14/06/2023
AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER IN DOGS
Researchers have been exploring the possibility that Autism exists in dogs since the 1960โs. A study was released in 2011, where similarities were found between repetitive tail-chasing behaviours in bull terriers and ASD in humans, but they are yet to produce a definitive conclusion.
You can read about the study here:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/50938423_Characteristics_of_compulsive_tail_chasing_and_associated_risk_factors_in_Bull_Terriers
From the study:
โAlthough tail chasing in dogs is commonly de-scribed as a compulsive disorder or partial seizure dis-order, ๏ฌndings of the present study lead to another possibility. Males had a slight (8%) but signi๏ฌcantly greater risk for developing tail chasing than females. Furthermore, tail chasing in Bull Terriers is closely associated with episodic aggression and trance-like behavior. In terms of the cluster of clinical signs and manifestations of tail chasing, it is speculated that this syndrome in Bull Terriers may have features in common with autism in humans. Autism is also more common in males, is associated with explosive aggression, trance-like staring, and involves repetitive movements and self-injurious behavior. In addition, autism is characterized by autonomy, impaired social interactions, and obsession with objects. Many owners of Bull Terriers with tail-chasing behavior describe their dogs as asocial, somewhat withdrawn, and abnormally preoccupied with objects, such as balls or sticks.โ
Despite a lack of definitive evidence from the research carried out over the years, it is now widely acknowledged that Autism may be present in dogs, although canines do not share all of the symptoms which occur in humans. The canine condition which presents with similar clinical signs as ASD is known as Canine Dysfunctional Behaviour, and differs to ASD in that there is no spectrum. It is difficult to diagnose, so vets must rely on observation and analysis of behaviour, noting compulsive tendencies, repetitive behaviours, and impairments in social skills, as well as comparing what is considered normal and abnormal behaviours. In order to diagnose, other medical and behavioural conditions need to be ruled out first, as there are many which present with similar symptoms, such as anxiety, neurological disease, and hypothyroidism. There is no test specifically for it, although a diagnosis is often based on behavioural characteristics.
Some behaviours which might manifest in Canine Dysfunctional Behaviour include:
*Repetitive behaviours, such as tail-chasing, or circling
*Distress from having their routine interrupted
*Difficulty in adapting to new situations or environments
*Hypersensitivity to sensations such as light and touch
*Anxious, fearful or aggressive behaviours when interacting
Once Canine Dysfunctional Behaviour is diagnosed, there are a number of ways to treat it; for example, prescribing medications like Prozac, as well as putting management in place to minimise stress, and tailoring exercise to provide support.
Being able to recognise and understand canine body language is a skill which is really beneficial, as it provides us with insight into how our dog might be feeling, and it can help us to identify when they are in pain or unwell. The more familiar we are with their more subtle communications, the better we can understand and help them. The research available on Canine Dysfunctional Behaviour is far from comprehensive, but in raising awareness that brain chemistry in dogs is highly complex, and differences in the way that the brain processes information do occur, we can foster greater empathy, understanding, and patience for our dogs who struggle, and do our utmost to meet their needs.
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PLEASE NOTE: If you have ANY concerns at all about your dogโs health, behaviour, or well-being, always make a consultation with your vet your first port of call. When we observe a sudden change in behaviour or anything at all unusual, this always warrants a thorough veterinary examination in order to rule out any underlying pain, discomfort, or previously undetected health conditions. The importance of this is highlighted in the recent study carried out, entitled โPain and Problem Behaviour in Cats and Dogs.โ Doctor Daniel Mills et al. found that, of 100 recent referral cases of several authors, around a third of those involved some form of painful condition, although this figure is a rather conservative estimate; the actual figure is thought to be as much as eighty per cent! You can read about the study here:
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/2/318
** Please do not under-estimate the impact of pain, discomfort, gastrointestinal issues, allergies, fear, anxiety, and many other conditions which impact behaviour! **
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References
https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/can-dogs-have-autism
https://outwardhound.com/furtropolis/dogs/can-dogs-have-autism
https://www.greatpetcare.com/dog-behavior/can-dogs-be-autistic/ #:~:text=Other%20behaviors%20can%20include%20poor,can%20exist%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20Parthasarathy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21453176/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5190146/
https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/47335954/Canine_Compulsive_Behavior_An_Overview_a20160718-10347-ihx1dq-libre.pdf?1468886672=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DCanine_compulsive_Behavior_An_overview_a.pdf&Expires=1686959639&Signature=XA8XHLiUN5IxfQBz7DoXdL4qwvSBGH4Hzw1S2sH4jH0Y9VIlG6LyEz7PyTDbLM-V6kx6qarlg6WM4280XTPtQvqzzpMKeJihKC0ESNNBy9JcKzY6w39pOofUm29W4jYgQ5Bmhjce53EzNisIXSDVufznWo9fr1T-gSMRVGB7pmyoV25q6rXmvRVZuPwIXUQPvciYROn3QB6zt5SoJKaVZIfgPVL4~~ohv8t51ps~ZLYIyQR7HT1Jpuv22WjPtmMlQW3sf8BTG3oe-bq7A2RJbz~D1nnOn5FwI8Gxg6BwebBVl8XTdFJoBxqGj-WeyB8jvBohUo-Yq8Qs~IjiWkZXnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
https://vaccineimpact.com/2017/autism-symptoms-in-pets-rise-as-pet-vaccination-rates-rise/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/dog-days/201607/can-dogs-have-autism
https://www.vetinfo.com/dog-autism-symptoms.html
https://www.sciencealert.com/anxious-dogs-have-measurable-differences-in-their-brains-that-are-similar-to-ours?fbclid=IwAR069qxeN601TtbAwMppNAmXDA8Kx2LtG1IhIzJsFfbEYrSFoOMpqsTqdzs_aem_th_Af8tjIwM70Pu77VaibbOaMdWxieOxJwgLFCAM-dS-CWyTzftC5m7DQWgbRZOFbwgqDs
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