APSC Test 3 Training

what does DRD4 (Dopamine Receptor D4) influence in animals?

DRD4 is expressed mainly in neural cells and influences cognitive and emotional behaviors, including novelty seeking

what human traits are linked to DRD4 exon 3 polymorphism?

• high novelty-seeking

• ADHD

what species besides humans show DRD4-related behavioral variation?

dogs, horses, and non-human primates

what are signs of ADHD-type behavior in dogs?

• inability to relax

• increased spontaneous activity

• poor attention span

which breeds show DRD4-related impulsivity traits?

• german shepherds: exon 3 polymorphism linked to activity/impulsivity

• siberian huskies: short alleles → higher activity, impulsivity, inattention

what are the two most important learning methods in behavioral medicine?

1. classical conditioning

2. operant conditioning

classical conditioning definition

“associative learning”: animal learns a relationship between two stimuli

• example: Pavlov’s dogs learned that a bell predicts food and began to salivate

example of conditioned fear

a dog learning to fear a raised hand after one incident of physical punishment

what is operant conditioning?

learning through consequences — behavior determines whether a reward or punishment follows

• ex: dog sits calmly → gets a walk; dog fails to sit → walk is withheld

what are the two categories of consequences in operant conditioning?

• reinforcers: increase behavior

• punishers: decrease behavior

what are the three major behavior modification techniques?

• habituation

• desensitization

• counterconditioning

what is habituation?

a decrease in response to a repeated or prolonged benign stimulus

• socialization (Rule of 7s) helps habituate puppies to people, dogs, and environments

what is desensitization?

presenting a fear-evoking stimulus below threshold, then gradually increasing intensity until no fear remains

• example: playing doorbell sounds at gradually increasing volumes

what is counterconditioning?

replacing an unwanted emotional response with a positive one by pairing the scary stimulus with something pleasant (food/play)

• ex: pairing vacuum cleaner with treats

why can desensitization + counterconditioning take a long time?

because behavior change must occur gradually and fear responses can be strongly learned or generalized

what is shaping?

a method of teaching a new behavior through successive approximations, rewarding each step toward the final behavior

• ex: rewarding squatting → deeper squat → full sit

what is extinction?

elimination of a trained behavior by removing the reward

• ex: ignoring a dog that jumps up for attention

what factors increase resistance to extinction?

• high-value rewards

• behavior long-established

• intermittent reinforcement

what is the difference between extinction and habituation?

• extinction: loss of a trained behavior

• habituation: loss of response to a novel repeated stimulus

what is flooding?

prolonged exposure to a stimulus until the animal stops reacting

• high risk of worsening fear → used only by professionals as a last resort

why is psychopharmacology not a substitute for behavior therapy?

because drugs:

• need accurate diagnosis

• require client compliance

• are rarely enough alone

• must be combined with behavioral therapy

what requirement must be met for extra-label drug use (ELDU)?

a valid Vet-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) is required before prescribing a drug outside its label

what is acepromazine used for?

• sedation, restraint

• car travel anxiety

• noise-related fears (traditionally)

why is acepromazine risky in fearful dogs?

it blocks motor response but not perception, so the dog still experiences fear but cannot respond → may worsen fear or cause aggression

what are side effects of acepromazine?

• lowers seizure threshold

• avoid in neurologic cases

• impairs platelet function

what is buspirone used for?

• generalized anxiety

• urine spraying in cats

what unique benefit may timid cats show on buspirone?

increased social confidence

what is the main side effect?

paradoxical aggression in some multi-cat homes

what do benzodiazepines treat?

anxiety and phobias

• act on GABA-A receptors

what are main side effects of BZDs?

• sedation

• muscle relaxation

• paradoxical excitement

• increased appetite

what do TCAs do?

inhibit reuptake of serotonin & norepinephrine

• most common: clomipramine

what are TCAs used for?

• compulsive disorders

• separation anxiety

• aggression

• storm phobia

• feline urine spraying

what is the mechanism of SSRIs?

block serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) → more serotonin in synaptic cleft

• most common: fluoxetine

what is fluoxetine FDA-approved to treat in dogs?

separation anxiety

what caution exists with SSRIs?

Do not stop abruptly and do not combine with flea/tick collars or MAOIs

What does selegiline treat?

• cognitive decline in cats and dogs

• Parkinson’s in humans

why must MAOIs not be combined with SSRIs or TCAs?

risk of serotonin syndrome and CNS toxicity

what is gabapentin used for?

