![]() ![]() Merck reports that German Shepherd Dogs and Bull Terriers are known to spin or tail chase, while a genetic locus for flank sucking has been identified in Doberman Pinschers. Further research showed that the structural brain abnormalities of Doberman Pinschers afflicted with CCD are similar to those of humans with OCD. The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, in conjunction with other medical universities, identified a chromosome that confers a high risk of susceptibility of compulsive disorder in breeds. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer, although any breed may develop a compulsive disorder, certain breeds seem to be more susceptible to specific types of compulsive behaviors. Research into the causes of compulsive behaviors in dogs is ongoing, and one area being studied is the genetic link. However, the Merck Veterinary Manual says, “they (dogs) do perceive and experience concern therefore, the term obsessive-compulsive has also been used to describe this disorder in dogs.” What Causes OCD in Dogs? There is an ongoing debate about whether dogs are actually capable of obsessing or having their thoughts completely focused on a behavior like people can – hence the change in naming the disorder in dogs to CCD. But if a dog wants to chase and retrieve or spin for many hours each day to the exclusion of other behaviors, and just can’t seem to stop, it’s time to seek advice from your veterinarian. It’s not so much what they do, but the extent to which they do it and their ability to control when they start and stop.įor example, there’s nothing abnormal about a dog who retrieves a ball over and over or spins when excited. The key is that they do it in expected situations, stop after a short time, and are able to rest and eat normally. You may be thinking, “Oh, no! My dog does lots of these things.” Many dogs bark a lot, chase their tails, spin when they’re happy, and bite at flies. It’s identified by normal dog behaviors that are performed in such an extreme, repetitive way that they are difficult for the dog to stop and can interfere with the dog’s ability to function.Įxamples of normal dog behaviors that in some dogs have become compulsive include sucking on their flanks or a toy incessant licking, called acral lick dermatitis pacing, spinning, and chasing the tail freezing and staring snapping at flies or invisible items unabated and patterned barking and excessive drinking of water or eating dirt. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the dog world is also known as Canine Compulsive Disorder or CCD.
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