• Understand and apply the key concepts of animal behavior in veterinary practice

    Animal behavior is a critical aspect of veterinary medicine, often underappreciated despite its pervasiveness throughout the field. Understanding animal behavior can facilitate communication with patients, refine diagnoses and indications of ill health, and aid in processes of learning and socialization. Introduction to Animal Behavior and Veterinary Behavioral Medicine offers a comprehensive overview of the key concepts underlying the behavior of multiple animal species before demonstrating how to apply these concepts clinically, incorporating animal behavior into treatment and recovery plans. The result is an indispensable resource for veterinary students and practitioners who want to deepen their understanding of patient needs.

    Introduction to Animal Behavior and Veterinary Behavioral Medicine readers will also find:

    * Comprehensive coverage of companion animal behavior and additional coverage of livestock and wild animal behavior

    * Detailed discussion of topics including social development, animal learning, applied behavior analysis and problem solving, and more

    * Companion website with key images

    Introduction to Animal Behavior and Veterinary Behavioral Medicine is ideal preparation for veterinary medical students as part of "day one readiness" in their professional careers, as well as veterinary practitioners looking for a solid foundation in animal behavior and the treatment of key issues.

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    I. Introduction to animal behavior and handling concepts

    1. Introduction – Authored by Meghan E. Herron, DVM, DACVB

    An overview of animal behavior and how it applies to veterinary medicine
    What shapes behavior in animals?
    Genetics
    Early environmental experiences
    Health status
    Approaches to studying behavior in animals
    Ethological
    Experiential
    Physiological
    Why is behavior relevant to veterinary medicine?
    Production Animals – What behavior tells us about estrus, health status and welfare
    Pet Industry – Behavior shapes the human-animal bond
    Wild Animals in Captivity – How behavior is the key to welfare and successful health management in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries
    Clinical Veterinary Medicine – Behavioral indicators of disease and safe animal handling

    2. The Process of Domestication

    How behavior shaped today’s companion and livestock species
    Learn the lingo
    Domesticated vs. feral
    Wild vs. tamed
    Natural vs. artificial selection
    Traits that favor domestication – What physical and behavioral attributes made certain species more favorable for domestication and why?
    The evolution of each domestic species
    Domestication of dogs (Canis familiaris) – the greatest change in history and the role of neoteny
    Domestication of cats (Felis catus) - how little has changed throughout history
    Domestication of horses (Equus caballus) – how we had it wrong for so long
    Domestication of livestock animals - chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus - three main factors shaped today’s cattle), pigs and sheep

    3. Social Behavior

    What are the benefits of group vs. solitary living?
    Pairs, packs, matriarchal groups and natal bands
    Social space, individual space and flight zones – how each is relevant to group housing
    Social facilitation
    Maternal behavior – the first social experience
    Social hierarchies – What they are and why they are beneficial in group living, as well as their clinical relevance for farmers and veterinarians
    Linear hierarchies – where the "pecking order" came from
    Triangular, despotic and complex hierarchies
    Aggression – what is aggression, what is its purpose, when is it normal?
    Learn the lingo
    Aggression
    Agonistic behavior
    Affiliative behavior
    Submission
    Avoidance

    4. Sensory and Perception

    Vision
    Color vision
    Monocular vs. binocular vision – benefit for predator vs. prey species
    Hearing
    Ranges if each species – how and why this evolved
    Pinnae – the effects of size, shape and distance in between
    Olfactory
    Scents
    Pheromones
    Taste
    Variance between species
    Food aversion development

    5. Animal Learning

    Associative Learning
    Classical Conditioning
    What is Pavlovian conditioning and how does it apply to companion animals?
    The use of classical counter-conditioning in everyday practice and in prescribed therapies
    Operant Conditioning
    The "four quadrants" – how they work and how they are applied
    Positive reinforcement
    Negative reinforcement
    Positive punishment
    Negative punishment
    Reinforcement Schedules – what they are and how they are applied
    Non-associative learning
    Sensitization vs habituation
    The use of desensitization and counter-conditioning in behavior modification of companion animals – putting it all together

    6. The development of behavior and the shaping of the human-animal bond in companion animals: dogs
    How early development shapes adult behavior, socialization vs. imprinting, setting up for success in dogs.

