16/17. Aggression Flashcards
as behaviour changes towards aggression, what is it important not to do?
dont punish warning signals
what is trigger stacking
-events that would not cause issues when occurring individually all occur at the same time and cause a stress overload
what might happen if you punish a dog for bite warning signs?
-may progress to biting without warning
what does the dog owners liability act say?
– Ontario
* Pitbulls prohibited
* Owner is liable for damages arising from a bite from any breed of dog
* Proceedings can be commenced with a bite to a person or domestic animal, or with menacing behaviour
* Outcome either destruction or measures to ensure better control plus sterilization
what does the health protection and promotion act say about bites?
- Veterinarians must report mammal bites to public health
- If risk of rabies, confined or isolated for 10 days
what are the options for an owner with an aggressive dog?
- Treat the animal in the home – important to understand owners’ goals
- Relinquish to someone with more experience or a better environment for the problem
- Euthanize
what are the options for a veterinarian dealing with an aggression case?
- Treat – simple cases with low risk of injury
- Consider having owner sign a release form
- Refer – anytime you are unsure if you are capable of handling it
can aggression be cured?
- Can be reduced through management and behaviour modification, but there is always a chance of relapse
What factors do we need to consider for risk assessment/prognosis?
- The owners
- Family composition, perceptions, experience, dynamics, dependability and
dedication, home environment - Lack of control = Disaster!
- The animal
- Physical characteristics, arousal/impulsivity, other behaviour problems * Assess potential for, and likelihood of, damage
- Aggression details
- Bite level, frequency, target, triggers, predictability, chronicity
- Lack of predictability = Disaster!
general differential diagnosis for aggression
- Consider possible underlying or contributing medical problems
- Differentiate between different types and targets of aggression
how can we categorize aggression?
- By target
Human-directed:
* Familiar/owner-directed
* Unfamiliar/stranger-directed
Interdog/intercat/interspecies:
* Familiar
* Unfamiliar
- by motivation or function
* Fear-related/defensive
* Resource guarding/possessive aggression/food-related aggression/conflict
* Territorial & protective
* Redirected
* Predatory
* Play-related
* Petting induced
* Pain-induced/latrogenic
* Maternal/parental
* Pathophysiological
Aggression + Positive Punishment =
DANGER
* Escalation of aggression
* Over time, lowers thresholds for aggression
* Causes redirected aggression
* Further reduces trust
* Results in injuries
Resource guarding Treatment
Owner education
Management
* Don’t compete for resources
* Remove triggers
* Remember our ineffective strategy…
Change pet behaviour
* Other people and dogs mean good things are coming
* Teach ‘drop it’ and ‘leave it’
* Medication only with fear/anxiety issues
* DS & CC to others approaching items
Fear related aggression - diagnosis and treatment
- Response to threatening stimuli
- Genetic/breed tendencies for dogs
- Often environmental
- Treatment
Management: - Identify stimuli that elicit fear and avoid
Change pet behaviour: - Behaviour modification
- Develop plans for DS & CC based on triage
- Medication
Stranger-directed aggression/territorial or protective aggression diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis
* Directed towards outside people/animals
* Onset generally at social maturity
* Occurs on family ‘property’ or with family
* More common in ‘guard’ breeds, intact males
* Influenced by previous success
Treatment:
Management
* Prevent access to windows, doors, fences
* Restrict interaction with targets
* Provide safe place
Change pet behaviour
* DS & CC to visitors, strangers
* Teach ‘quiet’ command for excessive barking in dogs
