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REDUCING FEAR, ANXIETY, AND STRESS: WHAT EXACTLY IS FEAR FREE?CHRISTINE D. CALDER DVM DACVB

WHAT DOES FEAR FREE ACTUALLY MEAN?

The Fear Free Mission

Our mission is to alleviate fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration in animals and educate and inspire the people that care for them.

WHO ACTUALLY IS FEAR FREE?

Goal: alleviate and reduce fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration in animals and provide enrichment.

Providing online and in-person CE courses

Veterinary professionals Shelters Pet

Professionals Pet Owners

An education company

WHAT ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF

FEAR FREE?

FEAR, ANXIETY, STRESS (FAS), and FRUSTRATION in dogs and cats creates obstacles to optimum health care, well being and safety for all involved

Understanding the CLINICAL SIGNS of FAS + FRUSTRATION is key to improving welfare and safety

Utilizing a CONSIDERATE APPROACH(CA) when interacting with animals

Always using GENTLE CONTROL(GC) when handling and administering medical care

WHAT ACTUALLY IS STRESS? WHAT CAUSES

STRESS?

• FEAR

• ANXIETY

• FRUSTRATION

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Levels of FAS (FAS Scale)

WHAT CAUSES

STRESS IN THE

SHELTER?

• Slippery floors

• Vet exams

• Smells and Sounds

• Different food

• Isolation

• Mixed species

• Lack of soft substrates

STRESS HAS A CONSEQUENCE

• Short Term Stress-• Promote survival• Develop coping skills

• Long Term Stress –• Decreased life span• Disease• Stereotypical behaviors• Aggressive behaviors• Attention seeking behaviors

BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS THAT DEVELOP IN THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT

DOGS

• Barrier related barking

• Barrier related aggression

• House training regression

• Social hyper-arousal

• Food Aggression

CATS• Fear based behaviors-

some initially appear feral

• Aggression towards humans

• Litterbox/Inappropriate Elimination

REMEMBER IT IS ALL ABOUT PERCEPTION

FEAR AND ANXIETY CAN LOOK LIKE THIS:

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FRUSTRATION

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WHAT ABOUT CATS?

SIGNS OF ESCALATING FEAR AND ANXIETYRodan I, Sundahl E, Carney H, et al. AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines . J Feline Med and Surg, 13:364-375; 2011

OTHER SPECIES NEED FEAR FREE TOO

WHAT ABOUT AGGRESSION?

“Aggression is a behavioral strategy that a pet uses in a social interaction to avoid or end an unwanted encounter and to relieve underlying fear or anxiety.”

Common Sense Behavior Modification: A Guide for Practitioners Debra Horwitz, DVM and Amy L. Pike DVM Vet Clinic Small Animal 44 (2014)

MOST COMMON REASONS WHY ANIMALS USE AGGRESSION?

• Fear

• Anxiety

• Pain

• Learned behavior: past experiences

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WHY DO WE CARE?

• Good welfare

• Goal is to make the animal better not worse.

• Learning is always occurring.

• Safety

• Improves staff morale

• Raise standard of care

• Human-Animal Bond Brittany Schoonmaker-Fear Free Professionals Facebook Group

WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE DISTRESS?

THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT HARNESSES, HEAD COLLARS, AND MATS

PHEROMONES (CEVA) HORSES TOO!

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BANDANAS AND TOWELS COVER THE CARRIERS

CLASSICAL MUSIC

CAT EXAM ROOM

DOG EXAM ROOM

THE HOSPITAL

• Low light

• Soft voices

• Separate dogs and cats

• Place cats in higher cages

• Hiding places for cats

• Lets dogs and cats come to you: do not reach in cages

• Pheromones and music

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CONSIDERATE APPROACH

DON’T: DO:

GENTLE CONTROL

USE FOODCOMMON FOODS

• Peanut Butter

• Squeeze Cheese

• Butler Lean Treats

• Chicken and Chicken Broth (frozen)

• Feline z/d (dogs and allergies)

• Hills Ideal Balance Soft Baked Naturals

• Tuna Flakes (fish food)

• Lunch Meat

• Any canned food left over in your fridge.

