Health management ethology

why is behavior important?

1. promote safe and humane handling

2. to influence behavior

3. to resolve disorders

4. to help asses welfare

operational definition

precise description of physical movements

common measures of behavior:

1. latency

2. frequency

3. duration

4. intensity

latency

duration of time from specified event, to onset of the first occurrence of behavior of interest

frequency

number of occurrences of behavior of interest per unit time (measure of rate of occurrence)

duration

amount of time for which a single occurrence of behavior pattern of interest lasts

intensity

degree or amount of strength or force something has

events

distinct actions of relatively short duration that can be approximated as discrete points in time

states

activities which occupy prolonged periods of time

continuous sampling

full and complete recording of events and states of subjects during a complete period of time of interest

interval sampling

full and complete recording of events and states of subjects during specified period of time at a regular interval

instantaneous sampling

behavior state of each subject is noted at the exact instant of predetermined, regular interval

3 classes of pain behavior:

1. animals exhibiting choice/preference to avoid pain

2. change in frequency or magnitude of normal behaviors

3. pain specific behaviors

subjective measures of behavior:

• based on scales for either specific or general item

• subjective impressions of client or clinician

objective measures of behavior:

observations of specific measures using clear definitions

pros of objective measures of behavior:

• doesn’t rely on client impressions

• data is consistent and easy to track

cons of objective measures of behavior:

can be time consuming to set up and use

normal, but unwanted behavior

• adaptive behaviors that are inconvenient

• can be prevented or managed

normal behavior

adaptive behaviors that promote health, survival, and reproduction

suppression of typical behaviors

• physiological or psychological suppression of typical behaviors by external threat/stress/illness

• adaptive changes in behavior to conserve resources and promote survival and/or reproduction

vacuum activities

fixed actions performed in absence of normal eliciting stimulus

displacement activities

irrelevant behaviors performed during periods of motivational conflict or stress

abnormal behavior criteria:

1. statistically rare, based on naturalistic conditions

2. generally lacking any clear or apparent function

3. often pathological, either causing harm or resulting from neurological damage

abnormal repetitive behaviors

behavior patterns that are inappropriate, repeated and unvarying in either motor pattern or goal

abnormal repetitive behavior subtypes:

1. stereotypic behaviors

2. impulsive/compulsive behaviors

stereotypic behaviors

repetitive, unvarying and with no apparent goal or function

impulsive/compulsive behaviors

repetition of inappropriate goal with variable flexible goal-directed behavior

abnormal repetitive behaviors are associated with alterations to what part of the brain?

basal ganglia and connections to cortex

treatment of abnormal repetitive behaviors:

reducing stress and frustration and encouraging natural behaviors

• environmental and social enrichment

• reducing aversive conditions

• pharmacological treatment

performance of abnormal repetitive behaviors can have __________ effects so prevention may be contraindicated

beneficial

causation

proximate mechanisms that stimulate behavior, including physiology

ontogeny

behavioral development

changes to normal beef cattle behavior:

1. reduced vigilance behavior

2. maternal behavior (selection against cows that are aggressive to humans after calving)

3. reproductive behavior (seasonal breeding replaced with year round)

4. feeding behavior

what are beef problem behaviors during handling?

1. balking

2. rearing in chute

3. charging handler

balking

stopping/refusing to move forward

how to prevent beef problem behaviors during handling

habituate cattle to humans, and good handling

mis-mothering

• rejection of newborn calf

• calf stealing by cows close to giving birth

how to prevent mis-mothering:

• facilitate licking of the newborn to trigger normal maternal behavior

• work to get calf to nurse

• cows that steal need to be separated from main calving group to avoid interference

buller steer syndrome

repeated mounting of individual animal (buller) in feedlots by one or more penmates (rider)

how to prevent buller steer syndrome:

• avoid large groups

• remove buller

conventional method of weaning beef cow:

wean at 6-8 months old by imposing remote physical separation of cow and calf

fenceline weaning

separate cows and calves by fence in adjacent fields

two stage/quiet weaning

• nursing prevented by nose-flap

• pairs separated 4-7 days later

behavioral problems in dairy cattle:

1. nose pressing

2. tongue rolling

3. problem behavior during handling

4. non-nutritive sucking by calves

5. problems related to lying

dairy problem behavior during handling:

1. balking

2. kicking at milking

non-nutritive sucking by calves

sucking on objects that provide no apparent nutritive reinforcement

problems related to lying in dairy calves:

1. lying in alleyways or transfer alleys

2. lying backwards in stall

3. not standing up or lying down in natural way, resulting in injury

4. extreme lying durations

3 components of proAction’s animal care assessment:

1. producer self-evaluation questionnaire

2. SOPs (colostrum, health practices, branding, euthanasia, shipping)

3. cattle assessment

6 attributes of locomotion scoring cattle:

1. spinal arch

2. head bob

3. asymmetric steps/reluctance to bear weight

4. tracking up

5. joint flexion

6. swinging in/out

what are 4 control points to assess lameness in cow?

