Characteristics of compulsive tail chasing and associated risk factors in Bull Terriers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and define the characteristics of tail chasing in Bull Terriers and explore the association between tail chasing and other behavioral and physical characteristics. DESIGN: Survey and case-control study. ANIMALS: 333 Bull Terriers (145 dogs with tail-chasing behavior and 188 unaffected dogs). PROCEDURES: Owners of Bull Terriers with tail-chasing behavior were surveyed regarding the age of onset, triggers, frequency, duration, interruptability, degree of disruption to the dogs' normal functioning and the owners' relationship with the dog, and associated medical and physical consequences. Associations of tail chasing with various behavioral and physical characteristics were examined by comparison of dogs with tail-chasing behavior with unaffected dogs. RESULTS: Phenotypic and developmental descriptions of tail chasing in Bull Terriers were defined. Associations of tail chasing with sex, trance-like behavior, and episodic aggression were found. Males were at an 8% greater risk for the diagnosis of tail chasing than females. Phobias and owner-directed aggression did not significantly associate with tail chasing in the final log-linear model, but did have significant associations in earlier analyses that did not include the behaviors of episodic aggression and trance-like behavior. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In Bull Terriers with tail-chasing behavior, there was a slight increase in the susceptibility of males to develop tail-chasing behavior, compared with females. A close association of tail chasing with trance-like behavior and episodic aggression was identified.

Comparison of remote versus in-person behavioral consultation for treatment of canine separation anxiety.

To investigate the validity of remote consultation for treatment of canine separation anxiety, this study compared the efficacy of 2 types of behavioral services offered by Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine (TCSVM): (a) "PetFax," a remote consultation service in which dog caregivers (owners) and a certified applied animal behaviorist correspond via fax or email and (b) in-person clinic consultation, which requires that owners bring their dogs to the Animal Behavior Clinic at TCSVM to consult with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist, a veterinary behavior resident, or a certified applied animal behaviorist. The study tested 4 variables for significant differences between PetFax users and clinic visitors: (a) pre- and posttreatment anxiety scores; (b) owner-reported improvement; (c) percentage of rehomed dogs, dogs relinquished or euthanized because of separation anxiety; and (d) clarity of communication with owners. The study found no significant differences between the groups. Difference scores and owner reports demonstrated substantial reduction in separation anxiety in both groups. Results indicate remote consultation is a valid way for behavioral professionals to share behavior modification advice with owners regarding canine separation anxiety.

Effect of an odor eliminator on feline litter box behavior.

Decreasing litter box odor may be an important treatment component in addressing feline inappropriate elimination. A three-phase study was conducted to determine if the use of Zero Odor litter box spray increases the preference of litter boxes to cats, presumably by its odor-eliminating quality. In the first phase, cats were given a litter box preference test between a litter box sprayed with Zero Odor and one without. In the second phase, the number of occurrences of behaviors indicative of a cat's dissatisfaction with the litter box (scratching at the sides of the box, floor or wall, hesitating when entering the litter box, balancing on the side of the box and eliminating outside of the litter box) was compared before and after the use of Zero Odor. Last, the frequency of eliminations that occurred outside the litter box was measured during a baseline phase and a test phase, in which Zero Odor was sprayed into all litter boxes in the home. Significantly fewer behaviors associated with feline litter box dissatisfaction and fewer undesirable eliminations were observed in phases 2 and 3, respectively. These findings suggest that use of Zero Odor litter box spray appears to decrease litter box odor and increases the attractiveness of litter box to cats.

Blanket and flank sucking in Doberman Pinschers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate blanket and flank sucking and any association with pica in Doberman Pinschers. DESIGN: Survey and case-control study. ANIMALS: 153 Doberman Pinschers (77 dogs with blanket or flank sucking and 76 unaffected dogs). PROCEDURES: Owners of Doberman Pinschers with blanket sucking, flank sucking, or both were surveyed regarding the age of onset, triggers, frequency, duration, interruptability, and associated medical and behavioral consequences. A putative association of blanket sucking and flank sucking with pica was examined by comparison of affected dogs with unaffected dogs. RESULTS: Apart from the difference in the object of oral activity between blanket and flank suckers, age of onset was the only variable that differed between dogs with the 2 conditions. Dogs with blanket or flank sucking had a higher prevalence of pica than the unaffected population. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Blanket and flank sucking are apparently related conditions that can occur with sufficient intensity to cause medical sequelae. These nonnutritive suckling behaviors share similarities with other canine compulsive disorders and are associated with pica. Veterinarians should advise owners that flank and blanket sucking are abnormal, potentially harmful behaviors in dogs. Treatment should be considered for severely affected dogs or when flank or blanket sucking is associated with medical problems.

Effects of cue exposure on brain glucose utilization 8 days after repeated cocaine administration.

Relapse to cocaine use may involve exposure to cocaine-associated environmental cues. The present experiment tested the hypothesis that basal local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (LCMR(glu)), as measured by the 2-deoxy-D-[l-(14)C]glucose (2-DG) autoradiography, would change in the presence of cocaine conditioned cues at 8 days after the last of seven daily cocaine injections (30 mg/kg). This dose regimen results in sensitization to the locomotor effects of cocaine. Cocaine was administered to two groups of rats while saline was administered to a third. In the conditioned group, the rats were placed into the 2-DG experimental chamber immediately after cocaine injection. Rats in the non-conditioned group were placed into their home cage after cocaine administration. A control group received only saline. The 2-DG experiment was conducted in non-drugged animals 8 days after treatment completion. The interaction between treatment status and brain region was significant. Mean basal LCMR(glu) was significantly lower in 12 brain regions in the conditioned group as compared to the control group, but was significantly lower in only four areas in the non-conditioned group. Regions in which there were significant changes in the conditioned group included the basolateral amygdala, subiculum, medial thalamus, lateral habenula and the substantia nigra pars compacta. LCMR(glu) was significantly reduced in the ventrolateral orbital cortex and rostral nucleus accumbens in both experimental groups. These findings indicate that repeated cocaine administration can cause protracted decreases in basal LCMR(glu), decreases that are more widespread in the brain during exposure to cocaine-associated cues.