggression come back to

Answer 22

management, obedience training, DS & CC