• Whipped Cream (cats)

• Baby food

• Marshmallow Fluff (allergies)

FROZEN PREP

SYRINGES

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EVEN OTHER SPECIES

GENTLE RESTRAINT, CONTINUOUS TOUCH, AND TOUCH GRADIENT

https://gibraltarvet.com/fear-free.html

CONTINUOUS TOUCH AND TOUCH GRADIENT IN HORSES TOO PICKING UP HOOVES

TOOLS FOR SAFETY: BASKET MUZZLES (IDEAL) WHAT ABOUT SCUFFING?

• Mother has specific pressure points

• Can make more aggressive-Defensive aggression

• Often “learned helplessness”

• Emergency only

• Catalyst Council and AAFP: https://youtu.be/C8iAexzg710

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TOWELS AND BLANKETSSKAER VETERINARY CLINIC, WICHITA

KANSAS

SCALE-SNUFFLE MAT

LICKIMAT

TRAILERING HORSES

READ THE ANIMAL IN FRONT OF YOU AND ADJUST YOUR

APPROACH

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WANTS VS. NEEDS

• If it is a want, then send home for:

• Reschedule on anti-anxiety medications

• Happy Visits/Victory Visits

• Behavior Modification

• If it is a need then chemical restraint

• Remember learning is always occurring!

DOGS AND CATS IN THE SHELTER: FIVE FREEDOMS

ENRICHMENT

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) define enrichment

as:

"a process for improving or enhancing animal environments and care within

the context of their inhabitants' behavioral biology and natural history.

It is a dynamic process in which changes to structures and husbandry practices are made with the goal of

increasing behavioral choices available to animals and drawing out their species-appropriate behaviors and abilities, thus enhancing animal

welfare" (AZA/ BAG, 1999).

ENRICHMENT GOALS

• Increase behavioral choice

• Encourage species specific behaviors and ability

• Reduces stress

• Enhance Animal Welfare

• Freedom to express normal behavior

• Freedom from fear and distress

BROAD CATEGORIES• Social

• Same species

• Human

• Environmental

• Foraging, toys

• Kennel and housing design

• Sensory (Visual, auditory, olfactory, pheromones, tactile)

• Can be adding something or taking something away to reduce stress

ENRICHMENT-THE 5 SENSES

• Visual

• Auditory

• Tactile

• Olfactory

• Gustatory

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WAYS TO ENRICH DOGS: TOYS

• Exploratory and foraging behavior increasing public perception of adoptibity

• Novel, one-time use or easy to reuse and clean

• Consider context and individual play/chew styles

WAYS TO ENRICH

CATS: TOYS

• Hands-free toys (facilitate adoptions)

• Laser pointers (isolation)

• Ping pong balls in water bowl

• Catnip in baby socks

• Big paper bags or boxes

CAT ENRICHMENT

SCHEDULES

WAYS TO ENRICH: SOCIAL

(HUMANS)

• Human contact reduces cortisol levels and promote social behavior

• 25 minutes play sessions decrease salivary cortisol (Menor-campos2011)

• 15 minutes walking per week, 6 weeks, increased social behavior at front of kennel (Normando, 2009)

SOCIAL CONTACT (HUMANS)

• Positive Reinforcement Training

• Teach social skills

• Increase adoption rates, improve relationships with people, and improve welfare.

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GETTING HELP FROM THE

PUBLIC

READING PROGRAMS

WAY TO ENRICH CATS: SOCIAL (HUMANS)

• Provide toys for hands-free play

• Read N’ Relax

• Treat cups at front of cage

• Adopters prefer cats who approach them (Fantuzzi 2010) OUTSIDE ENRICHMENT

KENNEL DESIGN

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WHAT ABOUT FOSTERING?

