Behavioral Signs Of Distress Research Articles

Can anxiolytic medications induce long-term improvement in dogs with noise aversion?

Between 30 and 50 per cent of dogs reportedly experience noise aversion.1 Noise aversion is a broad term encompassing a myriad of active and passive behavioural signs of distress –...

Comparison of the Head and Neck Positions in Ridden Horses Advertised in an Australian Horse Sales Magazine: 2005 Versus 2018

The impact of head and neck position (HNP) on horse welfare has received much attention in the scientific literature within the last two decades. Studies have identified physiological and behavioral signs of distress in horses ridden for prolonged time in an HNP with their noseline behind the vertical (BTV), which may compromise their welfare. The objective of this study was to compare potential differences of HNPs shown in horse sales photographs advertised in an Australian horse sales magazine (Horse Deals) from the years 2005 and 2018. In addition, factors potentially impacting HNPs, such as type of tack presented in (e.g., noseband type), riding discipline, and competition experience of the horse, were investigated. The sample population (n = 570) comprised horses ridden with headgear and bit in walk, trot, or canter/gallop, advertised in an Australian horse sales magazine. Issues from April 2005 and October/November 2018 were selected. Head and neck position was categorized as BTV, on the vertical (OV), slightly in front of the vertical (IFV), or extremely in front of the vertical (EIFV; any HNP >30° IFV). Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test and post hoc testing via a multiple regression approach through SPSS and test of proportions via the Z-score calculator for two independent population proportions. Analysis of combined data from years 2005 and 2018 showed 47.0% (n = 570) of the horse sample population were advertised with HNPs BTV. Behind-the-vertical HNP was observed as the predominant HNP (57.8%; n = 268) in the warmblood/eventers/show/performance (WESP) category (P < .0005). In 2005, 53.4% (n = 303) of the sample population were ridden BTV compared with 39.7% (n = 267) in 2018 (P < .001), 12.9% (n = 303) were OV in 2005 compared with 15.0% (n = 267) in 2018 (P > .05), and 10.9% (n = 303) were IFV in 2005 compared with 27.3% (n = 267) in 2018 (P < .0004). These results suggest a positive development with fewer vendors/riders selecting images where the horse’s nose was BTV. However, this may be explained by the larger proportion of horses advertised in the WESP category in 2005 (63.0%; n = 303) versus 2018 (28.5%; n = 267), and the WESP category predominantly comprised of dressage, jumper, and eventing horses. In addition, the reduction of HNPs BTV from 53.4% (n = 303) in 2005 to 39.7% (n = 267) in 2018 could be attributed to the observation that in 2018, a larger proportion of horses were listed in categories that do not require the horses to be worked with a flexed HNP referred to as “on-the-bit” (e.g., western, endurance, Australian sStock horses). The HNP BTV remains preferential by a substantial proportion of the horse-owning public when advertising horses for sale, particularly in disciplines where the horse is worked in a flexed HNP or “on-the-bit.”

Evaluation of carbon dioxide induction methods for the euthanasia of day-old cull broiler chicks

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of 5 different CO2 euthanasia induction techniques for day-old cull chicks in minimizing distress and inducing a rapid loss of sensibility and death. Each induction treatment was characterized for concentration change over time, maximum concentration, and time to reach maximum. Sixteen chicks were euthanized with the gradual treatments to establish validity of treatment. Then, all 5 treatments were evaluated for effect on distress, insensibility, and death. Day-of-hatch cull chicks (n = 110) were euthanized in pairs by either immersion into 100% CO2 or gradual induction to 100% CO2 at displacement rates of 7, 14, 21, or 28% of chamber volume added per min (% vol/min). CO2 concentration was measured at chick level. Live focal observations and video recordings were used to assess latency to behavioral responses: head shaking (HS) and gasping (GS) as indicators of distress; loss of posture (LOP) as an indicator of insensibility; and cessation of rhythmic breathing (CRB) and movement (COM), indicating death. All behaviors occurred at the earliest with immersion compared to gradual treatments, and time between first signs of distress and LOP was shorter for immersion than gradual treatments. Gradual treatments showed a linear decrease in latency to HS, GS, and LOP as displacement rate increased. Latency to CRB decreased quadratically with increasing displacement rate, while COM decreased linearly. Within gradual treatments, HS and GS occurred at CO2 concentrations between 0.43 and 1.14%, LOP between 11.1 and 17.5%, while CRB and COM occurred between 61.8 and 78.4%. Overall, immersion induced distress, insensibility, and death significantly faster and with the shortest interval between distress and insensibility. For gradual treatment, insensibility and death occurred faster with increasing displacement rates. Behavioral signs of distress were observed with all treatments, and occurred at concentrations lower than those causing insensibility. In conclusion, immersion into 100% CO2 environment resulted in the shortest time of distress and fastest time to death compared to gradual displacement rates of any speed measured.

Social behavior and cortisol reactivity in children with fragile X syndrome

To examine the association between limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (L-HPA) axis reactivity and social behavior in children with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Salivary cortisol changes and concurrent anxiety-related behaviors consistent with the behavioral phenotype of FXS were measured in 90 children with the fragile X full mutation and their 90 unaffected siblings during a social challenge task in the home. Boys and girls with FXS demonstrated more gaze aversion, task avoidance, behavioral signs of distress, and poorer vocal quality than the unaffected siblings. Multiple regression analyses showed that after accounting for effects of IQ, gender, age, quality of the home environment, and basal cortisol level, cortisol reactivity to the task was significantly associated with social gaze in children with FXS. The most gaze-aversive children with FXS had cortisol reductions, whereas those with more eye contact demonstrated the most cortisol reactivity. Unaffected siblings demonstrated an opposite pattern in which less eye contact was associated with increased cortisol reactivity. Results of the study suggest a unique relation between abnormal gaze behavior and L-HPA mediated stress reactivity in FXS.

