Compulsive Disorders in Pets

• Do your pets have any habits? Chasing their tails, darting after shadows, etc..?
  Sometimes habits are harmless.  Sometimes they can be easily fixed by getting the dog's attention and redirecting to something else. Sometimes what appears to be a nervous habit might actually be a medical issue. Some pets might have a  serious compulsive disorder.
  
   
  
  Depending on the severity of the behavior, pet parents should consult with their vet or a vet behaviorist to rule out pain, allergies, stress, epilepsy, gastric issues, or some other condition.  Then investigate the possibility of a compulsive disorder.
  
  
  

  Find vet behaviorists here: http://www.dacvb.org/resources/find/

  
  

  Whether or not it's a compulsive disorder, below are some things pet parents might work on while they are consulting with professionals
  
  
  

  Keep the environment as calm and quiet as possible

  http://blog.mysanantonio.com/latrenda/2012/11/stress-reduction-for-behavior-issues/

  
  

  Work on the relaxation protocol

  http://blog.mysanantonio.com/latrenda/2013/03/the-relaxation-protocol/

  
  

  Provide plenty of physical and mental stimulation - but be careful to use the right kind of exercise.

  http://www.stubbypuddin.com/search/label/exercise

  
  

  Watch for the dog's "tell" - try and figure out what the pet does right before engaging in the compulsive behavior. And try to positively redirect her at that point (give a kong, toss a toy, etc..) .. try to get to pet before he/she practices the behavior

  http://blog.mysanantonio.com/latrenda/2013/05/does-your-dog-have-a-tell/

  
  

  Discuss calming aids with your vet:

  http://www.stubbypuddin.com/2013/07/alternative-therapies.html

  
  

  Keep pets occupied with food puzzles, scent games, etc..

  
  To the greatest extent possible, control the environment in order to reduce the concerning behavior i.e. :
  - If the dog spins whenever he goes to the dog park, don't go to the dog park
  - If the dog chews her foot whenever visitors arrive, stop having visitors for a while 
  
  

  A pet who is causing injury to him/herself might need some type of medical collar

  http://blog.mysanantonio.com/latrenda/2012/09/elizabethan-collar-alternatives/

  It won't cure her CCD of course - just a safety precaution. And  someone would need to watch to make sure the pet doesn't chew up the collar.

  
  

  Cutting off the tails of dogs who chase or chew their tails will probably NOT solve the issue.  They will just get compulsive about something else or get compulsive about the area where her tail was.

  
  Don't teach tricks that might be related to a compulsion - like spinning. 

  
  Don't encourage pets to play with laser pointers

  http://blog.mysanantonio.com/latrenda/2012/04/just-say-no-to-laser-pointers/ 

  
  Don't over crate or over confine pets 

  
  Here is some information on how tummy trouble might look like a compulsive disorder:

  http://blog.mysanantonio.com/latrenda/2013/05/medication-part-ii/

  
  

  More on medications here:

  http://blog.mysanantonio.com/latrenda/tag/pets-and-medications/
  
  For more information Canine Compulsive Disorders, see references here:
  http://www.stubbypuddin.com/2013/12/compulsive-disorders-part-ii-references.html