Causes of Stress

Some stressors can be transitory while others can be chronic

Transitory Stress

Continue only for a short time

• likely to cause some 'discomfort' to the animal in the short term but is unlikely to cause long term detrimental effects

Chronic Stress

Persists and progresses over a long period of time

• can have long term implications on physical, mental and reproductive health if they are not 'picked up' in time     
• For example: an animal that finds constant exposure to people stressful and has no means of escape.

The simple ability of being able to remove itself from this exposure at its own will could be enough to alleviate this type of chronic stress. The answer may be found by simply allowing the animal access to it's night quarters or installing some form of visual barrier behind which it can escape at its own will when it all gets too much!

Types of stressors

 Unpleasant or harmful conditions

 Extreme temperatures

 Infections

 Injections of toxic drugs

 Confinement in small cages

 Overcrowding

 Social (hierarchical) disruption

 Isolation from group

 Strange environment

 Unfamiliar handlers and handling techniques

 Diagnostic procedures

 Disruption to normal circadian rhythm

 Fear

 Anxiety (perception of danger)

 Fatigue (excessive exercise)

 Sexual activity