The Effect of Music Versus Nonmusic on Behavioral Signs of Distress and Self-Report of Pain in Pediatric Injection Patients

Receiving vaccinations is a part of growing up; however, as necessary as vaccinations are, many children find them to be frightening and painful. Music has been examined as a potential distraction during pediatric medical procedures, but research findings have been mixed, due, in part, to the fact that children were primarily instructed to merely "listen to the music." The present study sought to determine if a focus of attention activity involving music would affect levels of distress and perceptions of pain in pediatric injection patients. Sixty-four 4- to 6(1/2) -year old children receiving routine immunizations were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: musical story, spoken story, or standard care/control. Children in the two treatment conditions listened to a recorded story and pointed at corresponding pictures throughout the injection process. Observational data on distress and pain were collected, in addition to the child's self-rating of pain. Participants in the musical story condition tended to be less distressed and report less pain than participants in the other two conditions, although these differences were not statistically significant. Subsequent analysis indicated that children who received more injections tended to benefit more from the music intervention, in terms of their perceived pain.

Preweaned Thoroughbred (Equus caballus) foals exhibit fewer behavioural signs of distress if accompanied by a handler while separated from their dam during covering

Thoroughbred mares (Equus caballus) are usually first teased 6 days post foaling and during this brief (often 3-6 minutes) process the mare's foal will be left alone in its stable. This will be repeated daily until the mare goes out of season. During this part of her cycle she may later be sent for covering by the resident stallion. On some farms the foal is alone in its stable during covering and this period can last for anything from 20 minutes to an hour, during which the foal typically exhibits signs of considerable distress. Though the foal can be heard whinnying for the mare, it has not previously been noted what behaviours the distressed foal exhibits during this separation. Though a recent study by Houpt (2002) looked at responses of 10 pony mares and their foals to brief weekly periods of separation at up to nine weeks of age, most research on separation distress in foals has previously been done with respect to the artificial weaning process, an event that most Thoroughbred foals experience by 6-7 months of age.

Effects of CO2 anaesthesia on central nervous system activity in swine.

The objective of the study was to examine the changes in central nervous system (CNS) activity and physical behaviour during induction and awakening from CO2 anaesthesia. Two studies, each using pigs immersed into 90% CO2 gas for a period of 60 s were performed. In study 1, we monitored middle latency auditory evoked potentials (changes in latencies, amplitudes and a depth of anaesthesia index), electroencephalographic parameters (delta, theta, alpha and beta electroencephalographic power and 95% spectral edge frequency) and heart rate; and in study 2, we monitored body movements and arterial and venous partial pressure of CO2 and O2. No behavioural signs of distress were observed during the early part of the induction. The swine exhibited muscular activity from 13-30 s after induction-start as well as during awakening from anaesthesia, possibly because of a transitory weaker suppression of the brain stem than of the cortex. The CNS and blood gas parameters started to change from the very start of induction. The CNS suppression lasted only approximately one minute after the end of the induction period. The two studies indicated a good temporal relationship between changes in amplitude, depth of anaesthesia index, spectral edge frequency, and arterial PCO2 during the induction period.

Effects of social partners on pituitary-adrenal activity during novelty exposure in adult female squirrel monkeys

Adult female squirrel monkeys from established social groups were exposed to novel surroundings either while alone or while with an adult female partner. The partner was either familiar and judged to be affiliative with the subject, familiar and not judged to be affiliative with the subject, or unfamiliar. The females' plasma cortisol levels were higher at the end of the 25th hr of exposure than at the end of the first hr when the females were alone or with a familiar partner, but not when they were with an unfamiliar partner. In no instance were cortisol concentrations greater when females were tested alone than when they were tested in the presence of a companion. Behavioral signs of distress were greater during the first as compared to the 25th hr of exposure and showed no influence of the presence of a partner. Contact/proximity between monkeys was greater during the 25th than during the first hour of exposure in the familiar partner judged to be affiliative and in the unfamiliar partner conditions. These results contrast with those of studies investigating the disruption of the mother-infant relationship in squirrel monkeys, and provide further evidence that the pituitary-adrenal system of these animals is not responsive to the disruption of adult social relationships.

The behaviour of calves at market

ABSTRACTA study was made of the behaviour of young calves at two Scottish auction markets, Lanark and Stirling, and an experiment was conducted to assess the effect of an auction market on the behaviour of calves less than 1 week old.Several features of the marketing procedure were identified as causing the calves distress, mainly because the calves were unable to lie down and rest. Crowding of calves in the pens, movement to different pens, and penning of very young calves with older calves were the three main reasons why calves could not rest. The older calves (approx. &gt; 10 weeks) were more active, running and jumping around the pens and disturbing the very young animals which stood up in response to being trodden on.Crowding was severe in some pens although there was no clear evidence to show that small groups of calves (6 to 10 calves) in small pens rested more than calves in large groups (20 to 50 calves) in larger pens.Calves showed their distress initially by calling loudly, looking wildly around their new environment and sometimes by running around the pen and calling. As time passed behavioural signs of distress were less prominent and calves assumed a ‘depressed’ posture with their heads low, ears held back, tails clamped down and with their weight distributed more on their hindlegs than on their forelegs.Calves subjected to an experimental market showed similar signs of distress to those calves in the real markets, whereas control calves rested for more than 0·74 of the same time. Experimental calves which were subjected to a journey of 2.5 h were less easily disturbed from the lying posture at the experimental market than calves which had undergone a journey of 15 min only.