BEHAVIOR, THE BRAIN, AND MEDICATIONS SHELTER BEHAVIOR COURSE SESSION TEN

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1 Thanks to the Barbour Foundation for making this course possible! BEHAVIOR, THE BRAIN, AND MEDICATIONS SHELTER BEHAVIOR COURSE SESSION TEN Sheila Segurson D Arpino, DVM, DACVB UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program and Animal Rescue League of Boston

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3 The Brain Use it or Lose it! Learning Strengthening of neural circuitry and pathways Habituation weakening of neural circuitry Hippocampus processes information for storage as memory (sends short term memories to long-term storage)

4 Classically conditioned emotional responses UCS (unconditioned stimulus) UR (unconditioned response) UCS paired with CS UR CS CR Amygdala Important for classically conditioned emotional responses Formation and storage of memories associated with emotional events Fear

5 Learning Cat learns that meowing results in owner feeding her Operant conditioning Hunger produces meow, meow results in food (reward!) This neural pathway is strengthened via reinforcement of the behavior

6 Learning - Habituation Heavy book falling on ground results in fear response Behavior is repeated over and over Dog learns that nothing bad happens after book is dropped Neural pathway (noise fear) is weakened Dog s fear response decreases

7 Fig Simplified neural circuits involved in the habituation process in Aplysia. There are about 24 sensory neurons in the siphon; these are glutaminergic. They synapse on 6 motor neurons that innervate the gill and various interneurons as shown. The control condition is shown on the left, the habituated condition on the right. (Kandel, ER, JH Schwartz and TM Jessell (2000) Principles of Neural Science. New York: McGraw-Hill.)

8 Reward Center of the Brain Nucleus accumbens Dopamine

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10 Neurotransmitters GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) Inhibitory Glutamate excitatory Dopamine Catecholamine Movement, attention, learning Norepinephrine Catecholamine Sympathetic nervous system Behavioral effects are excitatory Vigilance, enhances readiness for action

11 Serotonin Function Mood, anxiety, aggression Control of eating, arousal, sleep Precursor is tryptophan

12 I m Good!!! I could use a little more discussion on this topic, or I have a question!

13 Treatments for Behavior Problems in Animal Shelters Primary methods to reduce stress and treat behavior problems: ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT MINIMIZE STRESSORS BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION FIND THEM HOMES! Secondary methods: Anti-anxiety medications Alternative methods Herbs Flower essences Pheromones

14 Behavior Modifying Medications Rapid onset of action Benzodiazepines enhance GABA (inhibitory neurotransimitter) Decreased anxiety Side effects: sedation, wobbly gait, increased appetite, decreased ability to learn, paradoxical excitation Delayed onset of action Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

15 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Fluoxetine (prozac or Reconcile), Sertraline (zoloft), Paroxetine (paxil) Block serotonin reuptake from synaptic cleft Increased serotonin Anti-anxiety effects Might be used to decrease anxiety, aggression, impulsivity Possible side effects: gastrointestinal signs (vomiting or decreased appetite), sedation, agitation

16 Tricyclic Antidepressants Clompiramine (clomicalm), Amitriptyline Blocks serotonin reuptake Anti-anxiety Possible side effects: mild sedation, gastrointestinal signs (decreased appetite or vomiting), antihistamine effects, anticholinergic effects (urinary retention, constipation, dry mouth)

17 Challenges when Considering use of Anti-anxiety Medications No published studies documenting effectiveness for shelter animals Use is extrapolated from owned pet studies, and human literature Potential for abuse of controlled drugs Liability concerns with aggression Cost

18 Indications for Behavioral Drugs in the Shelter Environment Severe stress/anxiety which does not respond to environmental enrichment Inappetence caused by stress Separation anxiety Diagnosed by information from relinquishing owner or foster home Urine marking Generalized anxiety Anxiety in response to multiple stimuli: noises, new objects, people, animals.

19 Short Onset of Action Benzodiazepines Diazepam (Valium ) Cats (oral valium is contraindicated) Alprazolam (Xanax ) Useful for: Inappetence Short term stress Long term stress when acute help is needed

20 Longer Onset and Duration of Action SSRIs Preferred (over TCAs) with geriatric pets Fluoxetine (Reconcile ) TCAs Contraindicated for pets with seizure history May be mildly sedating Clomipramine (Clomicalm )

21 SSRIs and TCAs Useful for: Urine marking (esp. CATS- fluoxetine) Generalized anxiety Separation anxiety Severe stress with long term housing Legal cases Long stay at shelter due to behavior problems

22 Behavior Modifying Medications and Aggression ANY medication or substance which modifies behavior and reduces anxiety may: Increase confidence and potentially INCREASE the risk that the pet will behave aggressively

23 I m Good!!! I could use a little more discussion on this topic, or I have a question!

24 Pheromones Sources of pheromones in dogs and cats Facial glands Pedal complex Perianal complex Genital complex Mammary complex Urine and feces

25 Pheromones Pheromones are received and perceived by the vomeronasal organ (VNO) Gape (cat) and Tonguing (dog) are signs that the pet is aspirating scent into the VNO Allow conspecifics to transmit highly specific information

26 Feline Pheromones F3: Feliway Feline facial pheromone transmitted by rubbing Antagonist of urine marking and scratching May help cats to distinguish known from unknown F4: Felifriend (not available in the U.S.) Feline facial pheromone transmitted by rubbing Allomarking Decreases the probability of aggression between the cat and the marked individual

27 F3: Feliway Studies have demonstrated that Feliway may: Reduce or eliminate urine marking Antagonism between facial and urine marking Reduces anxiety Decrease transport/environmental change stress Cats exposed to Feliway eat more quickly than controls, when in a novel environment Cats exposed to Feliway demonstrate less stress than controls during car transport

28 Canine Pheromone DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) Synthetic pheromonal analog of appeasing pheromone secreted by nursing bitches Appeasines: may have a comforting soothing action on puppies and adults May reduce: Separation distress/anxiety

29 Alternative Treatments Acupuncture No clinical studies available demonstrating efficacy for behavior problems Anecdotal evidence exists that it may help some pets Low potential for side effects, but costly (for shelters)

30 Alternative Treatments Bach Flower Essences Flowers are infused with spring water and diluted to gram of active substance per ml 38 different essences available; different combinations are recommended for different behavioral states Low risk but no studies demonstrating their efficacy for behavior problems with pets

31 Alternative Treatments Rescue Remedy Combination of 5 Bach Flower Essences (Star of Bethlehem, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose, and Cherry Plum) Recommended for reducing stress and anxiety No clinical studies demonstrating efficacy for behavior problems

32 Alternative Treatments Herbs Most commercially available drugs were initially discovered by use of plants Potential for efficacy, but also potential for side effects Kava Kava Controlled studies necessary to demonstrate usefulness

33 Summary For serious welfare impairment, use a product with a proven track record in reducing anxiety Encourage users of alternative therapies to publish controlled studies regarding their use!

34 Thank You to the Barbour Foundation and PetSmart Charities for making this course possible! Sheila D Arpino, DVM, DACVB Sheila.darpino@gmail.com UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program and Animal Rescue League of Boston