Perth Veterinary And Behaviour Service

09/11/2024

30/10/2024

🐴 WELFARE WEDNESDAY | Clicker Training for Desensitising Horses to Novel Obstacles 🐴

As part of our commitment to equine welfare, we’re spotlighting recent research on the Efficacy of the Clicker Method During Desensitising by Özlem Hacan, Sibel Danışan, and Ceyhan Özbeyaz (2022).

This study highlights how clicker training can help horses learn to approach new, potentially intimidating objects calmly and willingly—a key part of welfare-focused training.

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: The research involved fourteen Arabian horses navigating a “de-spooking” track with challenging obstacles, including a hanging pool noodle door. Horses trained with the clicker method excelled, with a 100% success rate in this task compared to 43% in the control group. Clicker-trained horses also showed fewer stress indicators, such as baulking or pinned ears. Notably, their average heart rate was higher (139.28 pcs/min) than the control group (109.42 pcs/min), signalling excitement rather than fear, as observed through fewer fright responses like trotting.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴? Clicker training’s simplicity, low cost, and effectiveness make it a beneficial method for teaching horses to remain calm in new situations. This training helps reduce reactive behaviours, enhancing the horse’s confidence and safety for trainers, riders, and veterinarians.

The results of this study suggest that clicker training is an effective, welfare-friendly approach to desensitising horses, allowing them to engage willingly in tasks while fostering a positive bond with handlers.

27/10/2024

Halloween can be a scary time for most pets - we have created this poster to display in your window/door for trick or treaters which can be downloaded and printed 👻🦇

18/10/2024

Today is , a reminder that knowing how to save a life—especially our furry friends—can make all the difference. While having to administer CPR to your pet can be terrifying, being prepared can help you act calmly and confidently in an emergency.

Stay Calm:
1️⃣ Breathe: Take a few deep breaths to steady yourself. Focus on the feeling of the air filling your lungs.
2️⃣ Delegate: If there are bystanders, assign them tasks like finding the nearest emergency vet.
3️⃣ Focus: Keep your mind clear. Concentrate on the steps ahead and stay in the moment.

When to Start CPR:
🐾 Your pet isn’t responding
🐾 Your pet isn’t breathing
🐾 You can’t feel a heartbeat or pulse

How to Perform CPR:
Compressions:
❤️ Position your pet on their side.
❤️ Deliver 120 compressions per minute (2 per second).
❤️ For every 30 compressions, give 2 breaths.

Breaths:
❤️ Close your pet’s mouth and seal it with your fingers.
❤️ Cover their nose and give 2 breaths—enough to make their chest rise.
❤️ Check for a heartbeat after 2 minutes. If there’s no pulse, continue.

When to Stop CPR:
🐾 Your pet starts breathing and responding
🐾 You reach the vet clinic and they take over
🐾 You can’t continue physically
🐾 Your pet starts breathing but is still unconscious

Recovery Position:
Place your pet’s head to the side, slightly tilting down (unless there’s head trauma).

Compression Techniques:
🐶 Medium to Large Dogs: Compress one third of the chest depth.
🐱 Small Dogs/Cats: Use your thumb and fingers for compression, or compress directly over the heart.

Stay prepared and know that you can make a difference in your pet's life! ❤️

16/10/2024

🐱 In the October issue of Feline Focus, Laura Watson RVN takes us back to basics with her article ‘Interacting with cats 101’. Read it now to find out what C.A.T stands for and make sure you are familiar with:

➡️ How to approach a cat
➡️ Touch zones
➡️ Feline emotions and behavioural responses

Find out more about the author Life of a Cat Nurse

🤩 With a free ISFM Nurse Membership, you can view Feline Focus by logging in to https://portal.icatcare.org. Select Forums & Library and head to the Resource Library tab.

Become a author! ✍️ Share something you are passionate about or submit a case report – there are plenty of options. 📧 Get in touch with us at [email protected]

15/10/2024

💥FIREWORK PREPARATION TIPS💥

🎶Background Noise: Using a fan or white noise can help drown out the sounds from outside. You can also increase the volume of the TV or radio, as long as your dog is accustomed to those noises.

🎶Classical Music: Playing soothing music can be beneficial for some dogs, while others who are more sensitive to noise might find it upsetting. It’s important to pay attention to your dog’s reactions to determine what works best for them.

27/09/2024

DISTRACTED DOG WALKERS

The distracted dog walker is commonly seen chatting on their cell phone, wearing headphones or socializing with other people while oblivious to what their dog is doing, how their dog is feeling or what is going on in the environment.

This may not sound like a problem to some, but it is something that many people have a problem with, even more so if you have a reactive dog.

I compare walking a dog to driving a car. It’s not so much about our driving skills, but having to constantly be aware of the driving skills of others – trying to predict what they will do, which rules of the road they will ignore and how distracted they are. This is especially true in the country I live in, where driving can be a stressful experience.

I understand that we often need to multi task – there simply doesn’t seem to be enough time in our day to accomplish everything we need to, but walking our dogs should not be one of these times.

Some people might say – “but my dog is really friendly, well socialized, gets on well with everyone, is well trained, knows this environment well etc. and I hear that.

