Due to the location of the pheromone-secreting glands , they are also relevant to tactile communication . Facial pheromones are secreted from glands in the region of the cheek , temporal and perioral regions ( Ellis et al ., 2013 ), and are often associated with reduced anxiety in the domestic cat . They can be deposited when a cat rubs up against an object , be it animate or inanimate . The caudal ( base of the tail ) and tail glands work in a similar manner . Finally , there are pheromonesecreting glands in the interdigital region , which leave chemical signals when a cat scratches something .
Pheromones are detected using the vomeronasal organ located in the region of the hard palate of the oral cavity . The flehmen response ( Figure 3 ) is the usual physical response to the detection of pheromones ( and other chemical messengers ) and is seen in felids , equids , and other ungulates . Hart and Leedy ( 1987 ) cite the anatomy and physiology of the response as resulting from the transport of fluid material ( containing chemical messengers ) from the oral cavity to the vomeronasal organ , located in the roof of the oral cavity . The vomeronasal organ , often referred to as the Jacobson ’ s organ , is where the chemical messengers are analysed in order to initiate an appropriate response .
With television programmes about pet behaviour becoming more popular in the past 20 years , owner awareness has increased . As a result , so has the need for the veterinary profession to respond with valid , evidence-based information and advice . Many veterinary nursing training routes also consider behaviour , and there is a wide variety of CPD available , much of it supported by organisations such as the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors ( APBC ). Accreditation or support by professional bodies is a key consideration in behaviour CPD , as the industry does not yet have statutory regulation .
Rodan ( 2016 ) identifies several issues commonly associated with the relinquishment or euthanasia of otherwise-healthy pet cats . House soiling , or inappropriate elimination , is thought to account for a large proportion of relinquishments . Inter-cat conflict , possibly resulting from a new cat joining an existing household , is also commonly seen . Other issues identified include aggression towards humans , normal but undesirable behaviour ( see Table 2 ), old age and an owner ’ s personal circumstances .
Cases are often beyond the point of basic behavioural ‘ first aid ’ and require referral to specialised support . Therefore , we need to be offering behavioural advice and guidance as part of our standard approach to cat care , to help identify issues much earlier and avoid the development of problems .
BEHAVIOURAL TRIAGE
When a client approaches the practice with a perceived behavioural problem , the first step must be to rule out a possible medical cause of the observed behaviour . For example , a VS may respond to an owner reporting their cat urinating in the house ( not the litter tray ) by – following urinalysis – diagnosing a urinary tract infection . Therefore , it is likely that this patient has been ‘ caught short ’ rather than urinating outside the litter tray intentionally . Of course , this is one possible diagnosis out of many , but shows that we cannot assume that a problem is purely behavioural .
Figure 3 . Flehmen response : lateral view ( pictured left ) and rostral view ( pictured right ).
Application in veterinary practice
ROLE OF THE VETERINARY NURSE
The veterinary nurse ( VN ) is often perceived by the client as being more sympathetic to their questions than the veterinary surgeon ( VS ). In certain fields , they may be just as knowledgeable as the VS and , in addition , often have more contact with the client ( Ackerman , 2012 ). For these reasons , owners ’ first questions regarding their pet ’ s behaviour are often directed at the VN .
Taking a behavioural history requires the same approach as taking any other case history in practice , albeit with a different focus to the questioning . While we still need to gather all relevant animal and client information , we also need to find out about the environment , other people involved ( e . g . family members ) and the problem itself – both the facts of the matter and the owner ’ s perception of the problem .
This is key to understanding what the client is expecting you to help with , as well as the problems being discussed – more often than not , there will be multiple elements . We need to focus on the most troublesome issue first . There are no quick fixes in behaviour , and it is important to communicate this clearly to the owner .
Volume 37 ( 5 ) • November 2022
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