Obsessive-compulsive disorders and Sterotypies

By Donna Brander, Animal Behaviourist

Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD's) are no more clearly understood in animals than they are inhuman beings. OCD’s are believed to be associated with neuroanatomical changes which do notallow the animal to respond normally to certain stimuli. Some breeds of dogs such as Labrador retrievers, Doberman pinschers, Weimaraners, Shar-Pei, and Dalmatians seem to have obsessivelicking problems (Acral lick granuloma/dermatitis) more than others.

Stereotypies are considered to be socially based; i.e. they are based on the animal feelingfrustrated by the inability to do something they want to do. Stereotypies are seen in all types ofanimals such as pacing of zoo animals in cages and horses that weave in their stables. The zooanimal wants to be out hunting but can only pace up and down in their cage. Horses want to runand graze but are frustrated by the confines of their caged environment. But some types ofstereotypical behaviour appear to be far more compulsive than others and are now being consideredas possibly pathologically based behaviour.

More Bull terriers and German Shepherd dogs are seen with tail-chasing problems than any otherbreed. Although tail-chasing can have a developmental element to it; i.e. it gets the dog attentionwhich it finds rewarding, and pain related tail chasing due to problems such as anal glands, hipdysplasia or pain in the neck or spine must be ruled out, the problem can be complicated. Some ofthese tail-chasers seem unable to stop the behaviour to the point of mutilation of the tail. Pharmacological help is now available which can facilitate the behaviour therapy, although most ofthese dogs will need to remain on a maintenance dosage of the drug for life.

Useful treatment for phobias, stereotypies and obsessive compulsive disorders, along with thepharmacological intervention, is teaching the dog a structure of behaviour that will guaranteerelaxation or stress reduction and will provide an appropriate response to anxiety. This can be assimple as having the dog always come to your side for a reward. The reward depends on theindividual and what he likes the best. For some dogs it is a titbit, or a special toy, or just theowners positive attention. This therapy has the added benefit of distracting the dog from theunwanted behaviour into something more socially acceptable; i.e. laying by the owners feet andchewing on a food filled Kong toy. The key to this therapy is that the dog learns that he can alwaysrelax when by his owners side and his relaxed posture is rewarded (Kong toy, praise, titbits).