Saturday November 16, 2019

News

BEHAVIOR

Clinical Case Studies

  • Clinical Case Challenge: Animal Behavior Clinic (Dog) Case Description A 2.5-year-old miniature dachshund named Otto, presented to the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University for the sudden onset of aggression to his owners. The aggression consisted of growling, lunging, snapping and biting. Lifting him, attaching a leash and approaching him while resting triggered an aggressive response. ...
  • Clinical Case Challenge: Behavior (Dog) Phobias may be related to living or inanimate objects, or noises.

Success Stories

  • Love, After First Bites How a little affection and a dash of Prozac turned a dachshund Cujo into a sweetheart Nothing prepared Leslie and George Devol for the Cujo-like behavior of their dachshund, Otto. The sweet puppy they brought home had morphed into a snapping, snarling dog 18 months later. Source: http://now.tufts.edu/articles/love-after-first-bites
  • Love, After First Bites Nothing prepared the Devols for the Cujo-like behavior of their dachshund Otto. The sweet puppy they brought home had morphed into a snapping, snarling dog 18 months later.
  • Genuine Friendship Comes Full Circle for Scout and Finn Background: In November 2010, Melania and her husband Brian rescued Scout, a beagle coonhound mix from a shelter in Westport, CT, after he had been shipped to New England from North Carolina. He was 11-months-old and in spite of being very shy and seemingly frightened, he eventually came out of his shell. While exhibiting very friendly ...

Research

  • This Tufts veterinary student spent the summer playing music for very good dogs to see if it helped with short-term stress Boston Globe Second-year veterinary student, Sidney Beecy, discusses her research project that looks at the effect of music on short-term stress in dogs. Also quoted is Seana-Dowling Guyer, who is working with Sidney on this project, alongside Dr. Emily McCobb and Tufts University psychology professor, Ani Patel. Read full article here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/09/27/this-tufts-veterinary-student-spent-summer-playing-music-for-very-good-dogs-see-helped-with-short-term-stress/YEgwEURoy9vhILydLWjBEN/story.html
  • Adopting the Neighborhood Stray Several measures can help an outdoor cat transition to a happy — and safe — life inside your home. Here’s some expert advice to guide you.
  • Meet the dogs with OCD This story on obsessive compulsive disorder features the translational work of Professor Emeritus Nicholas Dodman, former head of Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic, on canine compulsive disorder (CCD). The piece references two related patient cases Dr. Dodman treated at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center and includes comments from Dr. Stephanie Borns-Weil, current head of Tufts Animal Behavior ...
  • The Allure of Catnip Roughly 30 percent of cats don’t respond to it, but there are three other plants that might do the trick.
  • Fido, Can you Get the Light, Please? How to teach your dog to imitate things you do — and strengthen your bond with your pet in the process.
  • Researchers Seek Genetic Keys to Canine Behavior Two companies are working on what they call the world’s largest canine behavioral genetics study.
  • Do Your Dogs Love Watching Television? Here’s What Science Has to Say Nicholas Dodman explains why dogs enjoy watching television.
  • Pet Watch: Meet Dr. Kitty Nicholas Dodman talks about the benefits of petting a cat.
  • Dogs Help Researchers Sniff Out Genetic Factors Of OCD Tufts researchers collaborated on a study that isolated genetic pathways leading to OCD in canines, which could help understanding and treatment of OCD in humans.
  • Newly identified genomic causes of severe compulsive behavior in dogs could further understanding of human OCD Research led by investigators in veterinary and human medicine has identified genetic pathways that exacerbate severity of canine compulsive disorder in Doberman pinschers, a discovery that could lead to better therapies for obsessive compulsive disorder in people. The discovery appears online in advance of print on February 29 in the International Journal of Applied ...
  • Newly identified genomic causes of severe compulsive behavior in dogs could further understanding of human OCD NORTH GRAFTON, Mass. – Research led by investigators in veterinary and human medicine has identified genetic pathways that exacerbate severity of canine compulsive disorder in Doberman pinschers, a discovery that could lead to better therapies for obsessive compulsive disorder in people.  The discovery appears online in advance of print on February 29 in the International Journal of ...
  • Tracing the Roots of OCD in Pets and People Animal behavior research at Tufts holds promise for better detection and treatment of the disorder In 2011, science threw a curveball at Nicholas Dodman and Alice Moon-Fanelli. The two researchers were looking at bull terriers in hopes of finding the gene responsible for a debilitating behavior common in the breed. Up to 85 percent of any ...
  • Animal Instinct Tufts scientists seek to put some evidence behind what we intuitively know is a wonderful thing: our special relationship with the animals in our lives.
  • Like Minds The similarities between behavioral disorders in people and animals may lead to breakthroughs in the detection and treatment of autism, OCD and other compulsive disorders.
  • Doggone DNA Veterinarians are studying inherited health problems in pets in an effort to prevent disease in animals and humans
  • The Hoarding Gene Using the behavior of Doberman pinschers to understand the compulsion to collect

