Behaviour can vary between species, for example if they are prey or predator.

Pain normally results from stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Stress and drug administration can alter physiological parameters.

Physiological Pain Indicators:

•Tachycardia

•Hypertension

•Tachypnoea

•Pyrexia

•Panting

•Salivation

•Pupillary dilation

•Shaking and shivering

•Changes in respiratory pattern – rapid, shallow breathing caused by thoracic pain.

• Increase heart rate

• increased blood pressure

• muscle tension

• excess stomach problems

• difficulty sleeping

• Rapid breathing

• Increased temperature

• Eye or nose discharge

• Swelling

Behavioural indicators:

• Changes in eating habits

• Loss of interest in daily activities

• Become withdrawn and possibly aggressive

• Change in sleeping patterns

• Hiding or isolating

Variation between species:

• Similar in other species could not find many differences

What nursing care interventions:

• Address patient needs and improve outcomes

• Medication administration

• Client education

• Barrier nursing (infection control)

• promote recovery and healing

MRSA

• Highly contagious

• Zoonotic

• Barrier nursing and isolation to reduce spread

• Deep cleaning after

-panting

-whites of eyes

-increased heart rate

-increases blood pressure

-increased temperature

-increased glucose levels in cats

-hypersalivating

-increased cortisol levels

What behavioural indicators might you see?

-panting

-aggression

-lip licking

-urinating

-unusual behaviour

-ears down

-tail tucked underneath

-rabbits grind teeth

-vocalisation

Are there any variations between species?

• rabbits thump

• cats are harder to read eg. muzzle positions

• cats purr

• rabbits die

What nursing care interventions can be applied to help correct these?

• pheromone remedies/sprays

• classical music for cats

• quiet environment

• identify if less is more

• send home with gaba or/and traz

What are the negative impacts of stress on a patient, both physically and psychologically?

• rabbits die

• hunger strike

• lose weight

• blocked bladder

• unable to assess

• shallow breathing

• pale gums

• weak or rapid pulse

• heart arrhythmia

• difficulty breathing

• dilated pupils

• decreased body temperature

What behavioural indicators might you see?

• obtunded

• dull mental state

• lethargic

• agression

• defecation and urination

Variation between species?

• Vital numbers will differ between species.

Nursing care interventions:

• fluid therapy