ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine signalment, history, clinical signs, and response to treatment of cats with psychogenic alopecia (PA) and to identify factors associated with its onset and propagation. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 11 cats. PROCEDURE: A survey was used to obtain information about breed, sex, age at time of weaning, frequency and duration of licking bouts, age at time of onset of PA, situations eliciting licking bouts, results of diagnostic tests, treatment, response to treatment, and current status of the cats. Additional information was obtained from medical records and by telephone conversations with owners and attending veterinarians. RESULTS: Four cats were purebred, and 7 were domestic shorthair. Six were female, and 5 were male; all were neutered. Eight cats were kept exclusively indoors. Age at time of onset of PA ranged from 6 months to 12 years. Environmental stresses initiated or exacerbated PA in 9 cats. Various methods were used to confirm the diagnosis, including therapeutic trials with antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs in 10 cats. All 5 cats treated with clomipramine, 2 of 3 treated with amitriptyline, and 1 of 4 treated with buspirone responded positively. Only 3 cats were still receiving medication at the time of this study; none of those 3 groomed excessively while receiving medication. Psychogenic alopecia resolved in 6 cats after drug treatment, environmental modification, or both. Psychogenic alopecia continued to be a problem in the remaining 2 cats. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Environmental stress may initiate or exacerbate PA in cats. Drug treatment, environmental modification, or both may be useful in treatment of affected cats.
Subject(s)
Alopecia/veterinary , Cat Diseases/psychology , Grooming/physiology , Stress, Physiological/veterinary , Alopecia/drug therapy , Alopecia/epidemiology , Alopecia/psychology , Amitriptyline/pharmacology , Amitriptyline/therapeutic use , Animals , Anti-Anxiety Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Anxiety Agents/therapeutic use , Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic/pharmacology , Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic/therapeutic use , Breeding , Buspirone/pharmacology , Buspirone/therapeutic use , Cat Diseases/drug therapy , Cat Diseases/epidemiology , Cats , Clomipramine/pharmacology , Clomipramine/therapeutic use , Data Collection , Female , Grooming/drug effects , Male , Retrospective Studies , Stress, Physiological/complications , Stress, Physiological/drug therapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with onset and continued elicitation of tail chasing in Bull Terriers and other terriers and to determine response to treatment with clomipramine hydrochloride, a serotonin-reuptake inhibitor. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 18 tail-chasing terriers (15 Bull Terriers, 1 Miniature Bull Terrier, 1 American Staffordshire Terrier, 1 Jack Russell Terrier). PROCEDURE: 5 dogs were evaluated for tail chasing by a veterinarian at the behavior clinic of the veterinary teaching hospital and 13 dogs were evaluated by the owner's local veterinarian, who confirmed the diagnosis and treated the dog. It was recommended that all dogs in the study be given clomipramine orally at a dosage of 1 to 2 mg/kg (0.5 to 0.9 mg/lb) of body weight, every 12 hours. RESULTS: Of the 18 dogs, 15 were treated with clomipramine within the recommended dosage range, and 3 dogs required treatment at a slightly higher dosage range to control tail chasing. After 1 to 12 weeks of treatment, 9 of 12 (75%) dogs were reported to have a 75% or greater improvement (reduction) in tail chasing. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Findings of this study may aid in recognition and treatment of compulsive tail chasing. In conjunction with appropriate management changes, clomipramine administration appears to be an effective treatment for this otherwise refractory condition.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Animal , Clomipramine/therapeutic use , Compulsive Behavior , Dog Diseases/drug therapy , Dogs/psychology , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Stereotyped Behavior , Age of Onset , Animals , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Breeding , Clomipramine/administration & dosage , Clomipramine/pharmacology , Compulsive Behavior/drug therapy , Compulsive Behavior/etiology , Compulsive Behavior/psychology , Dog Diseases/etiology , Dog Diseases/psychology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Male , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors/pharmacology , Stereotyped Behavior/drug effects , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish similarities or differences in tissue concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron in Bull Terriers with lethal acrodermatitis (LAD) and tail-chasing behavior (TCB) and to confirm the suspicion that copper is involved in the etiopathogenesis of LAD. SAMPLES: Serum samples from 29 Bull Terriers (9 control dogs, 6 dogs with LAD, 14 dogs with TCB), and liver and kidney specimens from 2 dogs and 1 and 4 dogs with LAD or TCB, respectively. PROCEDURE: Serum, liver, and kidney mineral (zinc, copper, and iron) concentrations in Bull Terriers with LAD or TCB and in a group of control dogs were analyzed, using flame atomic absorption after wet ashing technique. RESULTS: Serum zinc and copper concentrations were lower (P < 0.05) in dogs with LAD, compared with values for control dogs and dogs with TCB. Liver zinc and copper concentrations were similar to serum values. Kidney zinc and copper concentrations were similar among the 3 groups. Serum, liver, and kidney iron concentrations had a wide range of variability within all 3 groups. CONCLUSION: Copper deficiency is associated with LAD. The primary cause of LAD may be copper deficiency, with zinc involved secondarily, or combined zinc and copper deficiencies. The role of ion deficiency in TCB was not clarified. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Serum zinc and copper concentrations should be determined when LAD is suspected.
Subject(s)
Acrodermatitis/veterinary , Copper/blood , Dog Diseases , Stereotyped Behavior , Zinc/blood , Acrodermatitis/blood , Acrodermatitis/psychology , Animals , Copper/metabolism , Dogs , Female , Iron/blood , Iron/metabolism , Kidney/metabolism , Liver/metabolism , Male , Orchiectomy , Ovariectomy , Reference Values , Zinc/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To identify and treat a range of abnormal behavior, including tail chasing, unprovoked aggression, and extreme irrational fear, in Bull Terriers and to correlate the behavioral signs with electroencephalogram (EEG) or anatomic evidence of abnormal brain geometry or deafness. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: 8 affected and 5 unaffected (control) Bull Terriers. PROCEDURE: All dogs were examined neurologically, including use of EEG, brainstem auditory-evoked response, and computed tomography or postmortem examination of the brain. In addition, plasma concentrations of zinc, copper, and iron, and the activity of zinc- and copper-dependent enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and ceruplasmin oxidase) were measured in affected and control dogs. RESULTS: An abnormal EEG was found in 7 of 7 affected dogs and in none of the control dogs subjected to this examination. Seven of 8 affected dogs and 2 of 3 controls had various degrees of hydrocephalus. Metal ion and enzyme concentrations were not different between affected and control dogs. Treatment with phenobarbital was effective in 5 of 7 dogs. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Bull Terriers with compulsive tail chasing and extreme affective disorders should be regarded as neurologically disturbed, with partial seizures perhaps underlying their behavior. Treatment with anti-convulsants is a logical first step in treatment.
