Animal Behaviour and Trauma Recovery Service

16/12/2022

I have had a great week of CPD and learning including an excellent workshop on Transforming Perspectives on Difficult Behaviour: THE DOGS ARE WAITING with Andrew Hale and Laura Donaldson, Fear Memory Generalization: When the Protective Mechanism Goes Wrong, with Dr. Kathy Murphy & Bobbie Bhambree and Working With Fear And Trauma In Horses with Dr Emma Lethbridge Some key takeaways and musings I will likely comeback with more as I process the weekend. ( this is not an exhaustive list please check out these amazing courses for more information):

* Fear generalisation is adaptive because :

• It allows us and our animals to adjust to ever-changing and complicated physical and social environments. This enhances an individuals chance of survival.

• No unpleasant or aversive situation is the same.

• Adaptive generalisation saves time and is efficient. It reduces the length of time it takes an individual to discriminate between stimuli.

* Maladaptive generalisation can lead to:

• Excessive generalisation is not energy efficient, it can result in poor discrimination where the individual can not accurately tell the difference between safe and unsafe contexts and situations. This might also make the use of safety signals less effective.
(Dreschel et al, 2010.)

• The neurobiological mechanisms of fear generalisation are

• Pattern separation and pattern completion

• Pattern separation: This is the ability to both discriminate and store sensory inputs that are similar but not identical. These are then changed into dissimilar outputs (Wynn et al, 2021). For humans think "Spot the difference”.

• Pattern completion: This is the retrieval of a full memory based on a partial cue from the environment a human example might the first few bars of a song enabling us to identify it (Ngo et al,2020).

• Alterations in the functional connectivity of brain regions

• Increased stress sensitivity and reactivity.

• In the case of memory the specific details of the event are lost faster than the conditioned emotional response (fear).

• We can support dogs (and horses) through resilience conditioning by ensuring and supporting predictability , decompression, completion of the stress cycle, mental and physical wellbeing , safety and security, social support and agency ( supporting the animal’s agency). Please see the amazing Resilience Rainbow that Behaviour Vets have created.

• From the workshop the affirmation that there is a deep need to move away from operant approaches as the first port of call in supporting animals' who are very fearful, traumatised or just struggling in our human world. That instead we must focus on knowing the individual, learning from them and giving them opportunities to learn they are safe and support their agency. To work on ourselves so we can be available and don’t add to what is already difficult and to work alongside in collaboration with our animals.

• Last but NOT least we can't train trauma away!!
I will add to this list when I have had time to process all of the learning

©️Jessie Sams (2022) Animal Behaviour and Trauma Recovery Service

14/12/2022

Fantastic post from Dog Communication

13/12/2022

Hi guys it has dawned on me I have never properly introduced myself or how I work. . Please say Hi and tell me where you are all from. In addition to what is listed below I am also a passionate trauma geek and mental health advocate for all species including humans. I hope you find a safe non-judgemental space here.

This page is for those of you seeking support to heal your traumatised animal through bespoke treatment via veterinary referral using the trauma informed principles of safety, trust, choice and agency , collaboration and empowerment . Information and resources will also be shared here to support your journey.

🐴🐴Who am I ?🐴🐴

I am a qualified horse and dog behaviour consultant working towards becoming a Clinical Animal Behaviourist via the APBC APEL route. I have been practicing as a behaviour consultant since 2012 and have a background in show jumping. I specialise in and I am passionate about supporting rescue horses and dogs or those that have experienced any form of psychological trauma. I also am UK representative for MiMer Centre where we offer training and do research into equine /human interaction and Equines in Therapy and Learning . My work involves a multidisciplinary approach and I work alongside other professionals to support you and your horse.

What does a Behaviour Consultation Involve?

A behaviour consultation is designed to help you address the root cause of your horse’s behaviour problem be it trauma, fear or phobia, loading or travelling issue, separation distress, aggression, stereotypic behaviour ( crib biting, weaving etc),ridden, handling or catching problem. They can also be used to prevent behaviour issues by preparing a horse for veterinary procedures, the farrier, dentist, teaching loading to starting your young horse or just to enhance your relationship or lower your horse’s stress levels. I am passionate especially about horses who have experienced any sort of trauma to help them to feel safe and thrive.

What does a behaviour consultation involve?

