18. Miscellaneous behaviour

Question 1

Inappropriate elimination in cats; how to prevent

Answer 1

Cats prefer to dig, scratch and bury

Focus on encouraging correct behaviour, reducing chance of accidents
* Relatively confined area when unsupervised
* Watch for sniffing/searching – take to box
* Praise and reward for correct behaviour

Keep it clean
* Scoop daily, change and wash weekly
* Thoroughly clean accidents

Question 2

how to prevent innapropriate elimination in dogs

Answer 2

• Aim is to prevent accidents, and immediately reward correct behaviour
• Take out regularly according to schedule, plus ~5 mins after anything exciting

Question 3

Tips for housetraining dogs

Answer 3

• Puppy should always be under direct supervision or in a safe place to prevent accidents
  > Continue for 1-2 months until training is solid
• Move briskly to prevent accidents on the way outside
• Wait for 5 mins, if no success, crate and repeat after 15 mins
• Never punish for accidents
  > Interrupt and redirect
  > Learn from mistakes
  > Clean thoroughly

Question 4

diagnosis/reasons for innapropriate elimination in cats

Answer 4

Behavioural issues
* Incomplete housetraining – not common
* Aversion to litterbox/preference for alternative
* Marking (spraying)
* Anxiety
* Various medical causes

Question 5

Inappropriate Elimination in cats assessment

Answer 5

• Which cat
• Locations and circumstances
• Details on urine – how much, where?
• Only urine or feces too?
• Both – likely litterbox or anxiety issues, or accessibility
• Only one – medical issues need to be considered carefully
• Household changes or stressors?

Question 6

in cats, spraying vs urination

Answer 6

• Spraying – vertical surfaces and small amounts, arched back with tail lift
• Site can indicate cause – eg. Doorways/windows or new items
• Feces marking rare
• More common in males, esp intact
• Medical unlikely
• Urination – horizontal surfaces and large amounts, squatting, scratching/covering behaviours
• Medical is potential

Question 7

Urination in cats - behavioural; how to solve

Answer 7

Optimize the litterbox
* Clean box with no smelly cleaners
* Box is accessible and desirable

Restrict access to undesirable areas
* Confine to safe area to reinforce good habits
* Tinfoil, double-sided tape sometimes work to block access

No punishment – interruption and redirection ok

Client education
* Counter anthropomorphic reasoning – cat not punishing owner
* Prognosis depends on duration of problem, owner tolerance and willingness

Question 8

contributing issues to marking in cats

Answer 8

• Hormones – intact animals
• Environmental stimuli
  > Social stimuli
  > Novel odours

Question 9

how to deal with marking in cats

Answer 9

Management
* Proper cleaning of soiled areas
> Enzymatic cleaners
* Block/reduce access to problem areas
* Provide ‘acceptable’ spraying area

Change pet behaviour
* Neutering
> 90% of males, 95% of females
* Medication
> Feliway, clomipramine/fluoxetine for anxiety

Client education
* Normal behaviour, not punishing owner
* Prognosis is variable, depends on how well triggers can be managed

Question 10

how can we deal with urination/marking in cats related to anxiety?

Answer 10

• If stress-related – reduce stress in environment and try to eliminate potential triggers
• Meet behavioural needs – see AAFP Guidelines on Environmental Needs and Prevention lecture
• Address social issues outside the house
  > Discourage neighbourhood cats from approaching

Address social issues inside the house
* Adequate resources
* Bells on collars to help avoid each other
* Partial/complete separation from other cats if necessary

Medication
* Clomipramine, fluoxetine for anxiety, Feliway

Question 11

Inappropriate elimination in dogs; differential dignosis

Answer 11

• Incomplete housetraining
• Marking
• Submissive urination
• Excitement urination

Alternative behaviour issues
* Related to fear/anxiety
* Cognitive dysfunction
* Psychogenic polydipsia

Various medical causes

Question 12

Inappropriate elimination in dogs; incomplete housetraining next steps

Answer 12

• Are expectations realistic for individual animal?
• Assess substrate and location preferences
• Back to basics with training
• Prognosis generally good

Question 13

Inappropriate elimination in dogs; submissive urination next steps

Answer 13

• Treat as a fear-related behaviour
• Avoid triggers
• Behaviour mod with DS & CC
• Teach incompatible behaviours – sit or fetch
• Prognosis good

Question 14

Inappropriate elimination in dogs; excitement urination next steps

Answer 14

• Often young dogs – most grow out of it
• Keep greetings calm, low arousal
• Teach and reward calm behaviour
• Teach incompatible behaviours – sit, go to mat or fetch
• Prognosis good

Question 15

Inappropriate elimination in dogs; marking next steps

Answer 15

• More common in males, esp intact males after sexual maturity
• Small volumes/sometimes vertical surfaces
• Marking posture – often leg lift versus squat
• May be in response to social stimuli or stressors/changes in the home
• Prognosis generally good, esp with neutering

Management
* Identify and remove triggers
* Supervise
* Bellyband to catch urine
* Careful cleaning to remove odour cues

Change pet behaviour
* Neutering often successful
* Males,andfemalesifestrous-related
* DS & CC to any related triggers
* Remote interruption of behaviour when observed

Question 16

‘Hallucinatory’ Stereotypic & Compulsive Behaviour examples

Answer 16

• air biting, staring/freezing/startle, sky gazing, fly snapping

Question 17

Stereotypic & Compulsive Behaviour differential diagnoses

Answer 17

• Neurological disease
• Dermatological issues
• Other medical causes
• Assess form for underlying details
• Diagnosis and treatment can be complicated – may require referral

Question 18

Stereotypic & Compulsive Behaviour prognosis and treatment

Answer 18

Prognosis
* Good if emerging and related medical issues are treatable, poor if long-term or treatment difficult

Treatment
* Eliminate underlying stressors
* Treat for underlying fear/anxiety
* Increase in physical and mental stimulation
* No response to attention getting
* Interrupt and redirect when observed
* Medication
* Concurrent treatment of medical problems

Question 19

behaviour changes in geriatric pets are associated with what?

Answer 19

• Better medical care, pets living longer
• Associated with physical and mental decline

Question 19

cognitive dysfunction effects:

Answer 19

Affects various aspects of behaviour – assessment scales available
* Increased anxiety, fears, phobias
* Excessive vocalizations
* House soiling
* Compulsive and stereotypic behaviours
* Aggression
* Restlessness/night waking

Question 20

prevalence and prognosis of cognitive dysfunction in dogs

Answer 20

• High prevalence in older dogs

Prognosis
* Early diagnosis is key
* Maintenance rather than improvement

Question 21

treatment for cognitive dysfunction

Answer 21

• Address mobility issues
• Treat problem behaviours as they arise – especially
  fear/anxiety
• Provide predictability and clear cues

Slow progression of the decline through…
* Physical activity, environmental enrichment and training
w* Nutritional supplements and medications

Question 22

how do we manage destructive behaviours

Answer 22

Determine the underlying motivation and find appropriate alternatives
* Play opportunities
* Items for chewing
* Scratching surfaces
* Furniture for climbing/perching

Interrupt inappropriate behaviours and redirect

Train and reward for correct behaviour

• Place alternatives in attractive spaces
• Make other areas/items undesirable or prevent access to problem areas
• For cats, declawing as a last resort if at all