11/02/2008 – By Michelle Terrell
Licking, chewing, spinning, tail chasing and running after shadows or beams of light – normal behaviors in dogs and cats. In some cases they become repetitive and harmful, stressing not only the dogs or cats involved, but also the humans.
OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, are when normal behaviors become repetitive or sustained and don’t seem to make any sense. Common behaviors seen in dogs are licking to the point of causing a wound, tail chasing until they are exhausted, chasing shadows and light beams. Cats are known to suck on wool, groom excessively or chase their tails. The problems come in to play when the behaviors start to affect the animal’s well being. Cats that suck on fabrics can go on to start swallowing it, which can cause obstructions. However, prevention of our pets from engaging in their particular compulsions can create anxiety in its own right.
There are a few different reasons for the disorder – genetic predisposition, environmental stress, emotional conflicts, medical conditions or even a situation that went unnoticed at some point in time.
Different breeds are known for different types of OCD behaviors. German shepherds and Bull Terriers are known for tail chasing. Herding breeds and Border Collies have a tendency to chase light and shadows. Dobermans can develop a condition called flank sucking in which they turn around and grab a fold of skin on their side and suck on it.
In some situations it can be an emotional conflict can be a trigger. The animal faces a situation that they have difficulty choosing between two chooses that they don’t feel has a acceptable course of action. For example, maybe their human is calling them and they can sense they are angry with them. The dog wants to come to the owner, but at the same time they are afraid to come. They might short-circuit and act out in a displacement behavior.
There are different genetics that can cause these types of behavior. Spinal and neurological diseases can trigger different sensations in maybe the animal’s limbs and cause these compulsive behaviors; similar to Restless Leg Syndrome in humans. Although the behaviors performed by compulsive canines are essentially normal behaviors, they are just performed repeatedly. In comparison to humans, there is nothing wrong with washing your hands often, but if you wash your hands several hundred times a day you have a problem.
The first step is to talk to your vet and make sure there aren’t any underlying medical conditions causing the behavior. Next would be to go through an evaluation with a veterinary to determine some possible causes. After it is decided that the behavior is in fact compulsive, behavior changes and sometimes anti-anxiety medication can help. Medications can ease the symptoms, but they are not a cure.
While punishment can make the situation worse, a patient owner willing to make necessary changes can often manage their animal’s behaviors.