At Your Service

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Client Education

  • Is scruffing the best way to handle an upset cat? Veterinary behaviorist Stephanie Borns-Weil, V07, and emergency/critical care veterinary technician Michelle Damon from the Foster Hospital for Small Animals, respond Many of us were taught that “scruffing” a cat—or grabbing the animal by the loose skin at the back of the neck—is not only an effective mode of restraint, but also causes cats to relax. The ...
  • Finding Qualified Professional Animal Trainers Finding a professional trainer to entrust your dog with can be challenging. While many well-qualified trainers give excellent, scientifically-validated advice, there are currently no required credentialing or licensing programs for professional animal trainers.
  • Staying Safe with Your Pet Who has Behavioral Issues Pets typically bring joy to their companion families, but behavior problems can take their toll and can cause pet owners to get discouraged. Whether it’s inappropriate elimination, anxiety or aggression, it’s important to know that many behavior problems can be managed effectively or even resolved with the help of a veterinary behaviorist. Learn how to ...
  • Dear Doctor: Ruining the furniture Please see Catnip editor’s note at the end of this Q&A. Q. My cat is driving me crazy with the scratching. She has ruined not just upholstered furniture but also the wooden legs on my piano. Would it really be inhumane to have her declawed? She’s a house cat and doesn’t need her nails to defend herself ...
  • An End to Excessive Barking How to let your dog know it’s time to stop.
  • Dear Doctor: The Puppy won’t stop Jumping on People Q My new puppy is adorable, but at 12 weeks of age, he has already developed a habit of jumping on people. It’s clearly a sign of affection, but not everybody likes it. Besides, he’s a Lab, and I fear that as he grows, the excitement and happiness he exhibits by jumping is going to be ...
  • The Primordial Pouch There’s always something new and interesting to learn about cats if you watch their behavior.
  • The Art of Bunting Feline experts explain that head rubs actually serve several purposes for the cat and her owner.
  • How to Find Your Lost Cat Here’s why they sometimes go “missing” — where they like to hide — and most importantly, how you can find them. Tip: Even indoor cats should wear ID.
  • When ‘man’s best friend’ feels more hate than love for an owner Professor Emeritus Nicholas Dodman authors an article for the Conversation US looking at reasons a dog might display fear, aggression, indifference, etc. toward its owner.
  • The Top 7 Changes In Cat Behavior Be on the lookout for signs in these key areas of your cat’s daily activities. One may indicate a potential health problem that warrants prompt veterinary attention.
  • Projecting Your Own Fears Onto Your Pet Kim Curtsinger has “ruined” her dog, she tells us. “My four year-old sheltie, Casey, is very timid around other dogs,” says the Nicholasville, Kentucky woman. “Unfortunately,” she adds, “I am the cause of this. I have a habit of scooping him up in my arms if we’re out walking and a loose dog approaches us. ...
  • Fido, Please Bring Me My Slippers Shaping your dog’s behavior can make for fun training — for both of you.
  • Dear Doctor: Separation Anxiety is Ruining the House Q Our six-year-old Portuguese water dog has started to become very destructive when we go out, especially at night. He empties trash cans, goes into closets and tears up shoe boxes, walks over to my bedside cabinet and swipes things off, and so on. I think it is separation anxiety; I know he is not doing ...
  • When You’re Out With Your Dog, Are You Dialed In? Just because you’re on a walk together doesn’t mean you’re really connecting.
  • The Allure of Catnip Roughly 30 percent of cats don’t respond to it, but there are three other plants that might do the trick.
  • Do Try This at Home! By taping a simple square on your floor, your cat will join the masses by doing exactly what cats do.
