Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P L Borchelt.
This article focuses on behavior problems for which pathophysiologic causes have been ruled out. General discussions of marking, urination, and defecation, the specific postures used for each behavior, and procedures for diagnosis and treatment are discussed briefly. New information is provided about cat's preferences for different types of litter materials.
Understanding companion animal behavior and treating behavior problems requires an appreciation of both the species-typical and individualistic nature of the behavior of dogs and cats, as well as people. Pet behavior problems are influenced by many factors, including genes, physiological processes and a myriad of environmental influences during the development of the pet throughout its life. Human behavior is influenced greatly by cognitive/linguistic capabilities unavailable to pets. Human anthropomorphism, egocentrism, and our tendency to attribute causality have surprisingly little effect on the development of major pet behavior problems but must be considered factors bearing on the successful treatment of these problems.
The development of dustbathing components was investigated in Bobwhite and Japanese quail. The incidence and frequencies of components for both species increased with age, but dustbathing occurred earlier in Japanese quail. The dust toss, head rub, and side rub components invariably developed in the same order they occur during an adult bout. The topographies of many components changed systematically with a "rudimentary" form preceding the typical adult form. Large individual differences were observed in the development of the temporal relations among components, but these differences were unrelated to the relative frequencies of components.
The sandbathing and grooming behaviour of ten kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) were recorded on sand and woodchip substrates after periods of 0, 1, 5 and 10 days without sand. Sandbathing is restricted to the sandy substrate. Grooming occurs on both, but with a higher frequency on sand. Increases in both grooming and sandbathing occur with increasing sand deprivation, but the temporal patterning does not change. D. merriami tends to alternate sandbathing components in contrast to other Dipodomys species. Lipid on the pelage increases noticeably with sand deprivation and decreases during a sandbathing bout; sand appears to be removed from the pelage by shaking and grooming. These findings suggest a three-process system for care of the body surface.
The development of dustbathing was facilitated among groups of Bobwhite chicks allowed to peck into dust as compared to chicks allowed to peck at dust or those inexperienced with dust. A 2nd study found a consistent, but nonsignificant, facilitation among chicks pecking into dust on Days 1-3 as compared to Days 4-6. In Study 3, groups of chicks pecked into dust on Days 2,4, or 6. Dustbathing development was facilitated among chicks pecking on Day 2, and inhibited among chicks pecking on Day 4, as compared to those pecking on Day 6. The only difference, however, between each of these groups and chicks with no pecking experience in dust (Study 1) was an inhibition of dustbathing among chicks pecking on Day 4.
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