Exam 3

Assessing stress and welfare in companion animalsmpanion animals, Minimizing stress in veterinary clinics and cooperative care, , Behavioral indicators of welfare and stress, Interventions to decrease stress in kenneled animals,Behavioral assessments in dogs,Training and learning in companion animals, Managing behavioral issues in companion animals, Carereers w/ companion animals

Animal Welfare

refers to an animal’s collective physical, mental, and

emotional states over a period of time, and is measured on a

continuum from good to poor

• Free of chronic stressors

• Environment promotes positive (emotional) states

• Allows and facilitates expression of natural behaviors

What determines whether an animal would be said to have good welfare

• Endocrine measures

• Cardiovascular measures

• Immune measures

• Behavioral measures

• Indicators (poor/good)

How can we assess welfare?

stressor present =>Cortisol levels

How to use Endocrine measurements

Corticotropin releasing hormone & vasopressin

When stressors are present what does the hypothalamus release?

Adreno-corticotropin hormone (ACTH)

When stressors are present what does the Pituitary gland release?

Cortisol

When stressors are present what does the Adrenal gland release?

Negative feedback loop

In the HPA Axis cortisol causes what?

• Stressors

• Exercise

• Cold-temperatures

• Diurnal fluctuations

• Individual differences

• Eustress vs distress

Possible variables other than psychosocial stress than can influence cortisol levels?

Cortisol can be indicative of arousal and can be caused by events such as Learning, exercise, visiting dog park and not just stressors. A limited amount of these acute stressors can actually improve learning rather than impairing it. 

How does stress or glucocorticoid levels affect learning?

Salivary cortisol 

• More invasive

• Useful for acute stressors

Urinary cortisol 

• Relatively non-invasive 

• Reflection period longer than salivary cortisol 

Fecal Cortisol 

• Non-invasive 

• Less variability than saliva 

Hair/fur cortisol 

• Relatively non-invasive 

• Less variability than saliva 

Diurnal

a form of behavior characterized by activity during daytime 

β-endorphin 

Increased levels associated with analgesia, positive states 

Dopamine

Increased levels associated w/ pleasure

Oxytocin

• Social Bounding hormone

• Measured for assessing social interactions

Serotonin (urinary)

• New biomarker for dogs  

  • Diurnal fluctuations: Dawn higher levels than at dusk 

  • This difference decreases following regular social interaction sessions  

Hormonal and neurotransmitter measures of stress

• β-endorphin

• Dopamine

• Oxytocin

• Serotonin

Blood pressure 

Cardiovascular measure that can be taken near base of tail

Heart rate variability (HRV)

Cardiovascular measure, a Decreased occurs during physically or psychologically stressful events and an Increased indicates better welfare

Secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA)

• Main function: immune exclusion of pathogens

  • Neutralizes viruses, toxins, and prevents microorganisms from penetrating mucosal epithelium

• Collected from saliva or feces

• Can reflect both stress levels and immune functioning

Chronic stress decreases S-IgA

Influenced by physical and psychosocial stress

How is Immune functioning affected by physiological state of animal?

Goals for Proximate Shelter Welfare

• Reducing stress

• Maintaining health & behavior

• Improving behavioral issues

Goals for Ultimate Shelter Welfare

Getting adopted