APSC Test 3 Canine/Feline Behavioral Disorders

canine behavioral disorder definition

based on clinical diagnosis and significantly impacts the dog, the owner, and society

what are the five major categories of canine behavioral disorders?

1. fears, anxieties, and phobia-related disorders

2. compulsive disorders

3. elimination disorders

4. aggression problems

5. miscellaneous problems

fear definition

apprehension of a stimulus, object, or event

what are the “4 Fs” of the fear response?

fight, flight, freeze, fidget

anxiety in dogs definition

the anticipation of a threat when no real threat is currently present

what are common signs of canine anxiety?

• hypervigilance

• restlessness

• scanning

• increased HR & RR (panting)

• loss of selective attention

• hesitation in behavior sequences

what is separation anxiety?

a phobia-level anxiety that occurs when the dog is separated from the owner or attachment figure

what is a phobia?

an irrational fear, disproportionate to actual threat and often “all of nothing”; persists after the danger ends

how do compulsive disorders develop?

often begin in situations involving conflict or frustration, then become ritualized, repetitive behaviors

examples of compulsive behaviors

• tail chasing

• circling

• spinning

• fly snapping

• freezing

• repetitive pouncing

what genetic predispositions exist for canine compulsions?

• wool-sucking in Oriental cats

• Tail-chasing in German Shepherds

• Flank sucking in Dobermans

what neurotransmitters are involved in compulsive disorders?

• serotonin

• dopamine

• opiates

what are causes of incomplete house training?

• inappropriate substrate preference

• inadequate training

• wrong location preference

what are examples of emotionally related urination?

• excitement urination

• anxiety urination

submissive urination definition

a normal behavior in young dogs triggered by submission cues

what other elimination disorders occur?

• scent marking

• incontinence

aggression definition

a normal form of communication used to resolve conflict, defend resources, protect, or obtain status — becomes a problem when excessive or inappropriate

what are the main motivations driving aggression?

• competition

• self-defense

• defense or already-held resources

what are the three phases of aggression?

1. intimidation

2. attack

3. appeasement

what triggers status-related aggression?

occurs when the dog feels challenged by a lower-ranking individual (dog or human)

what is fear aggression?

aggression shown toward fear-evoking stimuli when avoidance or appeasement has failed

give examples of triggers for fear aggression

• abuse

• harsh punishment

• painful medical treatment

• fear periods in puppies

what breed-specific fear responses exist?

• terriers: tenacity (“gameness”)

• beagles: catatonia

• collies: herding-like chasing of moving objects

redirected aggression definition

aggression toward a secondary target when the dog cannot address the original stimulus (due to fear, frustration, or restraint)

what is the difference between food-related and object-related possessive aggression?

• food-related: guarding items with intrinsic value

• object-related: guarding toys or objects associated with social status

what is territorial aggression?

aggression direction toward people or animals approaching or entering the dog’s home territory

what is target-related aggression?

behavior such as window-barking at mail carriers or passers-by; fear-based and highly reinforcing

when is protective aggression displayed?

only when the person being guarded is physically present

what hormones contribute to maternal aggression?

prolactin plays a major role

how does chronic pain influence aggression?

it increases irritability, decreases the aggression threshold, and triggers defensiveness

what is central sensitization?

process where untreated pain sensitizes the CNS, causing lasting aggressive tendencies even after the pain source is resolved

what is the predatory sequence?

detect → stalk → charge → attack → kill

teething definition

gnawing/nibbling during 3-6 months when puppies lose deciduous teeth

nipping definition

intentional biting with pressure, usually during overexcitement or poor play behavior

idiopathic aggression definition

severe, unprovoked, unpredictable aggression

• often linked to medical conditions such as epilepsy or “rage syndrome”

which neurotransmitters are associated with affective aggression?

• serotonin

• dopamine

• noradrenaline

• acetylcholine

• GABA

which system is involved in non-affective (predatory) aggression?

primarily acetylcholine, with less autonomic activation

what are common consumptive problems?

• coprophagia

• pica

• anorexia

• obesity

• polydipsia

what motivates digging?

• exploratory behavior

• escape attempts

• OCD

• food hunting

what causes roaming?

• boredom

• desire to escape

• mating drive

what motivates mounting behavior?

• hormones

• overexcitement

• frustration

what are the four major categories of feline behavioral disorders?

1. fear, anxiety, and phobias

2. compulsive disorders

3. house-soiling and marking problems

4. aggression problems

what types of fears are commonly seen in cats?

• fear of other species (e.g., dogs)

• fear of people, inanimate objects

• noise

• phobias

what behavioral signs may fearful cats show?

• defensive aggression

• withdrawal socially or physically

• increased reactivity or low threshold responses

what is desensitization in fear treatment?

a training method where the fear-eliciting stimulus is presented below threshold, gradually increasing intensity over time to reduce fear

what is counterconditioning?

pairing the fear-eliciting stimulus with something the cat enjoys (food/play) so the emotional response changes from fear to positive anticipation

what are feline compulsive disorders?

repetitious or exaggerated self-maintenance behaviors often caused by inability to perform normal behaviors and stress

what breeds are predisposed to compulsive disorders?

• burmese

  • siamese

list common feline compulsive behaviors

• hyperesthesia syndrome

• psychogenic alopecia (over-grooming)

• self-mutilation

• pica

• wool-sucking

what are causes of wool-sucking behavior?

• early weaning

• kitten sees owner as surrogate mother

• mis-wiring in hypothalamus → redirects hunting to inappropriate items

what are signs of feline hyperesthesia?

• skin rippling or twitching along back

• excessive grooming/biting at flank

• tail whipping

what medical issues can mimic hyperesthesia?

• neuropathic pain

• dermatologic disease

• myopathies

• focal seizures

why are cat bites a concern?

50-74% of cat bites contain Pasteurella multocida, making them more dangerous than dog bites

what is displacement activity in cats?

a behavior performed to resolve internal conflict, often unrelated to the actual situation (e.g., grooming instead of attacking or fleeing)

what is canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD)?

a neurodegenerative syndrome similar to Alzheimer’s disease that affects aging dogs, causing decline in cognitive function

what causes CCD?

• beta-amyloid plaque buildup

• neuronal degeneration

• neurofibrillary tangles

what does the acronym DISHAA stand for?

• Disorientation

• Interaction changes

• Sleep-wake cycle changes

• Housesoiling/learning/memory issues

• Activity changes

• Anxiety

what are treatments for CCD?

• prescription medication: Selegiline

• diets: Hills b/d, Purina Vibrant Maturity 7+

• supplements: SAMe

• management/environmental enrichment

what is feline cognitive dysfunction?

an age-related cognitive decline similar to CCD, affecting 55% of cats aged 11-15 and 80% of cats 16-20

what are symptoms of feline cognitive dysfunction?

• spatial disorientation

• wandering

• altered sleep-wake cycle

• loud or excessive vocalization

• forgetting location of food bowl or litter box