Social and Clinical Causes of Animal Behaviour Problems PDF

BVMSIII The social and clinical causes of behaviour problems in domesticated and companion animals Samantha Lindley BVSc MRCVS 1 Intended learning outcomes Describe the social and clinical causes of behaviour problems in domesticated and companion animals 2 Behaviour Problems  Aggression ...

BVMSIII The social and clinical causes of behaviour problems in domesticated and companion animals Samantha Lindley BVSc MRCVS 1 Intended learning outcomes Describe the social and clinical causes of behaviour problems in domesticated and companion animals 2 Behaviour Problems  Aggression  Anxiety (Fear and phobia)  Attention seeking  Compulsive (including stereotypic)  Withdrawal (depression, learned helplessness) 3 Behaviour Problems in domesticated animals 4 Behaviour Problems in domesticated animals Most behavioural problems in most domesticated farm animals are caused by inappropriate management, inappropriate husbandry, inappropriate social groupings, or disease 5 Behaviour Problems in domesticated animals Cattle: (social structure) Navel sucking Tongue rolling Aggression Change of behaviour patterns, e.g. order of entering milking parlour; standing away from the herd 6 Behaviour Problems in domesticated animals Poultry: (social structure) Feather pecking Vacuum behaviours Aggression Cannabilism 7 Behaviour Problems in domesticated animals Pigs: (social structure) Tail biting Aggression Bar chewing Laying on piglets 8 Behaviour Problems in domesticated animals Sheep: (social structure) Fear and panic! Aggression Changes in patterns of behaviour, e.g. moving away from the flock John Webster: A Cool Eye Towards Eden (1995) & Limping Towards Eden (2005) 9 Behaviour Problems in companion animals 10 Behaviour Problems in companion animals Diagnoses do NOT include: Emotions/emotional states or their consequences e.g. “fear aggression” 11 Behaviour Problems in companion animals Social / environmental causes Medical / clinical causes 12 Social and environmental causes – dog 13 Social and environmental causes – dog Socialisation Sensitive period (8 week vulnerability) 4-16 weeks Sensitive period (8 week vulnerability) 4-16 weeks Early experiences Flexibility and plasticity More is not always better Beyond the sensitive period we can only teach coping strategies 14 Social and environmental causes – dog Attitude to resources and control Dogs are social predators, but dependent on humans Resources Resource guarding Lack of control can lead to anxiety as well as aggression This concept encompasses control, direction, security, threats, challenges, attention seeking, disobedience 15 Social and environmental causes – dog Relationships  Over attachment  Substitutions  Punishments  Loss 16 Social and environmental causes – dog Trauma Direct trauma from an attack by a person or dog Sudden or frightening noises or experiences – causing sensitization Inappropriate punishment by the owner Trauma such as RTA; surgery; illness Inappropriate exposure of an under-socialized dog to unfamiliar stimuli 17 Social and environmental causes – dog Frustration Inappropriate handling Misreading of signs by the owner Owner anxiety Lack of exercise, play and stimulation Over stimulation Barrier behaviours 18 Social and environmental causes – dog Breed tendency Ontogeny Inherited traits Breed/strain tendencies Misperceptions and self fulfilling prophecies! Prejudice and bias New breeds/changes in breeds 19 Social and environmental causes – dog Handling Punishment Leads/harnesses/headcollars Tension and reactions Confidence Restriction and control 20 Social and environmental causes – dog Learned/trained Fighting dogs Guarding dogs Hunting dogs Ex therapy dogs 21 Social and environmental causes – dog Over /under stimulation Boredom? Busy households Nowhere to hide/rest Excessive training and exercise Long periods of solitude Lack of companionship 22 23 Social and environmental causes – cat Inappropriate/inadequate/breached core territory Building work/redecoration Moving house Family dynamics Multicat hosuehold Too little space Inappropriate space 24 Core Territory – cat Height/hiding/ sleeping areas Feeding/water stations Access inside/outside Scratching Attention/grooming  Access to play Toileting arrangements 25 Core Territory – cat Height/hiding/ sleeping areas Feeding/water stations Access inside/outside Scratching Attention/grooming  Access to play Toileting arrangements 26 Core Territory – cat Height/hiding/ sleeping areas Feeding/water stations Access inside/outside Scratching Attention/grooming  Access to play Toileting arrangements 27 Core Territory – cat Height/hiding/ sleeping areas Feeding/water stations Access inside/outside Scratching Attention/grooming  Access to play Toileting arrangements 28 Social and environmental causes – cat Trauma, threat and change Aggression from or to other cats outside Changes of access to resources RTA/being trapped Trauma from humans Trauma from dogs/foxes 29 Social and environmental causes – cat Relationships Not so important for cats as dogs Attention seeking Over or understimulation inc. handling Over bonding (hand reared) Loss 30 Clinical causes – dog and cat Pain The most common clinical cause of behaviour problems 31 Clinical causes – dog and cat Pain is frightening : the patient reacts to the fear in a way that reflects its temperament, experience and the quality of the pain 32 Clinical causes – dog and cat Pain arises from: musculoskeletal; dental; aural; dermatological; neurological; visceral; opthalmological 33 Clinical causes – dog and cat But all pain is perceived in the brain 34 Clinical causes – dog and cat Dietary sensitivity Controversial Highly individual – probably related to the microbiome Central changes/thresholds But diet is also liked to GI pain; pancreatic pain; hepatic dysfunction; gall bladder pain; dermatological problems and, sometimes, seizure activity 35 Clinical causes – dog and cat Hormonal (sex) 36 37 38 Clinical causes – dog and cat Hormonal (Endocrine)  Hyperthyroidism (cats)  Hypothyroidism (dogs)  Hyperadrenocorticism 39 Clinical causes – dog and cat Neurological  Space occupying lesion  Complex partial seizures  Developmental abnormalities 40 Clinical causes – dog and cat 41 Clinical causes – dog and cat Urogenital tract 42 Clinical causes – dog and cat Gastrointestinal tract Diet Pain B12 deficiency Toxicity Effect of microbiome? 43 Clinical causes – dog and cat Sensory 44 Clinical causes – dog and cat Sensory 45 Clinical causes – dog and cat Sensory 46 Clinical causes – dog and cat Hepatic 47 Clinical causes – dog and cat Cognitive dysfunction Loss of learned behaviours Reduced interactions Changes in toileting habits Changes in sleeping behaviours 48 Clinical causes – dog and cat Iatrogenic Corticosteroid Drugs acting on the involuntary (especially sympathetic) nervous system Behaviour modifying drugs Analgesics Anti convulsants 49 50