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The Neurotic Dog
from:A neurosis may be defined as a functional nervous disorder with no sign of disease of the central nervous system. Psychoneurosis is described as an "emotional maladaptation” due to unresolved unconscious conflicts, and may also be used to describe the condition of many so-called neurotic dogs. This means, to recognize a neurotic dog, we must identify some defective nervous behavioral functions, while ruling out physical injury or disease, such as hydrocephalus, brain tumors, etc.
This can be done in some cases through neurological examinations. Urine and blood analysis can often indicate internal chemical imbalances which are of an organic cause. On the other hand, they may also indicate the presence of severe environmental stressors. Combined with behavioral information, physiologic examinations might indicate a neuroses or the basis for a psychosis. For practical purposes, a dog may be considered neurotic if he shows signs of a functional nervous disorder combined with behavior that is both abnormal and maladaptive for dogs in general.
But how is a functional nervous disorder described in behavioral terms? The following descriptions are helpful:
* The dog that fails to inhibit the orienting (alerting) response to stimuli that occurs repeatedly and are known to the animal to be neither harmful nor rewarding. These dogs are almost always in a state of anxiety.
* The dog that responds to novel objects, sounds, touches, movements and even odors with exaggerated active or passive defensive responses. These dogs often lack adequate early social experience.
* The dog that fails to retain (in some cases, even to develop) voluntary or involuntary conditioned reflexes. This cannot be applied to the dog's total behavior, but usually is pertinent to a failure to form and/or retain learned associations involving defense and social behaviorisms.
* The dog that displays hyperkinesis. Signs include excessive salivation, elevated pulse and respiration, abnormally low urine output, and increased energy metabolism revealed through excessive, sometimes stereotyped activity, especially in close confinement.
* Displays fixations on objects, exhibiting ritualized behavior, usually repetitive and with no apparent objective. "Obsessive-compulsive" is the current diagnostic label of choice. While it is often treated with drugs, careful diagnosis shows that these dogs are suffering from frustration due to a lack of function in their lives. They are "making work," and receiving internal neurochemical rewards.
Abnormal Dog Behaviour News
Animal welfare: Classical music soothes the wanderlust of zoo ... - guardian.co.uk
Animal welfare: Classical music soothes the wanderlust of zoo ... guardian.co.uk, UK - The researchers have discovered that playing classical music to the animals reduces abnormal behaviours such as swaying, pacing and trunk tossing, ... |
Advice for Pet Owners - Washington Post
Advice for Pet Owners Washington Post, United States - Dr. Michael W. Fox: Eating such feces is not abnormal, and it may be part of a dog's natural wisdom---possibly a source of beneficial bacteria and B ... |
Officers Value Canine Cops - The Morning News
Officers Value Canine Cops The Morning News, AR - If a dog is well documented to not typically crawl under vehicles during training but does in the field, this is abnormal behavior and enough probable cause ... |
One operation a no-brainer for some dogs - The Coloradoan
One operation a no-brainer for some dogs The Coloradoan, CO - But having the equipment and not being able to use it is more abnormal. Abstinence is torture to many dogs. And they really shouldn't be using it. ... |
Could my dog be depressed? - Culpeper Star Exponent
Could my dog be depressed? Culpeper Star Exponent, VA - She is a 3-year old Lhasa, which is normally a pretty mellow breed anyway, but this is just completely abnormal behavior. She has shown no signs of a ... |