But another dog might not be – maybe they need space, are reactive, are not sociable, are recovering from an illness, might be terrified of another dog racing straight towards them chasing a ball thrown from a ball launcher etc.

If distracted dog walkers have no regard for other dogs or other people, they should at least have regard for their own dogs. Walking your dog should be a time of bonding, of relationship, of seeing the environment through the eyes of your dog, of reinforcing and teaching wanted behaviours, of keeping them safe and protected from the unknown.

Our dogs need us to be focused, to pay attention, to be aware and attentive.

Our dogs depend on us to advocate for them.

22/09/2024

Did you know that the way a dog sits can reveal a lot about their physical health? 🐕✨

A balanced and healthy dog should be able to sit squarely, with all four limbs aligned in the same direction, and their back legs positioned neatly behind the front ones.
📸 In the first photo, you'll see Fern's feet are facing the same way, but her hind limbs are positioned much wider than her front limbs.
📸 In the second photo, Fern is sitting on a platform, engaging the muscles needed for a more aligned posture. Strengthening these muscles is crucial as it helps support the hip joint and overall mobility.
Many dogs tend to sit with their weight leaning back on their spine or to one side, with one leg stretched out. While this isn't always a sign of an issue, it can sometimes be an indicator of underlying problems, so it’s something worth paying attention to! 🧐🐾

21/09/2024

Have you noticed that your dog zigs and zags on walks? Your dog isn’t trying to drive you crazy. They’re following their incredibly powerful sense of smell, which is how dogs experience the world!

Humans have 6 million olfactory receptors, compared to dogs, who have up to 300 million!

Those zigzags (and let me tell you, Finch is the zig-zaggiest) are your dog following scent trails, catching up on neighborhood gossip, and gathering information. (If only they could share what they learn with us!)

If you start to feel frustrated on walks, remember that sniffing is essential to your dog’s happiness, enrichment, and well-being! ❤️

Alt text: A small gray dog on a blue background with a speech bubble that reads, “Walking in a straight line is more of a human thing.”

20/09/2024

It's okay to ask a dog trainer what their credentials are - and you should expect them to have some, whether it's a degree or a certification. Safe and effective dog trainers are constantly learning, not just through experience, but by seeking out education.

19/09/2024

This is becoming a welfare issue!

Im tired of hearing “the vet says there is no pain” by a guardian after they have taken their dog to the vet. It leaves me deflated and frustrated and feeling so sorry for the dog.

Myth Bust:

PAIN CANNOT BE RULED OUT IN ANY ANIMAL (dog, cat, horse or hamster), by anyone!

* A quick palpation - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

WHY?

The dog may shut down due to environmental factors or dislike of a strange human touching them, they keep still to get it over with ASAP!

The dog may be over aroused or overwhelmed by the clinical environment (excited/scared etc) to the point that adrenaline is so high it blocks pain!

* Blood Tests - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

There is currently NO blood test that can detect pain.

* Diagnostic imaging - CANNOT RULE OUT PAIN

Yes they can pick up a variety of conditions, but even the GOLD standard MRI doesn’t pick up everything, but NONE of them can detect PAIN.

Just because a source cannot be found doesn’t mean there is no pain.

PAIN is subjective, it is whatever that being (human or animal) perceives it to be!

Pain can come in many different forms, it is extremely complex, and can effect the individual in many different ways. A dog may get injured, the injury may have healed, but the pain remains … this is known as maladaptive pain.

Behaviour can be a HUGE indicator for PAIN:

* There could be a change of behaviour that has been directly caused by PAIN.

* There could be a worsening of behaviour due to an increase or new presence of PAIN.

* There could be a lack of “normal” behaviour due to PAIN.

* There could be behaviours that are present but that the guardian/owner don’t deem to be problematic that are indicators of PAIN.

* The dog may have ALWAYS displayed behaviours that are indicators of PAIN, but they have been ignored and put down to “just the way they are”.

* There may be NO problematic behaviours at all …. And the dog might still be in PAIN!

* The dog might be energetic, always on the go … and still be in PAIN.

* The dog might be lazy … and still be in PAIN.

* The dog may zoom up and down stairs … and still be in PAIN.

Diagnosing PAIN is not simple and can be difficult to get on top of.

A PAIN relief trail can be great! But often only one type of analgesic is tried and sometimes this doesn’t get results leading to the ASSUMPTION that there is no PAIN!

Here’s why:

* The drug was only trialed for 2 weeks - when living with chronic pain it can take longer to relieve. 2 weeks is not enough.

* The drug used wasn’t targeted to the type of pain the animal is feeling; soft tissue, bone, nerve or a combination of all.

It might take a number of different medications or a combination OVER TIME to see a difference.

ALWAYS keep in mind, NO ONE can rule out another being’s PAIN.

NO ONE. Not me. Not you. Not a Doctor. Not a Vet.

19/09/2024

When it comes to owning a pet, whether a cat or a dog, it can be hard to notice changes in their mobility, especially since we see them every day. However, there are some key changes to watch for in our feline friends.

