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”

Animal welfare definition

physical and emotional well-being, coping with living conditions

usually applied to sentient and cognitive species

scientific evaluation of conditions

balance between good and bad

considerations of welfare

housing, management, nutrition, disease prevention/treatment, responsible care, humane handling, humane euthanasia

societal shifts farm vs city

95% US population at least 3 generations off the farm

shifting from farm to city, disconnect between food and source

good economic times, more productive farmers - leaves more disposable income to spend on pets

media and zoos = main info sources on animals

changing human-animal relations: farm animals

intensified agriculture, less attention to individual animal

production determines decisions

changing human-animal relations: horses

have become pets, or expensive status symbols

still legally working livestock

changing human-animal relations: dogs/cats

contradictory treatment: like children but discarded at will

breed fads based on appearance, ignore genetic deficits

changing human-animal relations: exotic pets

welfare not considered

discarded at will → invasive species

changes in public view of science

more willing to challenge old beliefs

less acceptance of science - 62% europeans think science makes life change too fast

more opposition to animal use in research (lack of understanding)

info sources give short spurts of facts - not in depth

emotional emphasis over science-based

changes in vet relationship with clients

vets employed by one corporate farm instead of several - hard to criticize bc only client

emphasis on herd health over individual animals

owners have less time

emphasis on alternative medicine

more blaming others and likely to sue

animal welfare recent legislation

california Prop 2 (2008)

wanted to override laying hens in battery cages, veal calves in crates, and pregnant sows in gestation stalls (perceived behavioral benefit if more space)

studies show furnished cages are better for overall welfare than free-range - more health issues

What is assessed for animal welfare

health/production

behavior

physiology

what can be altered to optimize welfare

training

housing/diet

breeding

there can be too much of a good thing, and welfare is never 100% perfect

Assessing animal welfare

need to advocate for objective (science), public skews towards subjective (values)

ethics lie in the middle

factors to assess for animal welfare

performance standards - growth rate, individual behavior

outcome criteria - productivity, health, number offspring, life expectancy

input-based standards - engineering based f.e. cage size standards

specific frameworks

record-based standards (physiological data)

subjective evaluations - sometimes work

specific frameworks to assess welfare

three orientations (body, nature, mind)

five freedoms

three R’s (replacement, reduction, refinement

five domains (inputs → how does it make animal feel → welfare status)

organizations assessing livestock welfare

PAACO - does farm welfare audits

American humane certified (humane association)

animal rights

ethically good, moral law

belief that animals have rights

opinion rather than science (like welfare)

Animal use vs exploitation

use = legal use

exploitation = animal use outside of law (dog fighting)

animal liberationists

ppl opposed to animal use/ownership

illegally rescue/release animals (research, pets)

ALF (animal liberation front)

animal welfare beliefs on rights

animals have right to food, water, shelter

concern about extremists/activists

social factors driving animal activism (Dr Jamison)

Urbanization (less animal interaction)

anthropomorphism (stuffed animals, cartoons)

evolution (all species are related and equal)

egalitarianism (equality, starting to include animals)

Abundant cheap food

Animal rights philosiphy

disagree with 1+ of the following;

animal use in circus

animal use in food

animal use in research - dogs, primates, etc

Animal rights movement core beliefs

eliminate exploitation of animals

animals right to live/die free from human intervention - no production animals, lab, working, pets, no ownership of animals

PETA stealing and euthanizing pets - killed 30k in 11 years

Animal rights movements tactics

use caring organization names

get press coverage for good things they do

hide what they don’t f.e. not rescuing cattle bc they thought they were saving them from farmers

caring individuals who don’t understand broad agenda of organization

attack veterinary credibility, increase theirs through ‘large numbers’, claim members who didnt join

outlast opposition

lie/spread misinformation

name recognition over time

use loaded/manipulative language

add welfare topics to state ballots

animal rights movement fundraising

ask for donations for needy animals, use for other purposes

total annual budget for 10 biggest orgs > $1bil

examples of animal rights tactics

FBR’s Survivors campaign attacked by PETA

2019 midwest floods killing 500k cattle, PETA tries to capitalize on cattle death with billboards promoting veganism

