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Identifying FAS<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span>Animal behavior depends on three factors: genetic predisposition, learning from past experiences, and the environment that it is in at the time. Understanding fear, anxiety, and stress is not only important when managing animals within the shelter setting, but also when assisting with the adoption of these animals into their forever homes. Signs of FAS can vary from animal to animal, and directly correlate with the intensity of these unsettling emotions. Scared, fearful, and anxious pets typically display subtle cues through their body language and behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>FAS behaviors or body language:<\/span><\/p>\n Why is recognizing FAS in a shelter setting important?<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Each year, approximately 6.5 million dogs and cats will enter the U.S. shelter system nationwide. Nearly every animal that enters the shelter experiences some degree of stress due to the sudden change and unfamiliarity in its new environment. Fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) significantly impacts not only dogs in shelters, but also shelter staff, the environment, potential adopters, and other animals within the shelter. Length of confinement plays an important role in FAS, which can negatively influence an animal\u2019s physical and emotional health, while also decreasing its chances of adoption. Health can also impact behavior, but behavior can affect health. Therefore, improving or resolving underlying stress and anxiety can be essential to the health and welfare of the pet. With the goal of many shelters revolving around animal adoption programs and community education, it is important for shelter staff and volunteers to become educated on the emotional needs of animals, and to improve their overall health and wellbeing. \u00a0<\/b>Reducing FAS<\/b><\/p>\n FAS responses vary between individuals and may be affected by breed, early life experience, sex, age, health, and the pet\u2019s behavioral profile. The longer the FAS-related conditions are unrecognized and untreated, the more complex they become and potentially the more difficult they are to treat. Every animal is unique and treatment plans should be based on each dogs\u2019 needs. Below are a few ideas that could be implemented or modified to create a shelter environment that encourages relaxation in our canine companions:<\/span><\/p>\n Emily Fuller, Jasmine Alam, and Hannah Urig, MPH, DVM\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine | Class of 2022\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Identifying FAS \u00a0Animal behavior depends on three factors: genetic predisposition, learning from past experiences, and the environment that it is in at the time. Understanding fear, anxiety, and stress is not only important when managing animals within the … Continue reading \n
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