  • Making Medical Care Easier Ways to help your dog lean into medical and wellness procedures rather than pull away.
  • Lots You Can Do At Home to Make Vet Visits Less Intimidating 10 tips to make handling by the doctor (and you) a much less traumatic experience.
  • Dogs Will Be Dogs, Whether Or Not It’s Convenient For You. Dogs come with definite genetic propensities for certain behaviors, making it hard — or impossible — to train them to adjust perfectly to the world of humans in which they live. But there’s a lot you can do to help them meet you at least halfway.
  • The Right Way(s) to Teach Basic Commands More than one method will get you there.
  • They’re Talking. Are We Really Listening? Thanks to Dr. Borns-Weil, and a wonderful book on the meaning of dogs’ different barks referred to in the article, I will never again yell at Franklin for barking.
  • Dogs: To Hug or Not to Hug The answer is that it depends on the circumstances—there is no blanket rule There’s been a lot of discussion recently about whether it is a good or bad thing to hug a dog. Does the dog like it or tolerate it, or does it cause the dog stress? The answer is, it depends. Source: http://now.tufts.edu/articles/dogs-hug-or-not-hug
  • Lick the Habit What’s behind this common bonding behavior
  • How to Promote Good Canine Behavior Nicholas Dodman discusses treating aggression in pets. Veterinary Practice News March 18, 2016 http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/how-to-promote-good-canine-behavior/
  • Animal Instinct Tufts scientists seek to put some evidence behind what we intuitively know is a wonderful thing: our special relationship with the animals in our lives.
  • Like Minds The similarities between behavioral disorders in people and animals may lead to breakthroughs in the detection and treatment of autism, OCD and other compulsive disorders.
  • Bang! Bang! Helping your Dog Manage Noise Phobia Fear of noises is a very common and real problem for dogs. When a dog is exposed to certain noises, such as sirens, smoke alarms, fireworks, kettle whistles and vacuum cleaners, a dog with a noise phobia may pant or salivate excessively, tremble, or run and hide from fear. There are a number of steps ...
  • Preventing Everyday Pet Accidents Unfortunately, accidents happen and for even the most careful and dedicated pet owners, sometimes there’s nothing you can do to prevent them. Knowing who to call in the event of an emergency will ensure your pet receives the best possible care. What’s also important to know is that there are some steps you can take ...
  • Happy Driving with your Dog! Riding in the car is a very common dog phobia. Fortunately, most dog owners can help their pet overcome this fear by introducing him or her to the car in a step-by-step approach that involves using lots of positive reinforcement. The ultimate objective is to develop a pleasant association with car travel. Causes Car phobias can develop ...
  • Boom! Boom! Helping Your Dog with Thunderstorm Phobias Thunderstorm phobia or anxiety is real and a fairly common problem for many dogs. It can be difficult to watch. Before the first sound of thunder, dogs with thunderstorm phobia become overwhelmed and show physical signs of fear. While thunder is just one of many frightening noises, it is treated a bit differently than other ...
  • “I’ll Be Right Home” You return from work and find your dog has recently chewed through the screen on your patio door. Your neighbor also reports that your dog has been howling and barking all day while you were gone. Are these scenarios familiar? If so, your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety. While issues with separation can ...
  • Giving Pills to Your Pet Having Trouble Giving Pills to Your Pet? Watch this series of videos for tips and tricks
  • Not Guilty Bad behavior doesn’t land dogs in shelters. It’s long been thought that behavior problems drive the majority of owners to surrender their pets to animal shelters. …the real culprit for surrenders: the owners themselves.

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