Behaviour

Question 1

What are the 5 freedoms?

Answer 1

–Freedom from hunger and thirst

–Freedom from discomfort

–Freedom from pain, injury and disease

–Freedom to express normal behaviour

–Freedom from fear and distress

Question 2

What are the differentials?

• Problem started 5 mnths prior to referral (in October – referral in March)
• Started refusing to walk with anyone, anywhere

–Sometimes can get her to walk back if drive and drop

• Previous July thunderstorm showed behavioural change
• October holiday, 13 miles of walking over two walks, tired but fine
• November – reacting to bird scarers, fireworks

–Noise fear exacerbated

• Through November variable response
• December worsening but could get her down the drive off lead and about 200m either side of driveway entrance
• January better in the snow, worse after it went
• Now can’t get her to walk at all

Answer 2

• Fear of noises - generalised
• Fear of something else
• Learnt response to get attention
• Pain

–Primary or learnt fear of

Question 3

What is the treatment plan?

• Problem started 5 mnths prior to referral (in October – referral in March)
• Started refusing to walk with anyone, anywhere

–Sometimes can get her to walk back if drive and drop

• Previous July thunderstorm showed behavioural change
• October holiday, 13 miles of walking over two walks, tired but fine
• November – reacting to bird scarers, fireworks

–Noise fear exacerbated

• Through November variable response
• December worsening but could get her down the drive off lead and about 200m either side of driveway entrance
• January better in the snow, worse after it went
• Now can’t get her to walk at all

Answer 3

• Pain relief
• Weight loss programme
• Putting dog in control of walks

–Signals of expectations

–Other means of exercise/mental stimulation

• Hand touch
• Loose lead walking

Question 4

Name common physical caues of behvioural problems in dogs

Answer 4

– no lesion apparent

–Musculoskeletal / dental pain

–Anal sac impaction

–Hypothyroidism

–Cognitive dysfunction

–Dietary sensitivity

Question 5

Name mediical causes of behavious problems in cats

Answer 5

–Upper & lower urinary tract conditions

–Pain focus

–Cognitive dysfunction

–Ischaemic accident

–Hyperthyroidism

Question 6

What might cause repetitive behaviour/self mutilation?

Answer 6

• Pain
• Itching
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Seizure activity

Question 7

What are the differentials for cat P?

Behaviour history:

•Little conflict between cats

–Possibly two social groups

• Ph & Harry vs P
• Ph & H mutual groom, sleep together, play together

–P will occasionally hiss at Harry

• 1 Littertray
• Two feeding and watering stations

–Ad lib fed

• Scratch post
• Affectionate, loving, highly strung
• Doesn’t like noises
• Will play but only for short periods
• Overgrooms throat and front legs

–May be exacerbated after eating

–If told not to do something

• Started at around age 3.5
• Discrete occasions

–“Stress” initiated?

Medical history:

•Been treated for lesions

–Antibiotics and corticosteroids

• Skin biopsy – allergic
• Allergy tested

–Wheat, rice, soya bean, peanut

–Hypo-allergenic diet

Answer 7

•Dermatopathy

–Parasites

–Allergy

•Other medical

–Pain

•Repetitive behaviour

–Redirected/displacement

•Conflict, frustration, social / environmental “stressors”

–Emancipated from triggers

•Attention seeking

Question 8

How can we treat:

Behaviour history:

•Little conflict between cats

–Possibly two social groups

• Ph & Harry vs P
• Ph & H mutual groom, sleep together, play together

–P will occasionally hiss at Harry

• 1 Littertray
• Two feeding and watering stations

–Ad lib fed

• Scratch post
• Affectionate, loving, highly strung
• Doesn’t like noises
• Will play but only for short periods
• Overgrooms throat and front legs

–May be exacerbated after eating

–If told not to do something

• Started at around age 3.5
• Discrete occasions

–“Stress” initiated?

Medical history:

•Been treated for lesions

–Antibiotics and corticosteroids

• Skin biopsy – allergic
• Allergy tested

–Wheat, rice, soya bean, peanut

–Hypo-allergenic diet

Answer 8

—Allergy treatment

—Routines with play included

—Food toys

—Go to mat training as means of interrupting behaviour neutrally

Question 9

What medical conditions may cause house soiling?

