Ethology Day 5

Lectures 21-25

Aggression ladder

from yawning/blinking/nose licking up to biting - many intermittent signs

similar figures for other species

people dont recognize lower steps as aggression

60% dog owners reported moderate-severe aggression

Fear-induced aggression

in all species, most common type in dogs

fear of apparent threat

shown by attempted avoiding interaction and sneak attacks

manage by confining, not cornering dog, non-threatening behaviors

status-related aggression

NOT dominance, social rank can vary by situation

common in dogs, horses, cattle, pigs

starts at social maturity in dogs

people-directed status-related aggression

poor socialization - never learned humans as leaders

mismatched personalities - dog vs owner

triggered by petting over head, trying to control dog, or disturbance while resting

treatment of human-directed status-related aggression

avoid triggers, keep dog off furniture (height status), drag leash and gentle leader

must obey command for any reward (including pets/praise)

desensitize/countercondition

dog-directed status-related aggression

poor social skills, top dog challenged by lower dog, dog reinforcing position

Manage by preventing incidents and siding with higher ranking dog always

status-related aggression in horses/livestock

normal behavior = deference to higher ranking animal

disruptions of order by new herd intros, removals, presence of young, or estrus

Redirected aggression

aggression to person, animal, or object that isnt the trigger

high arousal, most common aggression in cats

manage by leaving alone until relaxed, preventing access

Protective aggression of food

resource guarding

starts young in dogs

give meal and leave - dont touch dog

modify by small amounts of food at a time, only if not reacting

protective aggression of materials

resource guarding, mostly in dogs

fav objects/toys

ignore dog with object, remove when dog drops and dont give back

teach drop it command

Territorial protective aggression

defense of specific space, stronger in center/smaller territories

cats (pin each other), some dog breeds, burros (not horses)

Aggression to protect group members

many species, might be part of intermale aggression

not all dogs protect humans

predatory aggression

normal behavior - unacceptable victims

cant eliminate internal drive f.e. dogs chasing

intermale aggression

intact vs intact or neutered vs neutered males of any species

also interfemale aggression

keep separated

learned aggression

any species

animal learns to control interactions with aggression

can start as pain reaction

Irritable aggression

pain-induced aggression in all species

pain-scoring protocols for cats, dogs, horses

medical causes of aggression

irritable

seizure-induced

hormone imbalance

hydrocephalic

hypothyroid

mental lapse syndrome

neutering for aggression

may help stallions, bulls, tomcats

less likely to help dogs

options for aggressive animals

live with it - potential for injury and liability

rehome

euthanize

rehabilitate - iffy, owner committment could change

Signs of pain in cats

all behavior changes

appetite decrease, lameness, trouble jumping, hiding, etc

Signs of pain in dogs

all the same as cats except no tail flicking or decreased rubbing

all behavior changes

Equine expression of pain

Hors Grimace Scale (HGS) (6 expressions)

Equine Pain Scale (EPS) (9 characteristics)

Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) (24 behaviors)

characteristics suggesting medical reason for behavior problem

very young or old

abrupt start or change

pre-existing medical conditions

drug therapy

breed dispositions

inconsistent/unidentifiable triggers

behaviors with medical causes

housesoiling

housesoiling medical differentials

bladder irritation

kidney disease

polydipsia

incontinence

neurologic disease

Housesoiling (feces) medical differentials

parasites

IBD, colitis

neoplasia

megacolon

metabolic/endocrine disease

drugs

neurologic disease

Portosystemic shunt

(blood from liver to vena cava)

seizures, poor growth, apparent blindness

behavior: poor learning, aggression, stereotypies, lethargic/hyper

mostly in small breed dogs

differentials: liver disease, distemper, hypoglycemia, toxicities, epilepsy, hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus

small breeds and rottweilers, st bernards, bull terriers

seizures, stereotypies, aggression, poor learning, hyper, lethargic

differentials: portosystemic shunt, congenital hydrocephalus, secondary obstructive hydrocephalus

Hypothyroidism

bilateral hair loss, alopecia, hyperpigmentation, poor muscle tone

aggression, hyper, lethargic, senile

drugs and illness lower test results, drugs (estrogen/progesterone) can increase them

differentials: misinterpretation of test, dif types of aggression

seizures

generalized seizures and focal seizures (gum-chewing)

aggression (short-term, followed by friendliness), stereotypy, star gazing, air snapping, restlessness

differentials: idiopathic, toxicities, hydrocephalus, portosystemic shunts; different types of aggression, stress, learned behavior

excessive licking

Differentials: GI issues, allergies; spilled food, stereotypy, OCD, separation anxiety, stress

self-directed aggression in cats

feline hyperesthesia syndrome

focal seizure-like activity, unexplained running, screaming, tail chasing, aggression, rippling/twitching skin

could be spontaneous nerve triggering along back or similar to myopathy in humans

treat with fluoxetine and pain meds

self-directed aggression in dogs

self-biting of rear parts of body

differentials = cauda equina syndrome (pinching of spinal cord), dermatitis, neuropathy, seizures, myopathy, idiopathic

self-directed aggression in horses

self-mutilation syndrome

discomfort: excessive grooming due to allergies, infection, or insect bites, localized neuritis, colic, foaling mares, or sweet itch

self-directed intermale aggression: scent of other stallions triggers this

stereotypy: up to 2% incidence in stallions, esp thoroughbreds and racehorses - treat by castration or antianxiety drugs and low cal diet

hyperesthesia syndrome: like feline hyperesthesia, treated the same way

Cognitive dysfunction

disorientation, loss of housetraining, abnormal sleep/wake cycles, decreased responsiveness to family, more vocalizing, anxiety, worse sensory abilities (also many differentials to note)

dogs age with at least one impairment: 11-12 = 28%, 14 = 48%, 16 = 68%

cats: 7-11 = 36%, 12-15 = 60%, 16-19 = 88%

cognitive dysfunction neuropathologic changes

free radicles increase, beta amyloid plaques form

ventricular dilation, reduced cerebral perfusion

Ach decreases, affects motor impulses

serotonin decreases, dopamine decreases

cognitive dysfunction treatment

rule out medical conditions (orthopedic problems in cats, deafness and vision issues)

rule out behavior problems

enrich environment - mental activity, night light, white noise at night, exercise

dietary management - medium chain fatty acids in specialty foods

drugs: selegiline - bad with other drugs, SAM-e

Learned illness

sympathy lameness, “seizures”