Contact via a phone call or send a message. We discuss your needs and see if I am right for you. THERE IS NO OBLIGATION

If you determine that you'd like to move forward you will need to get a referral from your vet to rule out any physical, medical or neurological causes for the identified behaviour complaint. This is a requirement of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Usually this is at no cost to you and can be achieved via phone call allowing me to send my referral forms and contact your vet. This ensures the problem is behavioural as opposed to medical or neurological in nature. These consultations are designed to be holistic and offer a trauma informed and multidisciplinary approach.

🐴Referral from your vet to rule out physical or medical cause for the identified behaviour complaint in line with the Veterinary Surgeons Act. You can either ask your vet to refer to me or approach me directly and with your consent I can reach out to your vet to refer your horse to me.

🐴Full history and behaviour assessment due to social distancing the bulk of the history form will be done over the phone followed by completing the assessment face to face with your horse. You also receive a more practical session as part of the assessment. The history includes an informal discussion of your horse’s early history ( if known), current routine and environment ( this part is undertaken at your yard), diet ,full assessment of the problem and an in depth look at your relationship. I do not use any force towards your horse or gadgetry and everything as at you and your horses’ pace.

🐴I formulate a treatment and support plan based on the history you have given me and my observations from our face to face assessment then I write an overview and initial training plan and send you an information pack. Your plan is updated as we progress you may also receive additional hand outs where appropriate.

🐴On-going , long term support and habilitation training is an essential part of the service and can be offered either intensively (2-3 days per week where we work with your horse together or I work with your horse a set number of days and then we have one or two sessions together) or sessions are weekly , fortnightly or monthly. Intensives are offered at a discount and two days per week is typically recommended at the beginning for particularly fearful or complex horses. All sessions are trauma informed focusing on safety, trust ,choice and collaboration with your horse. Throughout treatment assessment is on going. So for intensive enquiries please ask.

🐴 Prevention of behaviour issues developing or to support your horse to cope with veterinary procedures such as injections, worming, dentistry, hoof and leg handling for the farrier.

🐴 Helping your foal or young horse or dog to navigate the human world including leading , loading and basic handling. It is important your foal or young horse has the best start in life and that they can cope with our human world.

I promise to always listen and offer you a safe and non-judgemental space to explore your relationship and address any issues may have or just support your relationship to grow.

Working with our animals when they are struggling is often challenging and emotional for us. These sessions are designed to support you both and focus on establishing relationship before using a combination of systematic desensitisation, counter conditioning, aspects of Polyvagal Theory , positive reinforcement, enrichment and scent work to encourage natural behaviour and relaxation. All of my work is based on the principles of Trauma Informed Care (Safety,Trust, Choice, Collaboration and supporting Agency). Your horses’ behaviour issue developed over time and as such will take time to change. There are no quick fixes in life and helping your animal is no exception but change can be achieved with patience and time.

This service is available for dogs too .

12/12/2022

I think I have just finished watching one of the most life changing webinars I have ever seen. It answered so many questions for me both personally as someone who lives with a massively generalised fear response and professionally with the animals I meet. Massive thanks to the outstanding Behavior Vets team and Kathy Connor and Bobbie Bhambree-Wirkmaa for their awesome webinar on Fear generalisation. I highly recommend it and I look forward to putting it into practice.

12/12/2022

This is sad and disappointing . Horses deserve better .The normalising of pain and stress has to stop. .

12/12/2022

This is so sad and disappointing . Horses deserve better .The normalising of pain and stress has to stop. .

12/12/2022

This should be a great webinar series for anyone interested in ethology and equine welfare . It is a real privilege to part of this . I will be thoroughly rinsing my brave pants for this one .

12/12/2022

I love this from Leslie Horsemanship . Puppy socialisation is much the same it’s also about the individual .

I don’t want to expose my horses to as much as possible, as a way to desensitize them.

I see this often on social media, people throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their horses. And although these are always quite popular videos, and impresses alot of people, it’s not something I ever have as a goal in my horses education.

Instead, I want to build a foundation that allows them to handle new, and potentially scary situations. A foundation of trust, and one that shows the horse that, it’s ok to get worried about stuff, but that they can investigate, and problem solve their way through the situation.

We will never be able to desensitize our horses to every stimulus out there and unfortunately, improper desensitization can cause the problem of shutting a horse down, creating the illusion of calmness, when it reality the horse has become a ticking time bomb.

I also don’t want my horses to become unresponsive to stimuli, I much prefer a horse that is a bit reactive, because it tells me that they’re comfortable communicating their concerns to me, and allows me to actually work with them through it. This communication is also VITAL for safety. For example if you ride or walk anywhere you would encounter wildlife, having a horse that alerts you to a potential bear or cougar, but also trusts you to make the right decisions for everyone, is what’s going to help keep you and your horse safe.

