Low-Stress Handling in the Veterinary Clinic

1. Veterinary behavioural medicine

The advent of animal behaviour studies

Behavioural medicine

The role of the veterinary professional

How to identify a behavioural problem

What is a behavioural problem?

 

2. The emotional world of cats and dogs and agonistic behaviour

Identifying emotions

Fear and anxiety

Agonistic behaviours

 

3. Communication

In dogs

In cats

 

4. Nonassociative learning

Habituation

Sensitisation

Exposure to new stimuli

 

5. Associative learning

Classical conditioning

Operant conditioning

 

6. Behaviour modification techniques

Systematic desensitisation

Classical counterconditioning

Operant counterconditioning

Extinction

Flooding

 

7. Travelling to the clinic

Home treatment

Training to use a carrier

The car journey

Handling on the lead

Placing a muzzle

 

8. The reception and waiting room

Entrance

Reception

Waiting room

 

9. Consultations

Consultation room

Equipment

Protocols

 

10. Hospitalisation

The hospitalisation area

Intensive care unit (ICU)

Rest

Visits from owners

 

11. Pheromone therapy

What are pheromones?

Pheromone release sites

Pheromone therapy

 

12. Psychopharmacology

Anxiolytics

Antidepressants

Mood stabilisers

Antipsychotics

α-2 Agonists

Practical sedation protocols

 

13. Handling techniques

Guiding or luring

Venipuncture

Examining the head

Towel techniques

Syringe extension

Ninja technique

 

Appendix

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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This book is intended as a practical guide to enable small animal clinical veterinary surgeons and their teams to improve various aspects of their everyday practice: how they understand and relate to patients and clients, how they manage their work, the handling of animals during different procedures, and the implementation of programmes to deal with behavioural issues. These aspects will have a highly positive impact on the wellbeing of the patient, the client, and the veterinary and support staff, with the implementation of smoother and effective procedures.

Rosana Álvarez Bueno

Degree in veterinary medicine and food science and technology from the University of Córdoba (UCO) in 1997 and 1999, respectively.

Master’s degree in applied animal behaviour and welfare from the University of Zaragoza (UZ) in 2013. AVEPA-certified in behavioural medicine in 2013. Member of AVEPA (Spanish Small Animal Veterinary Association), of its animal behaviour group (GrETCA) and of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology (ESVCE).

Director of Etolia, a company that provides veterinary services specialising in dog and cat behavioural medicine, in Málaga since 2006. Rosana Álvarez currently provides consultation services at the Bahía de Málaga referral veterinary centre and makes home visits.

Instructor of cat and dog behaviour and dog training courses nationally and internationally. Speaker at various seminars and workshops. She is the author and coauthor of publications in scientific journals and papers at Spanish congresses in the field of applied animal behaviour. Collaborator in various scientific and nonscientific blogs and publications.

Germán Quintana Diez

Degree and PhD in veterinary medicine from the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) in 2002 and 2013, respectively. Master’s degree in small and exotic animal medicine from the USC in 2004, master’s degree in applied animal behaviour and welfare from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) in 2009.

He completed an internship in animal medicine and surgery at the USC Rof Codina Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 2003 to 2005, and was a visiting fellow at renowned national and European clinical institutions.

He undertakes his clinical activity in the Internal Medicine Department of the A Marosa polyclinic, focusing on animal behaviour and dermatology.
He is the author and coauthor of publications in scientific journals and papers in Spanish and European congresses in the field of applied animal behaviour, dermatology, and internal medicine.