    7. The development of behavior and the shaping of the human-animal bond in companion animals: cats
    How early development shapes adult behavior, socialization vs. imprinting, setting up for success in cats.

    8. The development of behavior and the shaping of the human-animal bond in companion animals: horses
    How early development shapes adult behavior, socialization vs. imprinting, setting up for success in horses.

    9. Bovine Communication, Restraint and Handling
    Reading, interpreting and responding to bovine body language and signals of intent; safe, effective and humane restraint and handling techniques for cattle.

    10. Equine Communication, Restraint and Handling
    Reading, interpreting and responding to equine body language and signals of intent; safe, effective and humane restraint and handling techniques for horses.

    11. Canine Communication, Restraint, and Handling
    Reading, interpreting and responding to canine body language and signals of intent; safe, effective and humane restraint and handling techniques for dogs.
    Feline Communication, Restraint and Handling
    Reading, interpreting and responding to feline body language and signals of intent; safe, effective and humane restraint and handling techniques for cats.

    II. Clinical Concepts in Animal Behavior

    12. Getting Clinical – Authored by Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB
    The approach to seeing your first behavior appointment, including verbal and written history collection, medical rule outs, creating a problem and differential diagnoses list, triaging major issues and the basic structure of a treatment plan.

    13. Feline Elimination Disorders
    Medical considerations and work-up
    Urine marking – stress related vs. territorial vs. pain-related vs. normal sexual behavior
    Undesirable toileting – litterbox, substrate and location aversions vs. preferences
    Feline interstitial cystitis
    Approach to treatment

    14. Feline Aggression
    Medical considerations and work-up
    Human directed aggression – making a motivation-based diagnosis, management, and treatment
    Inter-cat aggression - making a motivation-based diagnosis, practical management, and treatment plan

    15. Canine Aggression
    What is aggression, really? How does it relate to or differ from predatory behavior?
    Medical considerations and work-up
    The effects of anxiety on aggressive behavior in dogs
    Human directed aggression - making a motivation-based diagnosis, practical management, and treatment plan
    Inter-dog aggression - making a motivation-based diagnosis, practical management, and treatment plan; what breed, age and gender pairs are at highest risk of having a poor outcome?
    Leash reactivity – what motivates this behavior and how can we change it?
    What about dominance?
    When to consider medication to augment your plan?

    16. Separation Anxiety
    Definition and variations of the disorder
    How to rule out other differential diagnoses and confirm separation anxiety
    Approach to treatment –
    Environmental enrichment, exercise, and stimulation, encouraging independence, and when to apply graduated departure plans and desensitization to departure cues
    When to consider medication to augment your plan

    17. Equine Aggression
    Medical considerations and work-up
    Human directed aggression - making a motivation-based diagnosis, practical management, and treatment plan
    Inter-horse aggression – what’s normal, what isn’t, and how to manage both

    18. Repetitive Behaviors in Companion Animals
    Stereotypies vs. compulsive disorders – definitions and motivating factors
    Medical considerations and work-up
    Prevention, management, and treatment

    19. Repetitive and Other Abnormal Behaviors in Captive Wild Animals
    Behavior as a welfare indicator in captive wild animals
    Common repetitive behaviors in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries
    Medical considerations and work-up
    Prevention, management, and treatment

    20. Repetitive and Other Abnormal Behaviors in Livestock
    Behavior as a welfare indicator in livestock animals
    Common repetitive behaviors in pigs, cattle, and poultry
    Medical considerations and work-up
    Prevention, management, and treatment

    21. Approach to Psychopharmacology in Companion Animals
    When is it time to add medications to your treatment plan?
    Daily medications
    Indications
    Classes
    Mode of action, metabolism, side effects, cost considerations, known research
    Event medications
    Indications
    Classes
    Mode of action, metabolism, side effects, cost considerations, known research

    22. Chemical Restraint in Companion Animals
    Reducing patient distress and increasing handler safety with immediate-acting pharmacology

  • Meghan E. Herron, DVM, DACVB

    Is a Senior Director - Behavioral Medicine Research, Education, and Outreach, at Gigi's (Shelter for Dogs) in Ohio, USA. She is also a lecturer at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, St. Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine, and Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Veterinary Clinics of North America
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