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Foundational Diagnostic Principles
Foundational Diagnostic Principles
• Veterinary Knowledge Base: To differentiate normal from abnormal behavior, veterinarians must understand species-typical development, principles of learning, and clinical signs of fear and anxiety.
• Veterinary Knowledge Base: To differentiate normal from abnormal behavior, veterinarians must understand species-typical development, principles of learning, and clinical signs of fear and anxiety.
• The Primary Rule: Medical problems must be excluded first, as they can cause or contribute to behavioral signs.
• The Primary Rule: Medical problems must be excluded first, as they can cause or contribute to behavioral signs.
• The Impact of Stress: Chronic stress alters physiological systems (hypothalamic-pituitary axis, neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin) and can lead to physical disorders (e.g., feline interstitial cystitis, GI issues) or behavioral problems (e.g., compulsive disorders, exaggerated fear).
• The Impact of Stress: Chronic stress alters physiological systems (hypothalamic-pituitary axis, neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin) and can lead to physical disorders (e.g., feline interstitial cystitis, GI issues) or behavioral problems (e.g., compulsive disorders, exaggerated fear).
The Diagnostic Process
The Diagnostic Process
• Required Components:
• Required Components:
◦ Identification of all behavioral and medical clinical signs.
◦ Identification of all behavioral and medical clinical signs.
◦ Thorough patient history.
◦ Thorough patient history.
◦ Complete physical and neurological examinations.
◦ Complete physical and neurological examinations.
◦ Indicated diagnostic tests to rule out underlying medical conditions.
◦ Indicated diagnostic tests to rule out underlying medical conditions.
• Evaluation Model (ABC):
• Evaluation Model (ABC):
◦ Antecedent: What precedes the undesirable behavior.
◦ Antecedent: What precedes the undesirable behavior.
◦ Behavior: The description of the problem itself.
◦ Behavior: The description of the problem itself.
◦ Consequence: What happens immediately after the behavior.
◦ Consequence: What happens immediately after the behavior.
Medical Causes of Behavioral Signs:
Medical Causes of Behavioral Signs:
• General Illness: Lethargy, anorexia, decreased grooming, and withdrawal.
• General Illness: Lethargy, anorexia, decreased grooming, and withdrawal.
• Neurological Disorders:
• Neurological Disorders:
◦ Central (Forebrain/Limbic): Disorientation, house soiling, altered sleep cycles, and changes in temperament (fear, aggression).
◦ Central (Forebrain/Limbic): Disorientation, house soiling, altered sleep cycles, and changes in temperament (fear, aggression).
◦ Peripheral Neuropathy: Self-mutilation, circling, and irritability.
◦ Peripheral Neuropathy: Self-mutilation, circling, and irritability.
◦ Seizures (Focal/Temporal): Repetitive behaviors, chomping, and staring.
◦ Seizures (Focal/Temporal): Repetitive behaviors, chomping, and staring.
◦ Sensory Dysfunction: Confusion and vocalization.
◦ Sensory Dysfunction: Confusion and vocalization.
• Metabolic & Endocrine:
• Metabolic & Endocrine:
◦ Hyperthyroidism (Feline): Irritability, urine marking, and night waking.
◦ Hyperthyroidism (Feline): Irritability, urine marking, and night waking.
◦ Hypothyroidism (Canine): Lethargy and aggression.
◦ Hypothyroidism (Canine): Lethargy and aggression.
◦ Hyperadrenocorticism: Panting, anxiety, and polyphagia.
◦ Hyperadrenocorticism: Panting, anxiety, and polyphagia.
◦ Diabetes: House soiling.
◦ Diabetes: House soiling.
• Organ Dysfunction & Pain:
• Organ Dysfunction & Pain:
◦ Hepatic/Renal Encephalopathy: Mental dullness, confusion, and aggression.
◦ Hepatic/Renal Encephalopathy: Mental dullness, confusion, and aggression.
◦ Pain: Restlessness, inability to settle, vocalization, and self-trauma.
◦ Pain: Restlessness, inability to settle, vocalization, and self-trauma.
◦ GI/Urogenital: Pica, coprophagia, house soiling, and polydipsia.
◦ GI/Urogenital: Pica, coprophagia, house soiling, and polydipsia.
◦ Dermatological: Psychogenic alopecia and acral lick dermatitis.
◦ Dermatological: Psychogenic alopecia and acral lick dermatitis.
Comprehensive Behavioral History:
Comprehensive Behavioral History:
• Demographics: Animal's sex, breed, and age.
• Demographics: Animal's sex, breed, and age.
• Problem Specifics: Age at onset, duration, frequency, intensity of bouts, and any changes in the pattern over time.
• Problem Specifics: Age at onset, duration, frequency, intensity of bouts, and any changes in the pattern over time.
• Environment & Schedule: 24-hour daily schedule of animal and owner, housing, familial history, and genetic influences.
• Environment & Schedule: 24-hour daily schedule of animal and owner, housing, familial history, and genetic influences.
• Past Interventions: Treatment measures already attempted and the animal's response.
• Past Interventions: Treatment measures already attempted and the animal's response.
• Supporting Evidence: Owners are encouraged to provide video clips of the behaviors for better insight.
• Supporting Evidence: Owners are encouraged to provide video clips of the behaviors for better insight.
Clinical Observation and Assessment
Clinical Observation and Assessment
• Direct Observation: Evaluating the pet’s personality and its relationship/interaction with the owner during the visit.
• Direct Observation: Evaluating the pet’s personality and its relationship/interaction with the owner during the visit.
• Interactive Assessment: Testing responses to sounds, handling, commands, and various stimuli (e.g., a childlike doll or head halter).
• Interactive Assessment: Testing responses to sounds, handling, commands, and various stimuli (e.g., a childlike doll or head halter).
• Contraindication: Veterinarians should not provoke the pet to perform the undesirable behavior, as this is ill-advised for the pet's welfare and may lead to further undesirable learning.
• Contraindication: Veterinarians should not provoke the pet to perform the undesirable behavior, as this is ill-advised for the pet's welfare and may lead to further undesirable learning.
• Reinforcement Evaluation: Identifying which treats or toys are most likely to positively affect the pet for future training.
• Reinforcement Evaluation: Identifying which treats or toys are most likely to positively affect the pet for future training.
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