 Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
#217001 - 11/21/2008 07:37 PM |
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I had a new grooming client come in today whose dog's leg was chewed to the point of scabbing and pussing. It is a 6 year old, female Lab mix.
When I asked what was wrong with the leg, the client said it was obsessive compulsive behavior and the dog constantly chews at her one leg. They took the dog to their Vet and he told them there was nothing they could do. He suggested they get the dog a playmate. I know nothing about this behavior, but to me that diagnosis sounds ridiculous. I would think getting another dog at this point would stress the dog and make it more anxious. I would think you would find what triggers the dog to chew, then maybe redirect the dogs behavior? The sore looks like it could become infected, however the Vet gave them no antibiotics.
Is anyone familiar with this behavior and have any suggestions?
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Re: Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
[Re: lisa harrison ]
#217003 - 11/21/2008 07:40 PM |
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I agree that "a playmate" is not an appropriate recommendation.
It had pus and the vet had not treated it?
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Re: Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#217005 - 11/21/2008 07:44 PM |
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There are a few recent threads on this kind of OCD (if that's what it is), but number one is what you say: redirecting. And it should be fast and very distracting. At the same time, the dog needs much more exercise, including mental exercise (such as marker training).
Do you know if this is a behavior that happens when the dog is left alone? Or is it constant? Or when the dog is stressed? Bored?
The best suggestions can be given if more details are known.
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Re: Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#217006 - 11/21/2008 07:56 PM |
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The dog is laying in the living room on the floor with them in the room. I told them to start paying attention to what is going on around them or her when she starts to chew.
The vet gave them no medication at all.
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Re: Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
[Re: lisa harrison ]
#217007 - 11/21/2008 08:10 PM |
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Is it possible the dog has nerve damage in the leg?
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Re: Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
[Re: Aaron Myracle ]
#217020 - 11/21/2008 10:03 PM |
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Some dogs do this, and it is a form of OCD in my experience. It usually starts as a calming thing for the dog (kind of like me biting my nails when I am stressed). the dog will lick and lick to the point of damaging or mutilating the skin. it becomes a vicious cycle, and then the dog continues to lick at it because there is a wound there and it becomes a "calming" behavior. This is just another type of displacement behavior like tail chasing and spinning Some vets will refer to these as "lick granulomas".
I saw a lot of Golden Retrievers and Dobermans with these when I was working in the vet hospitals but it's not breed specific. I also wonder how much diet, lack of exercise and mental stimulation (like Connie said) and vaccines play into the total picture.
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Re: Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
[Re: Cindy Easton Rhodes ]
#217065 - 11/22/2008 09:54 AM |
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I've seen a lot of these "lick granulomas" (or 'acral lick sores') in kenneled Dobermans too. The only way that I know of to stop the behavior is to significantly increase exercise and give the dog something to do mentally. They can get nasty.
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Re: Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
[Re: Kristel Smart ]
#217066 - 11/22/2008 10:05 AM |
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I just read in The Dog Owners Vet handbook that Lick Granulomas are usually caused by an itchy skin disease(Or mange, a bacterial or fungal infection) that starts the lick cycle. It is called canine atopy. The licking then becomes a habit that may be perpetuated by psychological events.
If the disease is canine atopy it could be treated with steroids, radiation therapy, surgical removal, cryotherapy and acupunture. It also said this is one of the most difficult skin problems to treat successfully.
Does anyone know how canine atopy would be diagnosed? Skin scraping? And I stand corrected. It did say a new puppy in the house may provide companionship and entertainment for an older dog when the owners are away. However, they are retired and I don't feel that is a good option for them.
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Re: Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
[Re: lisa harrison ]
#217067 - 11/22/2008 10:14 AM |
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Atopy is allergic dermatitis (or atopic pruritis).
It's what we are talking about in the threads about itchy dogs with inhalant allergies. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1587&aid=503
I don't think you stand corrected, though, about the puppy. A puppy isn't a good acquisition to entertain an adult dog. From the POV of the puppy, it's an especially poor recommendation. No one can possibly know whether they will be OK together, to mention just one problem. It could be fine, but by the time they know, the puppy is living there, for better or worse. For a vet to suggest this ..... 
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Re: Obsessive Compulsive Behavior
[Re: lisa harrison ]
#217069 - 11/22/2008 10:21 AM |
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.... It is called canine atopy. The licking then becomes a habit that may be perpetuated by psychological events. .... Does anyone know how canine atopy would be diagnosed? Skin scraping? And I stand corrected. It did say a new puppy in the house may provide companionship and entertainment for an older dog when the owners are away. However, they are retired and I don't feel that is a good option for them.
Atopy is largely a clinical diagnosis of elimination. Is it a yeast infection? Is it flea hypersensitivity? Is there a seasonal component? And so on.
However, while atopy can certainly lead to a lick granuloma, so can nothing. And atopy doesn't present in one spot.
Hard to give the high points of a huge subject like this in one post (and that book did a poor job, I think), but if the dog had atopic dermatitis, then the dog was almost certainly itchy/inflamed in several spots. This would not be something an owner could miss seeing.
I guess I'm saying that if this was atopy, then there has been a history that we don't yet know.
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