1) Your cat may begin to prefer lower vertical spaces than their old favorite spots. This is because jumping up to higher locations can strain their hips and knees, causing discomfort. This is also true if you notice your senior cat avoiding jumping onto tall beds or couches.

2) If your cat starts using other furniture or objects to help them descend from their perch, it could mean their shoulders, elbows, wrists, or spine are showing signs of aging. They may also stretch their forelegs down the side of furniture to get as close to the ground as possible before jumping.

3) You might notice your cat using scratchers less often or stretching less after waking from naps. This could be due to pain caused by changes in the neck, spine, or hips.

4) If your cat moves more cautiously around the house—taking delicate, thoughtful steps, having fewer "zoomies," and choosing the easiest paths to walk—it could be a sign they are in pain.

5) You may also notice changes in how your cat navigates stairs. Instead of running up them, your cat might take them slowly, one at a time. When going down the stairs, they may "bunny hop" by placing both front paws on a step followed by both hind paws, mimicking a rabbit’s gentle hop across a yard.

17/09/2024

What signs should a caregiver look for that their dog may be in pain?

Pain can be either acute or chronic and the signs can be quite different. Acute pain is associated with obvious behavioural changes such as limping, vocalising with whimpering or yelping and obviously protecting parts of the body that are hurting, for example by being tucked up and tense in the body posture or holding a paw off the floor. Acute pain may also lead to an obvious behaviour such as growling or biting when someone attempts to touch a part of the body that is hurting. Chronic pain is far more difficult to identify because the signs are often more subtle and more open to misinterpretation. This means that it can very difficult to detect chronic pain through a simple veterinary examination and identifying signs of chronic pain involves observation of the dog at home and asking questions about the pet's behaviour. The specific signs will vary depending on the location of the pain but common behavioural changes include lowered motivation to engage in social interactions, changes in mobility, for example refusal to get in or out of the car, reluctance to go on a walk, reduction in interest in play, reluctance to walk on slippery surfaces, changes in posture, such as sitting with the bodyweight shifted to one side or being reluctant to adopt a lying down posture. Behavioural changes may also be seen such as increased sensitivity to sounds, reduced tolerance of other pets in the household, reactivity to people who attempt to move or touch them. If a pet shows any change in behaviour it is always important to talk to your vet.

15/09/2024

11/09/2024

This!

Why does chronic pain have an affect on behaviour?

The emotion of pain is a form of fear-anxiety and it can directly affect behaviour by increasing vigilance and leading to behavioural responses that are designed to keep the individual safe. For this reason an animal in chronic pain may show avoidance behaviour and try to keep distance from anything that it perceives to be a risk in terms of exacerbating its pain. This may lead to the pet being less engaged in social interactions and showing less interest in play or making very obvious attempts to get away. Painful animals may also show less obvious behaviours of inhibition or appeasement.
Inhibition involves the animal taking in information by watching and listening but not giving anything away. The result can be a pet who is very quiet and can easily be misinterpreted as being relaxed. It is important to watch for signs that the pet is monitoring the environment, for example by watching for ear movement and staring, and not to simply accept that they are "being very good". Appeasement involves exchanging information with others and because dogs are socially obligate animals they will often use this behavioural response when they are in pain. These dogs will seek information from those around them as well as give information back. This is often done through touch and these dogs may lean into people or nudge at them in ways that are misinterpreted as "attention seeking" and seen as unwanted or naughty behaviours.
Dogs may also sniff and lick at people in ways that are misinterpreted as affection. It is therefore important to be aware of changes in social interactions and not to dismiss increased interaction which might signify an emotional change. The other potential response to pain is repulsion and this involves behaviours which are designed to make the perceived threat stay away. Anything that the animal perceives to be a risk in terms of inducing pain can lead to a repulsion response and these responses can vary from a low grumble, to a significant growl, to an air snap and even a bite. While these repulsion behaviours are often considered to be the most serious, because of the potential consequences, it is important to remember that the pain can be equally significant for the pet regardless of which of the four behavioural responses it gives. It is very important to take repulsion seriously and to take steps to avoid the potential consequences of these behaviours but we must not disregard avoidance, inhibition and appeasement which are also important signs that an animal may be in pain.
In addition to the direct effect on behaviour chronic pain can have an indirect effect by reducing an animal's emotional capacity. The chronic pain uses up some of the animal's emotional "space" and means that they are more likely to react to other stimuli, such as noises or social interactions. When this happens the main thing that a caregiver may notice is a change in behaviour but the underlying pain also needs to be treated.

23/08/2024

"So ditch dominance. Park the prong. Stop the shock. Use treats to train your dog. If you stick to reward-based methods only, you’ll have a dog who is happier, has better manners, and has a better relationship with you." Read more in my NEW post at Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/fellow-creatures/202408/more-treats-please-no-tugging-the-leash-in-dog-training

23/08/2024

Tension between cats can be subtle or obvious. Watch for signs like prolonged staring, guarding resources, or vocalizations. More active signs include chasing, fighting, and physical contact. If you notice these behaviors, it’s time to step in and help your cats feel safe and secure. Learn more about recognizing intercat tension at https://bit.ly/3WlG7pp.