Friday, November 25, 2011

NEW APPROACHES TO TREATING CANINE SEPARATION ANXIETY

While destructive behaviour can sometimes be a normal outlet for dogs, some destructive behaviours may be due to underlying anxiety.  For example, when destruction is directed at doorways, windows, and exit points, rather than garbage cans, food cupboards, or a pair of leather shoes, further assessment is needed to confirm whether this may be due to separation anxiety.
 A diagnosis of separation anxiety typically includes one or more of these symptoms:  destructiveness, distress vocalization, house-soiling or other signs of anxiety such as salivation.  Signs usually arise immediately following the owner’s departure.  If any of these behaviours are seen when family members are present, other causes should be considered.  Evidence of destructive behaviours or house soiling should be easy to identify when family members return home, but vocalization ranging from whining to howling may often go undetected except when severe enough to disturb neighbours.  Video monitoring is useful to verify the diagnosis as well as to monitor the efficacy of a treatment program.  Dogs with separation anxiety often have hyper attachment and begin to show anxiety as the owner prepares to leave. 
Dogs suffering from separation anxiety are panicked, fearful, and traumatized when left alone.  Successful resolution of separation anxiety usually requires a combination of behavioural management and medication.   The behaviour program should focus on teaching the dog acceptable and alternative behaviours in which to engage when alone.  Provided the dog’s daily needs are adequately met, training should focus on encouraging the dog to find a safe retreat to rest or play with its favourite toys, so it can learn to settle and occupy itself away from the owners. During these sessions, attention seeking behaviour must be ignored, while settled behaviours should gradually be increased and positively reinforced.  Some dogs may be less anxious when crated or confined as they find some comfort from this routine; others are more panicked.  Since pre-departure anxiety is often associated with the handling of keys, mobile phones or shoes, desensitization and counter-conditioning can be as simple as picking up keys or a briefcase, giving a favoured treat or toy, and setting them back down without leaving. Repetition teaches the dog that departure cues may be pleasant and not always associated with actual departures.  Family members should practice non-emotional departures and greetings.  Punishment never alleviates anxiety and has no place in the treatment of separation anxiety. 
At actual departure times, food puzzle toys, chews and favoured treats can be provided to distract and occupy the dog.  However, in the short term it may be necessary to find day care until the behaviour program and medication can be effectively implemented.  Another option in the short term is to give benzodiazepines such as alprazolam prior to departure to reduce anxiety for a few hours.
Since dogs with separation anxiety are highly anxious when left alone, behaviour modification should be combined with drug therapy both for the well-being of the dog and to improve treatment success.  Clomipramine (Clomicalm, Novartis Animal Health), is currently licensed for the treatment of separation anxiety and a chewable fluoxetine tablet (Reconcile, Elanco) will be also be available this fall.  The primary action of both drugs is to enhance serotonin transmission, but peak effect may not be achieved for three to four weeks.  The advantage of using veterinary approved drugs is their proven efficacy, predictable bioavailability, palatability, access to technical support as well as the client education material that you and your staff can use to help guide the owner through the behaviour program.  Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP, Intervet Schering Plough) has also been shown to be effective alone or in combination with medication.
Often families attribute their dog’s misbehaviours when left alone to vengeance or spite. However, dog owners need to understand that the behavioural signs are due to anxiety and distress and that medication can help alleviate their dog’s suffering. 
Product information and client support is available from recondile.com, dap-pheromone.com, or request client education material from your local industry representative.

This article was co-authored by Drs. Colleen Wilson and Theresa DePorter.  This article was first published in the OVMA’s September/October 2010 issue of Focus magazine.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Meeting the Behavioural Needs of the Indoor Cat

Elimination

An indoor elimination area will be required that is desirable for both the owner and the cat.  Litter boxes filled with commercial litter will usually do the trick since cats generally prefer to eliminate in a substrate in which they can scratch and dig.  However, for some cats the type of litter; the number, size and type of litter boxes, litter cleaning, and litter location; may be issues that need to be addressed to ensure that the box is consistently used.

Feeding

Most cats free feed or are fed a few times a day.  However, in an outdoor environment cats hunt, capture, kill and eat about eight mice per day.  Therefore, as alternatives to hunting, cat owners can offer toys that require rolling, batting, or pawing to release the food.  By filling these toys with small measured amounts of food throughout the day, eating will require far greater time, effort and expenditure of mental and physical energy.  Food can also be scattered or hidden throughout the home to encourage food seeking activities.

Social Interactions

Although there is a great deal of individual variability, cats are a social species.  Social times with the owner and/or other cats are an important part of the day both for comfort and play.  Prey type toys attached to a wand or rope can be dangled and pulled in front of the cat to stimulate prey hunting.  However, studies have shown that chasing a toy may further heighten the cat’s level of arousal even though the novelty of the toy may quickly wear off.  Therefore, two or three toys should be offered at each play session, followed by a small meal or feeding toy to redirect the cat’s attention as well as to simulate prey capture.  Training the cat to learn a few simple commands such as come or sit using treats or catnip, also provides a positive form of social interaction as well as an important tool for further communication.


Object play, exploration and scratching

Cats may also have an interest in spending time exploring or playing on their own.  Offering shelled walnuts or ping pong balls to bat around, toys that hang from door knobs or play centers and food filled toys (discussed above) can all help to meet this need.  For scratching, make sure that the surface texture, location and structure of the scratching post appeal to the cat.  Also, provide places for climbing and perching, novel objects to explore such as cardboard boxes, and a comfortable bedding area.

Neutering

This is usually a necessity in males to reduce urine marking, intercat  aggression, and a desire to roam, and to eliminate the heat cycles of females. 

Prevention

Once appropriate outlets have been provided for each of the cat’s behavioural needs, preventive measures including confinement, closing off rooms, or the use of booby traps (e.g. SSScat motion detector spray, double sided tape, upside down carpet runners) might then be used to help prevent or discourage what is undesirable while encouraging what is desirable.  Punishment by the owner should be avoided as it is likely to be ineffective and will weaken the bond between cat and owner.

Gary Lansberg Bsc, DVM and Colleen Wilson, DVM

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Set Your PVR's!

Our very own Dr.Wendy will be on television again this Sunday November 6th on the Rogers television show "Your Pet Your Vet". 
The show airs on Sunday at 5:00pm on Rogers Cable 10.