• anxiety

• pain control

• seizures

what do beta-blockers treat in behavioral medicine?

somatic signs of anxiety (e.g., tachycardia)

what are examples of synthetic pheromones used?

• adaptil (dog appeasing pheromone)

• feliway (cat facial pheromone)

what nutraceuticals are used for behavior?

• zylkene

• anxitane

• solliquin

what herbal or homeopathic remedies may be used?

• lavender, chamomile oils

• bach flower rescue remedy

• western australian flower essences

• constitutional remedies (e.g., Lachesis muta)

what animals are commonly categorized as “pocket pets”?

rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, and sometimes rabbits

what is the typical lifespan of rats and mice?

2-3 years

are rats and mice social animals?

yes, they are highly social and should never be kept alone; best kept in same-sex pairs or groups

how much daily exercise do rats and mice need?

ideally one hour per day outside the cage

are rats and mice nocturnal or diurnal?

nocturnal

what is the taxonomy of the house mouse?

• class: mammalia

• order: rodentia

• family: muridae

• genus: mus

• species: mus musculus

• 20 chromosome pairs

what is the taxonomy of the Norway rat?

• class: mammalia

• order: rodentia

• family: muridae

• genus: rattus

• species: rattus norvegicus

• 21 chromosome pairs

what cage size is appropriate for rats and mice?

a wire cage with 12 × 24 inches of floor space for 2 rats or 4-5 mice

why are glass cages not recommended for rodents?

they provide poor ventilation; ideal environmental conditions are 65-75F and 30-70% humidity

which bedding type should NOT be used for rats?

cedar shavings, because the oils can be toxic

how many vertebrae do rats/mice have in each region?

• 7 cervical

• 12-14 thoracic

• 5-6 lumbar

• 4 sacral

• 27-30 caudal

how many pairs of ribs do rats usually have?

13 pairs, with the first 7 cranial pairs attached to the sternum

what is the dental formula for rats and mice?

2(1/1 incisors, 0/0 canines, 0/0 premolars, 3/3 molars)

why is malocclusion common?

incisors grow continuously and must be worn down

what does the Harderian gland secrete when rats are stressed?

a red porphyrin pigment resembling blood, causing chromodacryorrhea (“red tears”)

can rats vomit? why or why not?

no their stomach has a limiting ridge that prevents reverse flow

do mice and rats have a gallbladder?

rats: no gallbladder

mice: no appendix

daily food intake?

mice: 3-4 g/day

rats: 10-12 g/day

what is the anogenital distance used for?

sexing rats/mice — males have a longer distance

what reproductive structures do male rats have?

seminal vesicles, coagulating glands, prostrate, bulbourethral glands, and an os penis

how many nipples do rats and mice have?

rats: 6 pairs

mice: 5 pairs

what type of uterus do they have?

bicornuate uterus; rats have 2 cervices; mice have 1

what is the estrous cycle length in rats/mice?

4-6 days with estrus occurring at night around day 3

gestation lengths?

mouse: 18.5 - 21 days

rat: 21-23 days

when are pups weaned?

3-4 weeks

what is a milk spot?

a visible area in neonates showing milk in the stomach

what species is the most common pet hamster?

syrian hamster (mesocricetus auratus)

are syrian hamsters social or solitary?

solitary — must be housed alone

what unique structures do hamsters have for carrying food?

cheek pouches that extend back over the neck

what is the purpose of flank glands?

used by males to mark territory

what is the length of hamster gestation?

15-18 days — shortest of the species discussed

what is the proper term for guinea pigs?

cavies (genus Cavia)

are guinea pigs solitary?

no, they are social, very vocal animals

why do they require vitamin C supplementation?

they cannot synthesize vitamin C, making them prone to scurvy

what reproductive concern exists regarding the pubic symphysis?

if the sow is bred after 7 months without prior birth, the symphysis may not separate → dystocia risk

gestation length

59-72 days (average ~68)

what training principle is most effective for rats?

positive reinforcement, often with clicker (secondary reinforcement)

what is shaping in rat training?

rewarding successive approximations of a desired behavior

what is targeting?

animal touches a specific object (ball/buzzer) to earn a reward

what commands can rats learn vocally?

their name, “come”, “in”, and “out”

how do you litter train a rabbit?

place a litter box in the preferred corner, use safe substrates, avoid clumping/cat litter and softwood shavings

what types of harnesses are used for rabbits?

• regular dog/cat harness

• H-harness

• mesh/fabric harness

what tricks can rabbits learn?

sit up, turn around, give five, target training, agility/hopping