1. weight shifting from side to side

2. uneven weight bearing

3. standing on stall edge to take weight off affected claw

4. uneven movement when cow is moved laterally

horses are sensitive to ________ and move away from it

pressure

positive reinforcement

encouraging behavior by giving rewarding stimulus

negative reinforcement

encouraging behavior by removing negative stimulus

positive punishment

discouraging behavior by giving negative stimulus

negative punishment

discouraging behavior by removing positive stimulus

cribbing

abnormal behavior that involves gripping surface with teeth, flexing neck, and sucking in air→increases intra-abdominal pressure

what is enrichment for horses?

• providing turnout

• foraging opportunity

• social opportunity

traditional horse training involves what kind of operant conditioning?

negative reinforcement

shaping

rewarding components of a more complicated behavior to build up to full repertoire

cooperative care

method of training that allows animal to participate in its own care and husbandry/medical procedures

suffering

absence of certain conditions, where the animal is motivated to perform a behavior and unable to because of physical restraint or lack of suitable stimuli

what behaviors have been altered in chickens?

• broodiness (incubation and care of chicks) has been selected out

• feeding behavior is more efficient

important behaviors for hens:

• nesting

• perching

• dust bathing

• foraging

nesting is stimulated by ________

ovulation

hens without a nest box are…

more active, take longer to settle, and show stereotypic pacing during the hour before egg laying

dominance

relationship between two individuals related to priority of access to critical resources

leadership

initiation of group activities based on affiliative behaviors and not dominance

sensitive periods

period during development where attachment and familiarity develops easily and rapidly

sensitive period for puppies:

3-16 weeks

sensitive period for kittens:

2-9 weeks

prior to first vaccination, socialization should stick to…

safe activities

how long should you wait after vaccination to begin socialization?

1 week

good puppy/kitten class features:

• clean and danger free

• all puppies should have first vaccination

• positive reinforcement methods

• good content

kitten fear behavior:

• hissing

• piloerection

• arched posture

• ears and whiskers back

• pupil dilation

kitten avoidance behavior:

• struggling or moving away

• refusing treats

puppy fear behavior:

• arched posture

• ears back

• tail tucked

• freezing and barking

• lip licking

• paw lifting

• panting

• yawning and flinching

puppy avoidance behavior:

• struggling or moving away

• refusing treats

minimum exercise for dogs:

15 min 2x a day

AAFP guidelines of environmental needs for cats:

1. safe place

2. multiple and separated key environmental resources

3. opportunity for play and predatory behavior

4. positive, consistent, and predictable human-cat social interaction

5. provide an environment that respects importance of cats sense of smell

guinea pigs should be housed in…

pairs

behavioral consultation treatment plan:

1. owner education

2. modify environment

3. modify animal

fear

emotional response to a present or threatened danger

anxiety

reaction to prospective or imagined danger or uncertainty

phobia

marked, persistent, excessive fear of clearly discernable objects or situations

what factors influence fear?

• genetics

• previous experience

• current situation

developing plan for desensitization and counter conditioning:

1. identify fear threshold

2. develop clear gradient for exposure

3. desensitize and counter condition using gradient

generalized anxiety

no clear triggers across a range of situations

separation anxiety

distress response when left alone, or when separated from specific person or people

noise phobia can be acutely treated with which medication ?

alprazolam or other benzodiazepines

dog bite level 1

pre bite, snapping but no contact

dog bite level 2

tooth contact on skin but no puncture

dog bite level 3

skin punctures (one or multiple bites) shallower than length of canine tooth

dog bite level 4

single bite with punctures deeper than length of canine or with slashes in both directions (dog bit and shook head)

dog bite level 5

multiple bite attack with deep punctures or multiple attack incident

dog bite level 6

victim killed or flesh consumed

dog owners liability act

• owner is liable for damages arising from bite from any breed of dog

• pitbulls prohibited

health protection and promotion act

veterinarians must report mammal bites to public health

redirected aggression

high arousal, interference elicits bite but not original target

predatory aggression

related to prey drive

play aggression

unruly play with lack of inhibition