Welfare and Quality of Life

Define Animal Welfare

-Refers to an animals collective physical, mental, and emotional states over a period of time

-Measured on continuum from good to poor

Name signs of poor Animal Welfare

-Stress (some is good)

-Distress (a negative state where organism fails back to its physiological and psychological homeostasis)

(Chronic is when animal cannot return to preferred homeostatic set points)

Is stress bad?

-Some stress can be good (meerkat sentinel)

-Chronic, prolonged is bad

Chronic Stress can produce changes in what important areas

Behavioral: -Can cause individual behavioral reactions that ranges from abnormal to lethargy behavior

Physiological: -Can cause dysregulation of the animals metabolic, reproductive, and immune system

Immune: -Can cause hormones to be over active and animal can become physically compromised

Name some possible signs of stress

-Defense responses

-Avoidance behavior

-Aggression

-Lack of responsiveness

-Stereotypic Behavior

Acute vs Chronic Stress

-Short term, “Fight or Flight” response to immediate danger. Temporary surges of adrenaline

-Prolonged harmful state resulting from repeated stressors

What is Good Welfare

-Self Maintenance behaviors

-Optimal health

-Choice and Control

-Express species specific behavior

-Thoughtfully presented, well balanced diet

-Play Behaviors

-Social Behaviors

Animal Welfare vs Animal Rights

-Refers to animals collective physical, mental, and emotional states over period of time. Measured on a continuum from good to poor

-Notion with its basis in personal philosophy and beliefs

How to document welfare concerns

-Only document objective facts

-Collect valid and reliable scientific evidence

-Do not interpret the act

-No opinions or subjectivity to influence reporting

What is Quality of Life

-General wellbeing of an individual

-Health

-Free from excessive stress, discomfort, pain

-Exhibiting natural behaviors

-Functioning within appropriate social group

What is Euthanasia

-Act of inducing a humane and painless death

May be considered when animal is: -Suffer discomfort or disease without relief

-Cannot maintain an acceptable quality of life

-Poses a threat to other animals or humans due to a medical or behavioral condition

Name the two QOL Tools

-Quantitative (span of life)

-Qualitative (quality of life)