Behaviour in the Veterinary Clinic & Environmental Enrichment

Importance of Behaviour Evaluation
- Owners desire relaxed and happy pets during hospitalization.
- Traditional veterinary focus includes physical and physiological needs, but psychological needs are also crucial.
When to Evaluate
- Begins upon arrival.
- Incorporate behavioral observations into history taking.
- Acknowledge the human-animal bond to understand behavior.
What to look for:
- Temperament, obedience, owner relationship.
- Control, proximity behavior, vocalization, other behaviors (hyper-salivation, escape).
Benefits of Behavior Evaluations
- Determines approach and interaction methods.
- Informs necessary precautions.
- Guides environmental enrichment strategies.
Negative Impacts
- Adverse mental health can worsen pain and delay recovery.
- Environmental enrichment is a preventative and first-aid measure.
Stress Factors
- Novel environments, extrinsic stimuli, and fight-or-flight responses contribute to stress.
- Previous aversive experiences affect stress levels.
- Stress is related to genetics, experiences, and control.

Definition: Adding factors to improve physical and psychological welfare.
Implementation: Preventative and first-aid measure.
Benefits: Improved welfare, quicker healing, stress reduction.
Attributes addressing psychological needs
- Security: Safe spaces, predictable routines.
- Complexity: Opportunities for locomotive and exploratory activities.
- Achievement: Ability to control their environment and work for rewards.
- Novelty: Balanced unpredictability to avoid fear or boredom.
Stress & Pain Recognition
- Learn to recognize signs of stress in hospitalized patients.
- Pain assessment can be challenging.
- Inappropriate analgesia increases stress.
Expression of Emotion
- Cats: Active or passive displays; passive can be mistaken for contentment.
- Dogs: Introvert or extrovert behaviors.
Common Stress Behaviors
- Dogs and Cats: Increased heart/respiratory rate, dilated pupils, vocalizing, inappetence.
- Dogs: Tense posture, panting, pacing, circling, jumping.
- Cats: Hiding, lack of self-care, over-grooming.

Olfactory Stimuli
- Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP): Calming effect, reduces anxiety.
- Feliway®: Synthetic facial pheromone; anti-anxiety, aids interactions.
Auditory Stimuli
- Music: Classical music is calming; heavy metal agitates.
- Dog Laughter: Reduces distress signs.
Other Ideas
- Home items: Clothing, beds, toys.
- Escape routes: Dens, cage coverings.
- Training: Clicker training (cats), behavior modification (dogs).

Animate: Intra-specific, Inter-specific (human, companions).
Inanimate: Physical space (vertical, materials, structures). Feeding, toys, sensory (visual, auditory, olfactory, pheromone).

Simple actions, such as adding a new CD, or elaborate actions, such as providing a food dispenser.
EE relies on:
- Good behavioral observations
- Good communication with owners
- Appropriate strategies for an individual animals medical circumstance
  Changes in animal behaviour produced by EE must be linked to an improvement in welfare for that animal.

Take your time with every patient
- 1st experience will be imprinted so make it a good one!
EE is not just about the cage
Good/pleasant experiences make subsequent visits easier
Integration of a simple yet effective stress management programme for hospitalised dogs and cats provides holistic care within the veterinary practice.