Veterinary Medicine - April 2008 - (Page 204)

Repetitive licking PEER-REVIEWED TABLE 1 Breed Predilections for Compulsive Behaviors* Breed Miniature schnauzer German shepherd, English bull terrier, Australian cattle dog Doberman pinscher English bull terrier Large-breed dogs King Charles Cavalier spaniel, Bernese mountain dog * Behavior Checking hind end Tail chasing Flank sucking Spinning in circles or sticking head under objects and freezing Self-licking causing acral lick granulomas Fly snapping Sources: Landsberg G, Hunthausen W, Ackerman L. Stereotypic and compulsive disorders. In: Handbook of behavior problems of the dog and cat. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Saunders, 2003;195-225, and Luescher A. Compulsive behavior in companion animals. In: Houpt KA, ed. Recent advances in companion animal behavior problems. International Veterinary Information Service, Ithaca, NY (www.ivis.org), 2000;A0804.0900. Presumptive GI upset. If you suspect nausea but cannot identify its cause and are limited in the diagnostic tests the owners will allow, consider presumptive treatment for gastrointestinal upset. If a course of famotidine (0.5 to 1 mg/kg orally once or twice a day) alone or in combination with metronidazole (10 to 15 mg/kg orally b.i.d.)11 for seven to 10 days stops the licking behavior, then more extensive diagnostic tests could be readily justi ed to look for the cause of the gastrointestinal upset. a previously well-housetrained dog may begin eliminating in the house).13 Cognitive dysfunction is a diagnosis of exclusion, so if a patient is showing signs of cognitive impairment along with repetitive behaviors, then possible medical causes must be ruled out before you treat the behavior problems. Treating cognitive dysfunction may help reduce the signs of repetitive behaviors. Treatment, which may include behavior and environmental modi cation and drug therapy, is described elsewhere.13 Canine cognitive dysfunction Dogs with cognitive dysfunction may display a variety of repetitive behaviors. But if the excessive licking behavior is a result of cognitive dysfunction, then treatment will be different than it is in dogs without cognitive impairment. If the patient is more than 11 years old, studies have shown that there is a good chance it is showing at least one sign of cognitive decline.12,13 Common signs of cognitive decline include confusion, changes in relationships with people and other pets in the household, changes in activity level, disrupted sleep-wake cycles, and decreased ability to learn or remember commands (e.g. Appetitive behaviors The excessive licking of surfaces can be purely an appetitive behavior in a dog that is not so severely polyphagic as to exhibit pica. For example, in a household with small children, many dogs learn to lick the oors around the areas where children eat to consume food particles left behind. A dog that is on a severely restricted diet may also learn to lick the oor where food may have fallen. Once dogs have learned that they may be able to acquire food in these areas, the behavior may appear obsessive when it is simply a learned appetitive behavior. 204 April 2008 VETERINARY MEDICINE http://www.catsoftherevolution.com http://www.ivis.org http://www.catsoftherevolution.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - April 2008

Veterinary Medicine - April 2008 Contents Letters Leading Off The Veterinary Medicine Interview: Dr. Barrak Pressler Idea Exchange Help! My Dog Licks Everything An Update on Anaplasmosis in Dogs CE Form Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - April 2008

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