b'ARTICLE Box 2.misdirected or predatory play, so Examples of behavioural first aid discourage caregivers from allowing advice for aggression: their cat to play with their hands or feet. Toys/feathers on wands appeal to mostDo not punish or use threatening behaviour towards the animalcats and are much safer.as this will exacerbate the problem. Trying to break up fights when thereS top using aversive equipment/restraining aids (choke chains,is conflict between cohabiting cats shock or prong collars) as pain lowers the threshold foris another cause of human injury. aggression. Separation and segregation, with each cat having access to its own set ofI dentify and manage the trigger(s) for the behaviourresources, is advisable and a timesharing system with the caregiver can be Safeguarding advice: suggested until a professional is brought in. Prevent the animal from coming in to contact with the targetFear and anxiety are often motivating of their aggression.factors for aggression and discussingEnsure dogs cant escape from gardens by securingthis with a client can encourage boundaries. them to have greater empathy for their companion animal and be morewilling to take behavioural advice. Yet, For dogs, provide advice about suitable muzzles and muzzle training (if safe to do so) Ref. Useful Resourceswhatever the underlying cause, the advice must centre on health and safety Educate children and ensure they are never left unsupervised(see Box 2).with the animal.Advice for fear and anxiety An escalation of fear and anxiety can Use baby-gates to safely contain and separate (tall gates are available for larger breeds of dog).lead to a whole host of behaviour problems including fear-aggression, sosome of the advice covered in Box 2 will Discourage anyone trying to coax, interact or pick up the animal. Cats in particular can inflict serious injuries if they areapply. However, other Immediate advice handled when frightened. should focus on limiting exposure to the things that elicit distress. Ensure dogs are under complete control when taken out for walks (i.e., use well-fitted, comfortable and appropriate aids).Recognising body language, to identify the subtle signs of stress, so that action If control and restraint cannot be guaranteed in publiccan be taken before the situation places then advise hiring a private exercise field or set up aworsens, can also help. Advising the programme of mental enrichment in the home and garden.caregiver to immediately withdraw, Ref Useful Resources.back-off or safely remove the animalFor dogs, an attached house line (similar to a puppy line) canfrom the situation when the signals are displayed, is good advice. Visual be used as an additional means of control in the home (Fig.1).resources depicting body postures and Ref. Useful Resources. for a link to a training guide. gestures can be extremely helpful forA fearful cats response is to withdraw and hide. Provideescape routes, elevated sites and hiding places, advising the caregivers not to remove or force them out. of these bites are inflicted by the family pet dog, provoked by hugging/kissing or disturbing them when they are eating. Education and preventative measures should therefore be put in place. Cats can also inflict serious injuries and vulnerable people, such as the elderly and children can be at a higher risk. Attacks may be motivated by Fig. 2 - A trigger diary is useful for gathering information about 20www.inspiredvet.co.uk causative and maintainingfactors.'