Help -- I Think My Baby Has OCD!

[slahey2000]

Does anyone have experience with their furbaby suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder? Linus' daycare says he exhibits signs of OCD like obsessively walking in circles over and over again when he gets stressed. I've noticed that he kind of obsessively licks his paws and wondered if he was licking out of anxiety, so now I'm worried. Has anyone heard of these things, and does anyone know what treatments work?

[Jinger]

I think I saw a Dog Whisperer episode that was like that. I wonder if you can google it?

[kjc]

Linus is close to 3 years old, and had a short seizure back in March 2010, you were getting bloodwork done... did you have a Bile Acids Test run on him? If yes, what were the results? Also, he was neutered at 6 months? Is this info correct? Has he had any more seizures?

If the BAT wasn't done, you need to have one done on him. The symptoms you describe could result from possible liver problems.
The BAT will check to see how well his liver is functioning.

If he was neutered at 6 months, he may be exhibiting hormonal behavioral problems as a result.

Did his bloodwork from March indicate any problems?

[Her Name Is Rio]

Have you tried increasing his excercise - more walks, play fetch etc. That helps with anxiety and stress (for doggies and humans alike!)

[slahey2000]

Wow -- thank you for the great responses! I have (of course) been googling these issues ince I got home tonight! I agree that increasing exercise is a good idea. I'm definitely going to start by taking Linus for a nice walk every morning BEFORE daycare, I usually don't do this, and it can only help.

KJC -- good memory!! Yes, Linus is 3 now, and he was neutered at 6 months. I took him to the vet after his seizure, and they gave him a clean bill of health, but did not do the BAT. He has not had another seizure since (thank goodness!), and has been completely healthy. It's interested that you think he seizure and this behavior could be related. I was already going to take him to the vet, and I will definitely now have this test run. Given yorkies' predisposition to liver shunts, it might give me some peace of mind to just run the test. Thanks again.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by kjc

Linus is close to 3 years old, and had a short seizure back in March 2010, you were getting bloodwork done... did you have a Bile Acids Test run on him? If yes, what were the results? Also, he was neutered at 6 months? Is this info correct? Has he had any more seizures?

If the BAT wasn't done, you need to have one done on him. The symptoms you describe could result from possible liver problems.
The BAT will check to see how well his liver is functioning.

If he was neutered at 6 months, he may be exhibiting hormonal behavioral problems as a result.

Did his bloodwork from March indicate any problems?

I agree. With a history of seizures and now circling, he really needs a bile acids test. You have to rule out a physical cause for his behavior first.

[joeys mom]

This is why I LOVE THIS SITE!!! You guys are the best, when I read the post, I NEVER thought about a physical condition being the problem...But you guys are on top of it..Not that I think this is the issue with this little guy, but you open ones eyes to alot of possibilites...I just hope should something come up with my little man,,,, that all of you guys are still on here....have to give you guys a four paws up!!!!!

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I agree. With a history of seizures and now circling, he really needs a bile acids test. You have to rule out a physical cause for his behavior first.

The paw licking could be from allergies. But first, it's more urgent to check out the more serious possibilities.

[slahey2000]

Hi, just wanted to give you an update on Linus. He got his full bloodwork panel, and everything came out normal (hooray!). I also took him to a behavoral specialist/vet, and she said that there are various treatments for OCD: (1) rescue remedy for dogs (you get this at Whole foods); (2) chinese herbs; (3) herbal supplements; (4) medication; (5) acupuncture (I live in northern california where things like this are normal ; and (5) training. I'm starting with the least-invasive methods possible, so he's been taking rescue remedy before daycare for the past week. His circling has improved a bit, but he's still doing it. I'm also going to get a trainer to go out to his daycare to see if she can figure out what is triggering him. Now that this has been brought to my attention, I'm noticing how much anxiety Linus does have, even for little things like having guests over. His signs of anxiety are so subtle, e.g., licking, that I didn't realize before when he was feeling anxious. Now that I'm so attuned to it, I'm surprised at how often he does feel anxious Anyway, we're going to continue with the rescue remedy, trainer, and extra exercise to see if he continues to improve, I will keep you posted!

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by slahey2000

Hi, just wanted to give you an update on Linus. He got his full bloodwork panel, and everything came out normal (hooray!). I also took him to a behavoral specialist/vet, and she said that there are various treatments for OCD: (1) rescue remedy for dogs (you get this at Whole foods); (2) chinese herbs; (3) herbal supplements; (4) medication; (5) acupuncture (I live in northern california where things like this are normal ; and (5) training. I'm starting with the least-invasive methods possible, so he's been taking rescue remedy before daycare for the past week. His circling has improved a bit, but he's still doing it. I'm also going to get a trainer to go out to his daycare to see if she can figure out what is triggering him. Now that this has been brought to my attention, I'm noticing how much anxiety Linus does have, even for little things like having guests over. His signs of anxiety are so subtle, e.g., licking, that I didn't realize before when he was feeling anxious. Now that I'm so attuned to it, I'm surprised at how often he does feel anxious Anyway, we're going to continue with the rescue remedy, trainer, and extra exercise to see if he continues to improve, I will keep you posted!

