Animal Behaviour - Abnormal and Repetitive Behaviours
The majority of behaviour complaints in animals are not truly abnormal, but rather normal species-specific behaviours that are undesirable to owners, such as urine spraying or aggression. However, abnormal behaviours can occur—these are repetitive, lack clear function, and are not part of the normal behavioural repertoire.
Are the majority of behaviours complained about abnormal?
No - normal for the species but unacceptable to owners eg. urine spraying, aggression
BUT abnormal can occur - behaviours not part of the normal repertoire and have no adaptive value
Key Terms
Are the majority of behaviours complained about abnormal?
No - normal for the species but unacceptable to owners eg. urine spraying, aggression
BUT abnormal can occur - behaviours not part of the nor...
What is a stereotypy? What are these similar to?
No obvious aim or function eg. horses weaving, zoo/farm animals repetitive locomotor behaviours
-“repetitive invariant behaviour patterns wit...
What is the accepted term for stereotypies/compulsive disorders? Who proposed this?
Garner 2006 - Abnormal Repetitive Behaviour (ARB)
Give some figures for prevalence of ARBs in cat and dog population with reference
Ontario Veterinary College Luescher 1998
3.5% dogs
6% cats
Give examples of ABNORMAL behaviours
May be locomotor or oral
Circling
Tail chasing
Pacing
Pouncing
Chasing light points
Staring at shadows
St...
In which breed is flank sucking predisposed?
Doberman
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Are the majority of behaviours complained about abnormal? | No - normal for the species but unacceptable to owners eg. urine spraying, aggression BUT abnormal can occur - behaviours not part of the normal repertoire and have no adaptive value |
What is a stereotypy? What are these similar to? | No obvious aim or function eg. horses weaving, zoo/farm animals repetitive locomotor behaviours -“repetitive invariant behaviour patterns with no obvious goal or function -often related to suboptimal husbandry Similar to Compulsive disorder (=OCD in humans but avoiding issue of conscious obsession) |
What is the accepted term for stereotypies/compulsive disorders? Who proposed this? | Garner 2006 - Abnormal Repetitive Behaviour (ARB) |
Give some figures for prevalence of ARBs in cat and dog population with reference | Ontario Veterinary College Luescher 1998 3.5% dogs 6% cats |
Give examples of ABNORMAL behaviours | May be locomotor or oral Circling Tail chasing Pacing Pouncing Chasing light points Staring at shadows Startle response suddenly Chewing feet Excessive licking FLy-snapping (often hallucinatory) Air or noise licking Flank sucking Hyperaesthesia Pica Polydipsia/phagia Sidden aggression at self or object Rhythmical vocalistion |
In which breed is flank sucking predisposed? | Doberman |
What are Staffordshire bull terriers predisposed to do? | Spinning |
In which breeds is tail chasing predisposed? | GSD and australian cattle dogs |
What are miniature shnauzers predisposed to do? | Check their hind end |
What are border collies predisposed to? | Shadow chasing/light staring Running circular tracks Fly snapping (partial seizures in the visual cortex) |
Can repetitive behaviours be down to seizures? | Maybe initially, but not continuously |
What is the function os a stereotypy or ARB? | Lowering arousal Coping mechanism - kennelled dogs showing stereotypies actually have lower levels of stress physiologically - at start often only seen in high stress situations, gradually threshold lowers until become commonplace |
What may occur if no behavioural solution is found by the animals to control the stress response? | Prolonged physiological stress -> changes in physiology and immunology -> FIC/IBS |
How do these behaviours develop? | Start for a range of reasons Reinforced as a strategy within a particular context Occour in response to predictive cues Then generalisation |
What are possible causes or origin behaviours? | Developmental - behaviours occurring during brain development Frustration - not being able to perform behaviours motivated to perform Prolonged, inescapable or extreme stress Situations of emotional conflict (Displacement behaviour) Medical reason eg. licking wound Reinforced externally |
Why may abnormal repetitive behaviours cause problems with life? | May be performed at the detriment of other behaviours like eating |
What is emancipation in the context of ARBs? | Behaviour is eventually performed whenever the animal is aroused -> situation you see behaviour performed in is NOT necessarily what caused the development of the behaviour “Behaviour is emancipated from causal factors” |
How should ARB cases be treated? | Identify trigger factors - remove/reduce and then DS/CC animal to these factors Remove external reinforcement of behaviour Treat inflammatory / pain réponses caused by behaviour Reduce stress generally - training, hide places Potentially drug therapy |
What is the most common ARB in cats ? | Over grooming pyschogenic alopecia over-grooming syndrome atypical neurodermatitus/hyperaesthesia |
What are the symptoms of over grooming in cats? | Excessive grooming/plucking/chewing - flanks and front FOcal or generalised alopecia Broken hair-shafts Mainly caudal body Regurgitation of hair GIT disturbances |
How do compulsive chewing disorders manifest differently in cats and dogs | Cats will not chew paws Dogs will |
How does over grooming develop? | medical problems eg. FAD or dietary allergy Reinforced by owner Displacement activity - often after conflict or near a stressful event |
What is pica? | Ingestion of non-food material |
What condition may appear to be similar to pica but has different origin? | Ripping up materials but not eating them |
What are common materials for pica? | Wool (esp prevalent in burmese and siamese) Cotton Plastic/wood (non-orientals) |
Why may pica occur? | Misidentification of food i.e. thinks its a mouse Medical differentials - Liver disease -> polyphagia Cognitive dysfunction Dental/oral pain Gastric foreign body |
What are the breed predispositions associated with pica? | Especially seen in siamese and burmese |
When does pica often begin? | Stressful event eg. house move, breeder to new owner, sexual maturity ~1yr |
How can medical pica potentially be differentiated? | Give shredded wool with food to rule out actual need to digest the wool |