FEAR FREE (FEARFREEPETS.COM)

• Modeled off pediatric dentist and children’s hospitals

• Currently 3 levels + trainer module + groomer module + extras

• Shelter module coming soon

• Several DACVB’s on the advisory board along with ACVIMs, DACVAs, and EMCCs veterinarians

• AAHA supported

Fear Free Certification Program Syllabus

Link for more information: https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-certification-overview/

Eight Modules – 9 RACE approved hours of CE• Module 1: Fear Free Behavior Modification Basics• Module 2: Fear Free Transport of Cats and Dogs to and from the Veterinary Hospital• Module 3: Fear Free Reception and Waiting Area• Module 4: Fear Free Exam Room• Module 5: Fear Free In-Hospital Care• Module 6: Fear Free Procedures• Module 7a: Pre-visit Protocols: Complementary Therapeutics, Products &

Pharmaceuticals• Module 7b: In-Hospital Protocols: Sedation, Anesthesia, & Analgesia

Additional Member Benefits• Marketing Materials• Education Library• Toolbox Resources• Private Facebook Group• Additional Free and Discounted

CE Courses• Podcast Series• Directory Listing• Online Store• 100% of CE is RACE approved• Preferred Product Discounts

Link for more information: https://fearfreepets.com/veterinary-professionals/

Fear Free for Pet Professionals

Link for more information: https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-pet-professionals/

Pet Professional Tracks• Annual Renewal Requirements

• Two (2) Additional hours of Fear Free specific CEUs• Trainer track required to submit two (2) additional hours of CEUs

• Renewal Fee• Access to Fear Free Member Benefits

Fear Free for Pet Professionals

Link for more information: https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-groomer-certification-course-overview/

Groomer Track• Overview: Groomers will acquire the skills to use Fear Free concepts

to ensure that the grooming experience is as enjoyable as possible for every pet, every time. Step-by-step video clips and slides show how to teach animals to love the grooming table, clippers, bathtub, blow dryer, grooming shears, groomer’s loop, and more.

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Fear Free for Pet Professionals

Link for more information: https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-animal-trainer-certification-program-overview/

Trainer Track• Overview: Trainers will acquire the skills to manage and handle dogs

and cats alongside the veterinary team during veterinary visits and care to ease pet’s apprehension regarding exams, procedures and other care.

• 10 CEUs for CCPDT, IAABC, KPA & 10 RACE approved hours of CE

FEAR FREE SHELTER CERTIFICATION (FREE)

First four modules mandatory

Emotional Health, including the stress response and how

animals perceive the shelter

Behavior and Emotions, including Understanding and Recognizing FAS and Frustration, Dog and Cat

Body Language

How Animals Learn, including sensitization

and desensitization, classical and operant

conditioning and counterconditioning

Fear Free Animal Handling Basics,

including Considerate Approach, Gentle Control

and Touch Gradient

Anticipated Launch August 2019

REMAINING MODULES (ELECTIVE)

• Intake and Admission

• Housing and Environment

• Daily Care and Monitoring

• Animal Handling Skills and Tools

• Medical Care and Procedures

• Enrichment for Cats

• Enrichment for Dogs

• Adoption

• Behavior Medications and Complementary Therapies

• Implementation

Fear Free Research

• Led by Gary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM (CA)• Funds made available for research grants to ACVB, European

College, and a select group of veterinary colleges• Two research categories:

• Fear, anxiety, and stress related to veterinary visits• Enriching the lives of pets in homes

Link for more information: https://fearfreepets.com/fear-free-research/

Fear Free for Pet OwnersIntroducing Fear Free Happy Homes• Online resource for pet owners• Educational courses• Blog• Online Community• Special deals and discounts

Course categories• Alleviating anxieties• Fear Free veterinary visits• Activities & enrichment• Training & socialization• Human-animal bond

fearfreehappyhomes.com

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QUESTIONS?

Slide 83

CC1 Christine Calder, 7/29/2019