Ava Williams
When shepherd Luna is constantly chasing her tail and bull terrier Rocco is snatching at invisible flies, it may be endearing quirkiness for the dog owner. But now researchers have discovered that such behaviors can also be an expression of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
‘Some of these compulsive behaviors are more common in some dog breeds, suggesting genetic causes,’ said Professor and study leader Hannes Lohi from the University of Helsinki. 368 dog owners were surveyed. More than half of the dogs repeatedly chased their tails, the remaining dogs did not and served as controls. Blood tests were also performed on the German Shepherds and Bull Terriers (Bull Terriers, Miniature Bull Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers) participating in the study.
Chasing tail – an obsessive-compulsive disorder
Scientists suspect similar processes behind animal behavior as in people with obsessive-compulsive disorders. Dogs, like humans, develop these repetitive behaviors at a young age – before sexual maturity. Some dogs turned their rounds very rarely and then only briefly, while others pursued their tails several times a day. Littermates often showed similar behavioral patterns. “The development of this disorder could be based on similar biological processes,” says Lohi.
However, unlike people with OCD, affected dogs do not try to avoid or suppress their behavior. “The stereotypical and repetitive behavior of dogs chasing their tail is more like an autistic disorder,” says Perminder Sachdev, a neuropsychiatrist at the University of New South Wales in Australia.
Behavior training helps
If dogs only rarely tend to chase their tails, this could also be the result of physical and mental under-exertion. If the behavior is particularly pronounced, this indicates a stress-related behavioral disorder. In no case should a dog be punished if it chases its tail and spins wildly in circles. Punishment increases stress and the behavior gets worse. Targeted behavioral training, as well as a lot of time and patience, are the best medicine. If necessary, the veterinarian or animal psychologist can also support the therapy with special products.