“get attention, any attention” - butter cow vandalized

California prop 12 (2018)

size restrictions for veal, breeding pigs, laying hens

lawsuit, then supreme court ruled legal 2023

all producers selling to cali must comply

Massachusetts prevention of farm animal cruelty act (2016)

prevent confinement of breeding sows, layers, veal

Florida amendment 13 (2018)

eliminated greyhound racing

animal rights public industry attacks

public demonstrations

picketing stores

buying stock in public companies to speak at meetings

filing lawsuits at public research institutions

targeting university mascots

try to give personhood to animals in lawsuits (primates)

claim animals getting inadequate care f.e. Ringling circus

Animal rights movement and extremist orgs

support extremist orgs like ALF

forward press releases and financial support

Animal rights extremist tactics

infiltrate labs/farms

take videos (sometimes staged) and release lab/production animals that often die

destroy equipment

targeting universities less and individual researchers more (destroying cars/houses)

drivers of animal welfare issues

longterm agendas (reflect extreme animal rights groups goals, sensitizing people over time)

specific events (social media attention f.e. hoarding, wild horse race, shipwreck with live sheep)

individuals f.e. ending declawing, save the mustangs, livestock confinement

breed and performance orgs (AQHA, etc - promote intensive breeding, concentrate genetic problems) f.e. HYPP → excessive twitches and cramping in 56% of halter horses

fluorescent fish

developed for scientific reasons, later sold as pets

pets released and thrive reproductively in wild

Aquadvantage fish based only in land facilities to prevent accidental release

public dictation of acceptable veterinary procedures

declawing cats - fined if not medical in NY

ear cropping/tail docking

spays/castrations - will these be next?

procedures done by unqualified people

those not trained in aseptic technique and pain control

f.e. tail docking in dogs, dairy calves, lambs, pigs, horses

ear cropping esp bully breed fighting dogs

dehorning of cattle

beak trimming chicks

inappropriate euthanasia - drowning baby kittens

surplus populations (contemporary problem)

dog strays and hoarding

cat strays, TNR programs (have to neuter >85% population to see difference), hoarding - potential new injectable sterilization

horses - BLM mustangs, unwanted horses

chicken layer industry - male chick and layer killing

genetic abnormality popularity

brachiocephalic dogs/cats

hydrocephalic dogs/cats

abnormal limbs - GS extreme angulation, horse lack of angulation, chondrodysplasia (short legs), squitten/twisty cats (absent radius)

working animals and animal welfare (specific problems)

service dogs: increased demand but underqualified trainers and fake service dogs

use of shock collars in hunting dogs and pets

rodeo stock

carriage horses

college mascots

show animals and animal welfare (specific problems)

soring of tennessee walking horses

rollkur head carriage (head touching chest)

unique abuse in dif disciplines

Lab animals and animal welfare (specific problems)

animals grown for human part replacement

genetically modified animals

long term/solitary confinement

environmental enrichment

specific dog/cat animal welfare problems

puppy mills

feeding vegetarian diets - cats esp cannot

specific livestock animal welfare problems

branding

hormone/antibiotic use

religious slaughter techniques

some rodeo classes

specific horse/donkey animal welfare problems

branding

standing castrations

leg injuries in performance horses f.e. racehorse fractures

some rodeo events

mares used for PMSG collection (pregnant mare blood used to increase litter size)

donkey skin trade

specific wildlife animal welfare problems

urban wildlife

trophy hunting

deer antler velvet harvesting (aphrodisiac)

owning exotic species

animal parts as aphrodisiacs

vet organizations role in welfare

AVMA: veterinarian oath mentions welfare, AVMA animal welfare principles, welfare working groups, policies, euthanasia guidelines

state organizations: animal welfare committees, CE speakers, conventions

American college of animal welfare: board certs