Strange! I was just reading about Rescue Remedy! Personally I use Dogswell Mello Mut...but was wondering is it homeopathic too then? You've been really happy with it?
You said you are from Nor Cal ("where things like this are normal" LOL) me too! Where abouts up here are you if you don't me asking...I'm in Humboldt...I prefer to think we do things the natural and correct way, using education and awareness, but that was too funny to read!
Oh you said Chinese herbs...are you using an herbalist who specialized in veterinary herbology? Dog are so differently affected I'd really make sure, you trust the herpetologist's advice...I personally have allergies and was advised to drink lots of honey in tea to knock out my allergies...ended up in the hospital!
Are you feeding a grainless diet?

[slahey2000]

Originally Posted by concretegurl

Strange! I was just reading about Rescue Remedy! Personally I use Dogswell Mello Mut...but was wondering is it homeopathic too then? You've been really happy with it?
You said you are from Nor Cal ("where things like this are normal" LOL) me too! Where abouts up here are you if you don't me asking...I'm in Humboldt...I prefer to think we do things the natural and correct way, using education and awareness, but that was too funny to read!
Oh you said Chinese herbs...are you using an herbalist who specialized in veterinary herbology? Dog are so differently affected I'd really make sure, you trust the herpetologist's advice...I personally have allergies and was advised to drink lots of honey in tea to knock out my allergies...ended up in the hospital!
Are you feeding a grainless diet?

I'm in San Jose, and there is a holistic pet center in Los Gatos where I've been going. They specialize in all sorts of alternative treatments (as well as regular treatments), and they definitely know their stuff! I think my dogs eat grain kibble, Evo, have you heard that grain can contribute to the problems Linus is having? My sister is a doctor and she said that OCD is actually cased by a chemical problem, not boredom, etc. She said it is the result of a serotonin deficiency, so I've ordered a serotonin-boosting supplement that got good reviews on Amazon and am going to ask my vet about it. Fingers crossed, hopefully this will have a positive effect on Linus so that I don't have to try something more invasive. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts!

[concretegurl]

Oh! You are way down in So Cal...Los Gatos is such a cute little area in their touristy places.
Evo is a grain-less food, I liked it but opted with Taste of the Wild for price and well my mini schnauzie is prone to obesity and gas from food 'too rich' Grain containing foods with, like corn can cause a warming sensation (itching) along with digestive issues etc...

Definitely ask your vet before giving your dog anything for people. Also does your vet work with or already refereed you to a behaviorist?

I'd try behavioral modifications and limit the substances I put into my dog before we saw what and where the issue was and get your vet to refer you to a neurologist..

I got a referral to Karen (department head) at UC Davis for my Elvis and his cluster seizures (epilepsy) we are seeing some signs of permanent neurological damage from his seizures...he walks into things so we think is depth perception has been affected as eyes are damaged by brain pressure during seizures, also he doesn't seem to have much of a sense of smell...he seems to have to search around for things really hard as opposed to smelling it and getting it like most dogs...

I joke about Elvis being OCD with his constant cat like bathing habit licking everyone and everything, but they felt it was behavioral more than neurological...he also just hates to get dirty, avoiding mud, water etc and cleaning immediately when he does get into it.

What Dr. told you OCD is based on a serotonin deficiency? OCD is a dis-neurological order in the least which is not proven as psychological disorders are often subjective based on the science we have now, true serotonin controlling, regulating , and inhibiting drugs are used in people as ODC is often treated similar to depression-but that's a very 'old' method of treatment.

To treat it solely as a chemical imbalance-it's been proven often effective to treat in this way but also proven to not be a genuine treatment due to the issue that is dis-proven to be based on a chemical imbalance. Read about what serotonin actually is how the brain releases and controls it for a better understanding...again everything you talked about is specific to people and little has been done to test this in dogs.

Best of luck to you, please post updates!

Originally Posted by slahey2000

I'm in San Jose, and there is a holistic pet center in Los Gatos where I've been going. They specialize in all sorts of alternative treatments (as well as regular treatments), and they definitely know their stuff! I think my dogs eat grain kibble, Evo, have you heard that grain can contribute to the problems Linus is having? My sister is a doctor and she said that OCD is actually cased by a chemical problem, not boredom, etc. She said it is the result of a serotonin deficiency, so I've ordered a serotonin-boosting supplement that got good reviews on Amazon and am going to ask my vet about it. Fingers crossed, hopefully this will have a positive effect on Linus so that I don't have to try something more invasive. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts!