Introduction to Animal Behaviour

Introduction to Animal Behaviour

• Focuses on defining and describing observable behaviours.
• Examines motivations behind behaviours.
• Highlights the significance of behaviour in veterinary medicine and animal welfare.
• Includes case studies for review.
• Date of presentation: December 2, 2024.
• Location: University of Alberta.

What is Behaviour?

• Behaviour is any action an organism takes in response to stimuli.
• Observable and measurable actions.
• Includes conscious and unconscious actions.
• Actions are not interpreted; rather, they are observed and recorded.

Where Does Behaviour Come From?

• Behaviour is influenced by internal and external factors.
• Internal factors: Immune function, neurotransmitters, hormones, genetics, and epigenetics.
• External factors: Environment, social interactions, training, food, and life experiences.
• Behaviour has a purpose (function).

Examples of Internal Factors

• Immune function (e.g., cells and proteins).
• Neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, GABA).
• Hormones (e.g., those produced in the endocrine systems).
• Genetics and epigenetics (heritable traits, influences, and expressions).

Examples of External Factors

• Environment (e.g., surroundings and conditions).
• Social interactions (e.g., interactions with peers and humans).
• Training (e.g., training methods and experiences).
• Food (e.g., access to nutrition).
• Life experiences (e.g., past events).

Animal Temperament

• Animal temperament, or personality, is a result of genetics and external factors.
• Influences learning, factors like resilience, impulsivity, and tendency towards other behaviour traits.

Why Does Animal Behaviour Matter?

• Behaviour can be a symptom of illness or injury.
• Behaviour is important to the human-animal bond.
• Behaviour is important to reproduction and conservation.
• Behaviour plays a significant role in animal welfare and research.
• Matters to human safety.

Health and Behaviour

• Health and behaviour are intertwined.
• Behaviour can be a symptom or an outcome of a health issue.

Animals and Behaviour

• Animals communicate through behaviour, not words.
• Examples of behavioural symptoms to observe include: Pain behaviours, Discomfort, Asymmetry, Avoidance, Resistance, Sudden changes from the norm.

Pain and Behaviour

• Animals may not overtly show signs of pain, but abnormal behaviour can signal a painful condition.
• Behaviour changes include shifts in appetite, aggression, destructiveness, changes in interactions with humans or other animals, compulsive behaviours, or house soiling.

Behaviour and Health Issues

• Behaviour isn't always a direct result of a health issue.
• Discomfort, pain, fatigue, asymmetry, sensations can increase stress sensitivity, and lead to generalized emotions and abnormal learning patterns; and decreased learning.

Current Veterinary Understanding

• Vet professionals are still learning the connection between health and behaviour.
• Observable behavioural signs (resistance, avoidance, sudden changes in behaviour) can be an early indicator of problems.

Animal Health Professionals

• Animal health professionals need to understand species-normal behaviour patterns.
• Deviations from those patterns can indicate illness or pain.
• Owner reports on behaviour should be carefully reviewed and considered.

Human Influence on Animal Behaviour

• Humans can positively or negatively influence animal behaviour.
• Factors include management practices, training, and veterinary settings.

Safety and Animal Behaviour

• Understanding animal behaviour can safeguard human well-being in various situations.
• Animal bites are common veterinary injuries.
• Injuries can relate to a lack of training or inappropriate animal handling, or to medical conditions that contribute to animal aggression.

Case Studies

• Include detailed explanations for each case study provided in pages 23 through 25 including, but not limited to, species, age, description of the problem, and questions relating to welfare and involved factors.

This quiz explores the fundamentals of animal behaviour, focusing on the definitions and observable characteristics. It delves into the internal and external factors influencing behaviour and examines the role of behaviour in veterinary medicine and animal welfare. Case studies are included for practical understanding.