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Dogs are born with a brainful of "hardwired" instincts, such as how to groom themselves, care for their young, hunt for food, and interact socially in packs. But in certain stressful situations, naturally endowed behavior designed for survival can go awry. For example, under normal conditions, dogs groom themselves to clean wounds, stimulate skin oil production, and remove parasites. But in stressful situations, some dogs displace their anxiety by licking themselves repeatedly. Self-licking provides temporary psychological relief -- but the relief ends as soon as the licking stops. So an anxious dog may continue to lick -- and lick and lick. Some dogs groom themselves so excessively that they lick off their hair coat, irritate their skin, and cause ulcerated sores (lick granuloma ). When a dog repetitively performs instinctive behaviors outside their natural functional context, the dog is said to have a compulsive disorder (CD) or display stereotypic behavior. According to Dr. Nicholas Dodman, professor and director of the Behavior Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Want to learn more about compulsive disorders and if your dog may be affected by one? This is just a small sample of what you'll find in each issue of Your Dog. For information, contact the subscription department. Your Dog is a monthly 24-page newsletter for dog owners and enthusiasts, and is published by the Tufts Media. Annual subscriptions (12 issues) are available for $20.00 (U.S.)
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