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ABI Newsletter, Winter 2007

"When I play with my cat, how do I know that she is not passing time
with me rather than I with her?" - Montaigne

New classes and programs launched this spring! In this issue:

* Expanded offerings in wildlife
* AAT: Etiquette in Animal Assisted Therapy (part 2)
* Ask the Trainer: The Picky Eater!
Director's Corner: Wildlife Rehabilitation

The Animal Behavior Institute is proud to announce the availability of our new certificate program in Wildlife Rehabilitation!

Why Wildlife Rehabilitation?
Many of our students enrolled in our Exotic Animal Management (EAM) program have expressed a career interest in wildlife rehabilitation and education. While the EAM certificate program does provide suitable training for wildlife husbandry, our core philosophy has always been to provide career training specific to our students' field of interest. We believe that our students will be better served by a program directly tailored to wildlife rehabilitation.

This new program emphasizes the physical, medical, and psychological rehabilitation of indigenous wildlife. With millions of wild animals being injured or orphaned each year in the United States there is obviously a great need for the specialized training and knowledge required for wildlife rehabilitation.

The classes for this new certificate will be offered for the first time in March 2007! This certificate covers the Principles of Wildlife Rehabilitation, Wildlife Management, Animal Nutrition, Health & Disease, Environmental Education & Outreach, and Animal Behavior. It is also designed to assist you in preparing for the national certification exam in wildlife rehabilitation. Along with the fundamentals of rehabilitation there is strong emphasis on wildlife education and the development of animal programs for the public. Public education is a key component of successful conservation and cannot be overemphasized. Or in the words of Derek Bok, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance”.

For more information on this program, please visit our Wildlife Rehabilitation certificate site.

Etiquette in Animal Assisted Therapy (part 2)

In an earlier newsletter we provided ten hints on interacting successfully with AAA/T recipients (clients). I’ve expanded the list here to help make participation in AAA/T a little easier and a positive experience for all – the handler, the animal, and the recipient (client)!

  1. If you are not sure whom to visit in a facility (and the facility does not provide a host), ask the facility contact person to provide you with a list of clients and their location.
  2. Make eye contact when talking to the recipient. Eye contact is more personal. It makes the recipient feel you are truly listening.
  3. Don’t stare at a client. They may feel you are looking at their disability, which may make them very uncomfortable.
  4. Make use of holidays! Costumes, goodies, and pictures help orient the client to time and can help start the conversation. It may sound silly but it works for almost all ages and situations.
  5. It is OK to nicely indicate how a client should interact with your pet. As an example: Mrs. Smith wants to feed your rabbit a piece of her cookie. You might respond; “Thank you Mrs. Smith, I think Sniffy would enjoy a treat. How about giving her a piece of a carrot that I brought along instead? I'm afraid the cookie might not agree with her digestion”.
  6. If you will be working with a therapist, ask him/her about what they expect of you and your pet prior to the arrival of the client. Set guidelines before the interaction begins.
  7. Don’t forget your accident bag. Always be prepared for accidents (see our Fall 2005 newsletter).
  8. In your accident bag include toys and brushes and other accessories your clients might be interested in. A client might enjoy brushing your pet or playing ball (in a safe location!)
  9. If you are uncomfortable with something, speak up! You must be comfortable and ensure the safety of your pet and the client. If you are hesitant about something, graciously make your exit and talk to the facility contact person.
  10. If for any reason you cannot go to your AAA/T appointment call and let them know. The staff can then inform the clients so they will not be too disappointed. It is common courtesy to let them know you won’t be coming. Apologize for not being able to make it and let them know when you can next be expected.

Don’t forget, always wear a smile! Smiles are contagious and put people at ease. A friendly hello and a smile go a long way to make a person comfortable. OK, I said this in the first list but it is really true and important!

Once again, the lists provided are not inclusive but should serve as an aid in promoting a positive and healthy AAA/T experience for all.   If you have any additional suggestions for proper AAA/T/E etiquette, please email them to me for incorporation into a future newsletter and we’ll give you the credit too!  Email: hammerj@animaledu.com
Ask the Trainer: The Picky Eater

Q: My Margie is a terrific companion, she's a smallish dog of unknown ancestry but huge on personality! Margie is seven years old and I've been getting worried about her eating lately. I don't think she's eating enough and seems increasingly picky about her food. Should I be worried about an eating disorder developing?

A: As with all behavioral issues, the first step should be a physical and consultation with Margie's vet. There are GI tract problems than can lead to picky eating. A more likely medical issue is dental or periodontal disease. It's been estimated that 85% of all dogs over age four have periodontal disease! And estimates run even higher for cats. The first step is to insure that Margie isn't experiencing any pain or discomfort from the process of eating itself.

My second suggestion would be to take a candid look at what you're giving Margie to eat. Do you succumb to any begging from her? Provide table scraps? Too many treats? Even a half dozen of some commercial dog treats can give a small dog over half the calories it requires per day! Also consider whether neighbors in your area may be providing "supplements" to her diet. We need to know where all of her calories are coming from.

If she has no medical issues and is definitely restricted to the commercial diet you provide, consider the following suggestions for stimulating her appetite:

  • If you're feeding dry dog food, moisten it with warm water or beef/chicken broth.
  • Heating the food to a warmer temperature can enhance flavor and stimulate renewed interest in eating. (CAUTION: Be extremely careful if the food is heated in the microwave. Hot spots can develop that may burn your dog's tongue or mucous membranes.)
  • Mix a small amount of canned cat food into her normal portions. Most dogs will enjoy it although it will add more fat, protein and calories than your dog really needs. Do it sparingly.
  • Instead of making banana bread from those overripe bananas, try mashing one up and adding some to her bowl with her commercial dog food.