Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses

Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses provides the veterinary technician with a solid foundation in behavioral medicine.  Designed as a daily resource for interacting with and educating pet owners, the book familiarizes readers with the behavioral, mental, and emotional needs of dogs and cats.  Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses offers a complete guide to the technician’s role in behavioral preventive services and how to assist the veterinarian with behavioral intervention.

Covering the roles of animal behavior professionals, normal development of dogs and cats, and the human-animal bond, the book includes correlations from human mental health care throughout.  The book encompasses learning theory, preventive behavioral services, standardized behavior modification terms and techniques, and veterinary behavior pharmacology.  Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses is an essential resource for veterinary technicians to realize their full potential and become a pivotal component of the behavioral health care team for canine and feline patients.

Julie Shaw, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA-CTP, was the Senior Animal Behavior Technologist at Purdue University for 13 years and is now an owner of TEAM Education in Animal Behavior, LLC, in Spicewood, Texas, USA.

Debbie Martin, RVT, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, VTS (Behavior), is the Animal Behavior Technician for Veterinary Behavior Consultations, LLC, and an owner of TEAM Education in Animal Behavior, LLC, in Spicewood, Texas, USA.

Contributors xiii

Preface xvi

Acknowledgments xvii

About the companion website xviii

1 The Role of the Veterinary Technician in Animal Behavior 1
Kenneth M. Martin and Debbie Martin

Veterinarian’s roles and responsibilities 2

Medical differentials to behavior disorders 4

Behavior disorder versus training problem 5

Qualified professionals to treat animal behaviour disorders 6

Trainer’s roles and responsibilities 7

The role of the veterinary technician in the veterinary behavior consultation 12

Summary of the roles of the veterinarian veterinary technician and dog trainer in veterinary behavior 22

Home versus clinic behavior consultations 22

Veterinary-technician-driven behavior services 24

Financial benefits 28

Conclusion 28

References 28

2 Canine Behavior and Development 30
Andrew U. Luescher

Canine sensory capacities 30

Canine communication 31

Canine social structure 37

Exploratory behavior 39

Ingestive behavior 39

Eliminative behavior 40

Sexual behavior 40

Maternal behavior 40

Play behavior 41

Canine behavioral development 41

Problem prevention 48

Conclusion 49

References 50

Further reading 50

3 Feline Behavior and Development 51
Debbie Martin

Feline sensory capacities 52

Feline communication 53

Feline domestication, social structure, and behavior 58

Feline behavioral development 63

Conclusion 68

References 68

4 The Human–Animal Bond – a Brief Look at its Richness and Complexities 70
Julie K. Shaw and Sarah Lahrman

The HAB past present and future 71

Defining healthy versus unhealthy bonds 76

Conclusion 81

References 81

5 Communication and Connecting the Animal Behavior Team 83
Julie K. Shaw and Lindsey M. Fourez

A comparison between marriage and family therapist and the role of the animal behaviour technician 84

Communication 85

Connective communication techniques 87

Teaching 92

The communication cycle 95

Grief counseling 102

Conclusion 111

References 111

6 Learning and Behavior Modification 113
Virginia L. Price

Genetics and learning 113

Effect of domestication on learning 119

Effects of nutrition on learning 122

Early environment and learning 123

Habituation and sensitization 124

Operant conditioning 126

Classical conditioning 135

Social learning 138

Conclusion 140

References 140

7 Problem Prevention 145
Debbie Martin, Linda M. Campbell, and Marcia R. Ritchie

Introduction 146

Preventing fear of the veterinary hospital 147

Ideal characteristics for pet owners 149

Canine management and prevention techniques 151

Canine prevention: effects of neutering 154

Canine prevention: socialization 155

Canine prevention: crate training 155

Canine prevention: elimination training 157

Canine prevention: independence training 159

Canine prevention: handling and restraint 160

Canine prevention: safety around the food bowl and relinquishing objects 162

Feline management and prevention techniques 164

Understanding cats and their characteristics 164

Feline management recommendations 164

Feline environmental enrichment 165

Feline prevention: effects of neutering 166

Feline prevention: socialization 166

Feline prevention: litter box training 167

Feline prevention: crate training 167

Feline prevention: handling and restraint 168

Prevention (canine and feline): introducing a new pet 168

Problem solving normal species-specific behavior 171

Prevention services 182

Puppy socialization classes 188

Kitten classes 195

Integrating behavior wellness into the veterinary hospital 199

Conclusion 202

References 202

8 Specific Behavior Modification Techniques and Practical Applications for Behavior Disorders 204
Julie K. Shaw

Common veterinary behavior disorder diagnosis and descriptions 206

Common veterinarian-prescribed behavioural treatments 216

Training techniques 221

Training tools 230

Marker training techniques and skills 240

Behavior modification 255

Conclusion 262

The practical applications of behaviour modification 263

Staying safe 276

Conclusion 279

References 279

9 Introductory Neurophysiology and Psychopharmacology 281
Sara L. Bennett and Carissa D. Sparks

Introduction 281

Basic neurophysiology 282

Blood–brain barrier 287

Neurotransmitters 287

Pharmacokinetics 289

Drug categories 290

Conclusion 299

References 299

Further reading 300

Appendix Section 1: Forms and Questionnaires

Appendix 1 Canine Behavior History Form Part 1 303

Appendix 2 Canine Behavior History Form Part 2 308

Appendix 3 Feline Behavior History Form Part 1 313

Appendix 4 Feline Behavior History Form Part 2 318

Appendix 5 Trainer Assessment Form 322

Appendix 6 Determining Pet Owner Strain 324

Appendix 7 Canine Behavior Plan of Care 325

Appendix 8 Behavior Problem List 327

Appendix 9 Technician Observation 328

Appendix 10 Follow-up Communation Form 329

Appendix 11 Behavior Diary 331

Appendix 12 Adult Cat (3 months to ∼12 years) Questionnaire 333

Appendix 13 Juvenile/Adolescent/Adult Dog (4 months to ∼7 years) Questionnaire 335

Appendix 14 New Kitten (less than 3 months) Questionnaire 337

Appendix 15 New Puppy (less than 4 months) Questionnaire 339

Appendix 16 Senior Cat (greater ∼12 years) Questionnaire 341

Appendix 17 Senior Dog (∼7 + years) Questionnaire 343

Appendix 18 Pet Selection Counseling 345

Appendix 19 Canine Breeder Interview Questions 347

Appendix Section 2: Training Exercises

Appendix 20 Acclimatizing a Pet to a Crate 351

Appendix 21 Elimination Training Log 352

Appendix 22 Shaping Plan for Teaching a Puppy to Ring a Bell to go Outside to Eliminate 353

Appendix 23 Preventive Handling and Restraint Exercises 354

Appendix 24 Preventive Food Bowl Exercises 356

Appendix 25 Teaching Tug of War 357

Appendix Section 3: Samples and Letters Appendix 26 Canine Behavior Plan of Care Sample 361

Appendix 27 Sample Field Assessment 363

Appendix 28 Sample of a Pet Selection Report 368

Appendix 29 Dr. Andrew Luescher’s Letter Regarding Puppy Socialization 372

Appendix 30 Dr. RK Anderson’s Letter Regarding Puppy Socialization 373

Appendix 31 Sample Puppy Socialization Class Curriculum 375

Appendix 32 Sample Kitten Class Curriculum 377

Index 379

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