VNUR20350 Animal Behavior and Welfare Management

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module will equip students with the skills needed to support the behavioural health of animals in veterinary practice. The normal behaviour of domestic animals will be covered, with a focus on development and social and communicative behaviours. Students will learn how to identify and prevent or alleviate stress, negative emotions and behavioural problems in their patients. Upon completion of this module, students will also be able to triage behavioural problems and provide clients with basic management and training advice. The teaching in this module will involve lectures and tutorials. Within-trimester assessment will be employed in addition to an end of trimester oral examination.

***Please check and be aware if this module is a prerequisite (Academic Regulation 3.27(a)) for any future modules.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

1. Describe the normal behaviour and behavioural needs of domestic animals.
2. Correctly identify/describe the behavioural signals/body language and vocalisations of domestic animals, and use these to interpret emotional/motivational state.
3. Explain how to assess animal welfare in veterinary patients.
4. Discuss the issues that may cause distress/negative emotions and hence compromise animal welfare in veterinary patients.
5. Discuss evidence-based environmental modifications (physical, social, sensory, routines) and enrichment that may be used to alleviate distress/negative emotions and promote positive emotions in veterinary patients.
6. Perform behavioural triage.
7. Provide basic animal training and behaviour advice to clients (including "first aid" advice for serious animal behaviour problems).
8. Explain how to use behavioural tools and supplements to help manage animal behaviour, including their mode(s) of action, benefits, and risks/limitations.

Indicative Module Content:

Normal animal behaviour
Animal welfare
Animal learning theory & training methods
Animal behaviour problems

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

26
Tutorial

8
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Total

104
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Active/task-based learning
Group work
Peer learning
Critical writing
Independent learning 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Prior learning requirements include domestic animal husbandry and animal handling/restraint.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
:
-

Incompatibles:
ANSC30130 - Prins of An Hlth, Behav&W'fare


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Oral Examination: Behavioural "first aid" advice role play.
In-person assessment.
In veterinary sciences building over two half days, each student attends for 15mins.
Appears as 2 hour exam for scheduling purposes.		 2 hour End of Trimester Exam n/a Graded Yes

70
Group Project: Creation of handout on the causes of stress/negative emotions in veterinary patients and evidence-based methods of reducing these and promoting positive emotions. Week 12 n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

15
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: Animal emotions quiz- an online, multi-select MCQ assessing your ability to use behavioural signals to interpret emotional state in domestic animals. One or more answers are correct for each question. Throughout the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

15

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

One the completion deadline has passed for the online animal body language/emotions quiz, automated feedback will be provided on incorrect answers. A rubric will be provided in advance for the oral role play assessment to facilitate self and peer assessment. Individual feedback on the same rubric will be provided by staff for student performance/achievement in the oral role play assessment.

• Arrowsmith, C. (2010) Brain Games For Dogs. Interpet Publishing: Surrey
• Bowen, J. and Heath, S. (2005) Behaviour problems in small animals: practical advice for the veterinary team. Elsevier Saunders: Edinburgh
• Bradshaw, J.W.S. (2012) In defence of dogs. Penguin: London
• Bradshaw, J.W.S., Casey, R.A. and Brown, S.L. (2012) The behaviour of the domestic cat. 2nd Ed. CABI: Oxfordshire
• Bradshaw, J.W.S. and Ellis, S. (2016) The Trainable Cat. A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier For You and Your Cat. Penguin Books
• Bradshaw, J.W.S. (2017) The Animals Among Us. How Pets Make Us Human. Penguin Books
• Burch, M.R. and Bailey, J.S. (1999) How dogs learn. New York: Howell Book House
• Coren, S. (2000) Why We Love The Dogs We Do: How To Find The Dog That Matches Your Personality. Fireside: New York
• Fallon, M. and Davenport, V. (2016) Babies, Kids and Dogs. Creating a safe and harmonious relationship. Hubble and Hattie: Dorset
• Grandin, T. and Deesing, M. (2008) Humane livestock handling. Storey Pub: North Adams, MA
• Hedges, S. (2014) Practical Canine Behaviour for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians. CABI: Oxfordshire
• Horwitz, D.F., Mills, D.S., Heath, S. (2009) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural medicine. 2nd Ed. British Small Animal Veterinary Association: Quedgeley, Gloucester
. Howell, A. & Feyrecilde, M. 2018, Cooperative veterinary care, John Wiley & Sons Inc, Hoboken, NJ.
• Landsberg, G.M., Hunthausen, W.L., Ackermann, L. and Lowell, J. (2013) Behavioural problems of the dog and cat. 3rd Edn. W.B. Saunders: Edinburgh
• Mallatratt, K. (2016) Home alone and happy! Essential life skills for preventing separation anxiety in dogs and puppies. Hubble and Hattie: Dorset
• McGreevy, P. (2012) Equine Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians and Equine Scientists. 2nd Ed. Saunders Elsevier Ltd:
• Mills, D. and Nankervis, K.J. (1999) Equine Behaviour: Principles and Practice. Blackwell Science Ltd: Oxford
• Rodan, I. and Heath, S. (2016) Feline Behavioural Health and Welfare. Elsevier: St Louis
• Ryan, S., Zulch, H. and Baumber, P. (2014) No Walks? No Worries! Maintaining wellbeing in dogs on restricted exercise. Hubble and Hattie: Dorset
• Shaw, J. and Martin, D. (2014) Canine and Feline Behavior for Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. John Wiley and Sons: Oxford
• Sparkes, A. and Ellis, S. (2016) ISFM Guide: Feline Stress and Health. Managing negative emotions to Improve Feline Health and Wellbeing.
• Tynes, V.V. (2010) Behavior of Exotic Pets. Blackwell Publishing Ltd: West Sussex
• Yin, S. (2004, also 2010) How To Behave So Your Dog Behaves. New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications Inc.
• Yin, S. (2009) Low Stress Handling Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats: Techniques For Developing Patients Who Love Their Visits. Cattledog Publishing: Davis, California
• Young, R.J. (2003) UFAW Animal Welfare Series; Environmental enrichment for captive animals. Blackwell Publishing: Oxford
• Zulch, H. (2012) Life Skills For Puppies. Laying the foundation for a loving, lasting relationship. Hubble and Hattie: Dorset
Name Role
Dr Robin Farrell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Mark Mc Corry Tutor
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 32 Fri 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 30, 33 Fri 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 09:00 - 10:50
Spring