So in conclusion, WHAT we “desensitize” our horses to, is not so important as HOW we approach new and scary things.

12/12/2022

Wonderful post

I don’t want to expose my horses to as much as possible, as a way to desensitize them.

I see this often on social media, people throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their horses. And although these are always quite popular videos, and impresses alot of people, it’s not something I ever have as a goal in my horses education.

Instead, I want to build a foundation that allows them to handle new, and potentially scary situations. A foundation of trust, and one that shows the horse that, it’s ok to get worried about stuff, but that they can investigate, and problem solve their way through the situation.

We will never be able to desensitize our horses to every stimulus out there and unfortunately, improper desensitization can cause the problem of shutting a horse down, creating the illusion of calmness, when it reality the horse has become a ticking time bomb.

I also don’t want my horses to become unresponsive to stimuli, I much prefer a horse that is a bit reactive, because it tells me that they’re comfortable communicating their concerns to me, and allows me to actually work with them through it. This communication is also VITAL for safety. For example if you ride or walk anywhere you would encounter wildlife, having a horse that alerts you to a potential bear or cougar, but also trusts you to make the right decisions for everyone, is what’s going to help keep you and your horse safe.

So in conclusion, WHAT we “desensitize” our horses to, is not so important as HOW we approach new and scary things.

11/12/2022

Taking a risk but here goes

SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY OF FEAR

Whilst I am a huge fan of science I also want to post about how this feels in my experience. Fear extinction put simply is a reduction or decrease in a conditioned fear response or responses (CR) after a period of non-reinforced exposure to in this case a feared conditioned stimulus (CS) (Kataoka et al,2019,Norrholm et al, 2006). If an extinguished fear response or responses re-emerge after a period of time when the feared stimulus is presented again this is spontaneous recovery. Extinction itself is a type of inhibitory learning. Spontaneous Recovery of response can happen with desired behavioural responses unrelated to fear as both will wane and weaken if they are not reinforced. In this case, the focus is on fear. When the feared conditioned stimulus is later re-introduced the fear “ spontaneously” returns often with renewed strength and intensity. (Lacagnina et al, 2019,Kim & Cho,2020).

So what does all that have to do with a cup of coffee or indeed spontaneous recovery of fears in animals?

The feelings bit. I am anorexic as some of you may know so what does that have to do with spontaneous recovery you are probably thinking?

Recently I have been increasingly anxious (actually I am always anxious😉) and I also became very unwell with a nasty virus. I couldn’t go out for a few days. Starbucks used to be a safe drink for me. Well, that short window of around forty-eight hours was long enough to rapidly and violently cause my fears to return (Murray et al,2020). No more coffee for me at least not without an immovable wall of fear. It is so important to frequently revisit fear-inducing stimuli and situations especially if there is a long gap between them. It does not have to be done at full intensity every time but aspects at least should be revisited. So for example, if your horse is afraid of clippers don’t go months without exposing your horse to them. There is a great app that simulates clippers you can practice with even if their coat has not grown back. It is safest to start at a lower level of intensity especially if some time has elapsed.

References

Kataoka, T., Fuchikami, M., Nojima, S., Nagashima, N., Araki, M., Omura, J., ... & Morinobu, S. (2019). Combined brain‐derived neurotrophic factor with extinction training alleviate impaired fear extinction in an animal model of post‐traumatic stress disorder. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 18(7), e12520.

Kim, W. B., & Cho, J. H. (2020). Encoding of contextual fear memory in hippocampal–amygdala circuit. Nature communications, 11(1), 1-22.

Lacagnina, A. F., Brockway, E. T., Crovetti, C. R., Shue, F., McCarty, M. J., Sattler, K. P., ... & Drew, M. R. (2019). Distinct hippocampal engrams control extinction and relapse of fear memory. Nature neuroscience, 22(5), 753-761.

Murray, S. B., Strober, M., Craske, M. G., Griffiths, S., Levinson, C. A., & Strigo, I. A. (2018). Fear as a translational mechanism in the psychopathology of anorexia nervosa. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 95, 383-395.

Norrholm, S. D., Jovanovic, T., Vervliet, B., Myers, K. M., Davis, M., Rothbaum, B. O., & Duncan, E. J. (2006). Conditioned fear extinction and reinstatement in a human fear-potentiated startle paradigm. Learning & Memory, 13(6), 681-685.

©️Jessie Sams (2022) Animal Behaviour and Trauma Recovery Service and Beeching Horse Behaviour