Name the 7 basic needs of all animals that ensure physical and mental wellbeing
- Warmth, comfort and security
- companionship, mental stimulation and opportunities for expression of normal behaviours
- protection from disease and injury
- Protection from fear and distress
- exercise
- Provision of appropriate food and water
- opportunity to defecate and urinate away from sleeping and eating area
Describe the basic need : Provision of appropriate food and water
-feed has all 6 classes of essential nutrients
-feed is balanced (all nutrients are in appropriate proportions)
-digestible and utilisable
-palatable and acceptable
What are the 6 classes of essential nutrients
- carbs
- water
- fats
- proteins
- minerals
- vitamins
Describe the basic need : exercise
requirements depend on:
1. breed
2. age
3. health status
4. life stage
Describe the basic need : protection from disease and injury
1) safe housing (no shape edges, non-toxic materials, escape proof etc)
2) hygiene and cleaning (appropriate disinfection, personnel hygiene, adequate cleaning, specialist housing for sick)
3) Healthcare (vaccination schedule, anti-parasitic, grooming, well-being)
Describe the basic need : Warmth, comfort and security
temperature, humidity, darker areas for sleeping etc
Describe the basic need : companionship, mental stimulation and opportunities for expression of normal behaviours
dogs are pack animals need human and dog presence
-some cats like to be housed together, other don’t
environmental enrichment
what happens if an animal does not have enough environmental enrichment?
bored or adverse sterotypy (detrimental to wellbeing of animal) - may engage in self-mutilation etc
Define environmental enrichment
the addition of 1 or more factors to an animal’s environment to improve the physical and psychological welfare of the animal
4 attributes of the environment that meet an animal’s psychological needs:
1. security
2. complexity
3. achievement
4. novelty
What are the __ attributes of the environment that meet an animal’s psychological needs:
4
- security
- complexity
- achievement
- novelty
Describe security interms of meeting an animal’s psychological needs
- safe nesting place
-predictable routine
-stable social group - dogs
Describe complexity in terms of meeting an animal’s psychological needs
- allow animals to carry out a range of locomotive and explorative activities e.g climbing, digging
Describe achievement in terms of meeting an animal’s psychological needs
-dogs and cats appreciate opportunities to control their environment in some ways
-toys that are easily manipulated (work for reward)
Describe novelty in terms of meeting an animal’s psychological needs
-degree of unpredictability
-balanced carefully against need for security
e.g new toys, smells, sounds
too much = anxious/afraid
not enough = bored
Name some considerations when it comes to housing an animal
- breed of dog vs type of home (great dane, apartment)
- purpose of having the animal (companion, farm..)
- facility design (ease of cleaning, welfare ..)
