M R . PA C EV E T A S S I S T I N G

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND RESTRAINT

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

• Auditory• Mothers identify their offspring through distinctive sounds• Animals vocalize when:• Distressed, Hungry

• Sounds communicate:• Danger, feeding, reproductive readiness, mark territory

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

• Olfactory• Odors release pheromones which trigger behavior• Readiness to breed (“heat”)• Offspring recognition

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

• Tactile• Proper behavior taught by touch patterns• Scruffing

• Touch is used in social bonding• Mutual grooming• Initiate play

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

• Visual• Visual signs made by:• Eyes, ears, tail, posture, etc.

• Recognized by SEEING:• Color or movement

FACTORS INFLUENCING BEHAVIOR

• Environment• Physical Surroundings• Cleanliness• Temperature• Lighting• Noise• Enclosure Size

FACTORS INFLUENCING BEHAVIOR

• Health• Physical Health• Anesthesia• Injury

• Ohio Wild Animals on the loose:• Why were police unable to just tranquilize all of the wild

animals and transport them to zoos?

FACTORS INFLUENCING BEHAVIOR

• Experience• The way an animal was raised affects its behavior.• Dog – Kennel vs home w/ kids• Cat – house cat vs barn cat• Horse – Raised on the range vs backyard pasture, Imprinting?

FACTORS INFLUENCING BEHAVIOR

• Genetics• Genetics affect some animal’s temperament• Can be altered in training and conditioning but will always be

there• Sea World Florida• Tilikum Returns

• Animal behavior takes shape of ancestors(wolf, wild horse, etc)

• Top 3 aggressive dogs:• Pit Bull• Rottweiler• German Shepherd

FACTORS INFLUENCING BEHAVIOR

• Ingestive• Patterns of eating,

drinking, and finding food

• Eliminative• Urinating and

defecating behaviors• Burying feces

PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR

• Sexual• Behavior

enhanced/caused by gender hormones• “Heat” Behavior• Male Dominance or

Aggression

• Mother – Young• Care giving to young• Protection

PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR

• Agnostic• Behavior associated

with danger/conflict• Fight or Flight

• Gregarious• Social structures

formed in groups, flocks, or herds

PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR

• Investigative• How animals explore

their surroundings

• Sleep and Rest• Patterns of sleep• Nocturnal• Sleep standing up or

laying down

BEHAVIORALLY HEALTHY ANIMALS…

• Behavior wellness is the condition or state of normal and acceptable pet’s conduct that enhances the human-animal bond and the pet’s quality of life

BEHAVIORALLY HEALTHY ANIMALS…

• Why would a vet clinic choose to take an active role in educating clients about animal behavior and training?• The vet clinic staff are probably the first professionals to

see a new puppy or kitten when it comes in for vaccines• You want pet owners to be happy with their pet. They

won’t be if it has behavior problems.• Working at a vet clinic allows you to see the good, bad

and ugly of every breed.• Help owners choose the right breed for them.

BEHAVIORALLY HEALTHY ANIMALS…

• People’s pets should behave in the following manner• Affectionate, without being overly needed• Are friendly toward or at least tolerant of people, including

children, and other members of their own species.• Enjoy or at least tolerate normal, everyday handling and

interactions• Eliminate only in acceptable areas• Are not overly fearful of normal, everyday events or new

things• Adapt to change with minimal problems• Play well with others by not becoming uncontrollable or

rough

BEHAVIORALLY HEALTHY ANIMALS…

• Are not nuisances or dangerous to the community• Can be left alone for a reasonable time period

without becoming anxious or panicked and consistently misbehave• Readily relinquish control of space, food, toys, or

other objects• Vocalize when appropriate, but not to excess. (dog

bark, cat meow, bird screech, etc….)• Dogs: reliably respond when told to sit, down,

come, stay.• Cats: scratch only items provided for this purpose.

DOG BEHAVIOR

• Relaxed• Tail Relaxed• Ears watching you• Mouth open• Loose stance

DOG BEHAVIOR

• Fear• Ears pinned back• “Hackles up”• Could growl• Stooped• Tail between legs

DOG BEHAVIOR

• Alert• Ears pricked forward• Tail Stiff• Mouth Closed• Standing forward on toes

DOG BEHAVIOR

• Submission• Rolled on back with stomach and throat exposed• Tail tucked• Ears back• Avoids eye contact• May dribble urine

DOG BEHAVIOR

• Aggressive• Hackles raised• Tail bristled and stiff• Nose curled, lips wrinkled• Teeth and gums visible• Stiff legged, body leaning

DOG BEHAVIOR

• Play• Tail wagging• Front end lowered• Ears up• Mouth open with tongue out

THE REAL QUESTION??

Have a dog?? …. Or have kids??

TRAINING THEORIES

• Positive Reinforcement• Correct behavior is rewarded with a pleasant stimulus• Dog is told to sit, dog sits, give treat

Video

TRAINING THEORIES

• Negative Reinforcement• Animal avoids unpleasant stimulus by doing a correct

behavior• Choke collar – dog feels no pressure unless it pulls on the

leash• Stud chain – horse feels no pressure unless it pulls

TRAINING THEORIES

• Punishment• Giving a negative stimulus after an INCORRECT behavior• Dog growls at child, adult smacks it’s nose

TRAINING THEORIES

• Extinction• Removal of positive reinforcement• Ignore the barking dog

*Technique works, but you must outlast the dog…..

TRAINING THEORIES

• Animal Training Trips• Use single syllable commands• Use voice AND visual commands• Be consistent• Avoid negative behavior• Meet pet’s needs first (exercise, feed, etc)

SMALL ANIMAL RESTRAINT

• For an exam or procedure• Try to make animal comfortable and feel safe• Use walls, corners, and yourself as a barrier

SMALL ANIMAL RESTRAINT

• To draw blood or set up IV:• Dogs• Jugular: hold in sitting position with neck up• Front leg: be sure they can’t pull leg away

SMALL ANIMAL RESTRAINT

• To draw blood or set up IV:• Cats• Scruff of back leg• Jugular

SMALL ANIMAL RESTRAINT

• For an x-ray

Sternal RecumbancyLateral Recumbancy

SMALL ANIMAL RESTRAINT

Tricks for aggressive/fearful dogs:• Muzzle• Gauze muzzle• Loop leash• Rabies pole

SMALL ANIMAL RESTRAINT

Tricks for aggressive/fearful cats:• Towel wrap• Face mask• Cat bag

LARGE ANIMAL RESTRAINTS

• Horses:• Stocks• Prevent Movement

• Tricks for problem horses that can’t be controlled in stocks

LARGE ANIMAL RESTRAINT

• Horses:• How to safely tie a horse

LARGE ANIMAL RESTRAINT

• Cattle: • Squeeze chutes

LARGE ANIMAL RESTRAINT

• Sheep/Goats• Keep head up; they can’t run forward with their head up• Hold all 4 legs when possible

PRACTICE

• Restraint of the Dog for Venipuncture of the Lateral Saphenous Vein• Restraint of the Dog for Jugular Venipuncture• Restraint of the Dog for Cephalic Venipuncture• Applying a gauze muzzle