Answer 9

• Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Sensory perception problems
• Arthritis, other causes of pain on movement (cats)
• Diabetes mellitus/insipidus, Hyperadrenocorticism, other causes of PUPD
• Anatomical abnormalities & other causes of incontinence

Question 10

What are the 3 types of pain?

Answer 10

•Emotional reactions – Ouch!

–Normally stimulus bound

–Response to spontaneous / unexpected event

–Relatively short lived

•Moods – Moodiness!

–Response to a series of events / pervasive changes

–Bias cognition

•Temperament – Irritability!

–Largely dependent on genetics and early experience

–Affective style arising from characteristics of early environment

Question 11

What makes medical more likely than behaviour?

Answer 11

•Specific signalment

–Species, breed, age, gender …

• Sudden onset – especially middle aged / older animal
• Non-normal progression of signs
• Waxing & waning signs
• Specific signs / clusters of signs

Question 12

What are the differentials?

• B
• Male
• Border collie/huntaway
• Obtained from friends’ farm at 7 weeks
• Housed in stone barn on deep litter straw
• 14wks old when referred

–Oct 2012

• Constantly scavenging
• Eating stones

Answer 12

• Repetitive behaviour as a result of frustration or motivational conflict
• Learnt response

–Owner reinforced with attention

•Medical

Question 13

What are the 3 parts of an approach to behaviour treatment?

Answer 13

•Risk assessment

–And plan for mitigation

•Restriction of Problem

–Make sure it doesn’t get worse

•Resolution of Problem

Question 14

How can you undergo risk mitigation of a patient?

Answer 14

•Manage to minimise risk of injury

–Self mutilation

•Manage to minimise distress

–Fears

–Distress at being left alone

• A crate may or may not be the answer
• Manage to minimise risk of relinquishment

–Usually more about building owner understanding

Question 15

How can we undergo risk mitigation for others?

Answer 15

•Restrict access

–Leash, crate

• See next section
• Correct use of walking equipment
• Avoid confrontation

–“Don’t let him get away with it”

•Muzzle train

Question 16

How can we prevent worsening in behaviour problems?

Answer 16

•Avoid triggers

–Prevent access

• baby gates
• crates

–Restrict movement

• lead
• Manage

–Distract/occupy

• Toys
• Stop all confrontation

–Lure

–Distract

–Manage (e.g. close doors)

–If he knows a cue – use it

•punishment

–And inadvertent reinforcement

–Explain how to ignore inappropriate responses

• Reinforce appropriate behaviour
• Implement the obvious

–Litter trays (and hygiene)

–Cleaning

–Scratch posts

–Chews

–Toys/games

•Owner consistency

–House rules

•What will make the pet’s life better?

• Give permission not to do things that society says we should

Question 17

How can we treat?

• B
• Male
• Border collie/huntaway
• Obtained from friends’ farm at 7 weeks
• Housed in stone barn on deep litter straw
• 14wks old when referred

–Oct 2012

• Constantly scavenging
• Eating stones

Answer 17

•Medical tests

–Faecal samples

–Blood test full bio chemistry

•Increase mental stimulation & build tolerance of delayed reward

–Food toys eg. Kong

• Teach ‘leave’
• Muzzle train
• Ignore unwanted behaviour/reward calm

Question 18

Define desensitisation

Answer 18

–“Raise the threshold at which an animal responds to a stimulus”

Question 19

What is counter conditioning?

Answer 19

–A response to a stimulus is substituted that is incompatible with the current response

Question 20

When do we use desensitisation?

Answer 20

•Ideally when relaxed

– Can teach relaxation – difficult for some owners

–May need medication

•Initial stimulus exposure must be low enough!!!!

– otherwise may get sensitisation

•Break stimuli into component parts

Question 21

When do we use counter conditioning?

Answer 21

•Respondent

– Bar open/bar closed

• Operant

– Response substitution

– First teach away from stimulus