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Just like humans, animals can experience stress, frustration and anxiety. The causes for those emotions can be just as varied as the behavior that results. Our pets might react to being separated from us for long periods, changes in schedules, the introduction of a new pet or family member, moving to a new location or even rearrangement of furniture and belongings. Often, changes we might view as insignificant can seriously upset an animal's way of navigating the world. It's wise to be sensitive to changes in their behavior.
Obsessive behavior might include licking paws or hindquarters, chewing, barking, swaying from side to side or tail-chasing, among other things.
I have recently been involved in an outside activity that has taken me away from home every evening until quite late. Our dog Bud has developed a habit of licking the carpet. Although he did this a bit before I became so busy, it has gotten seriously exaggerated in the past couple of months.
My theory is that because our schedules have changed dramatically and a member of Bud's pack—me—is more absent than usual, he is feeling anxious and exhibits that anxiety by "cleaning" the carpet.
The most common advice for treating this kind of behavior is to condition another behavior in its place or to treat the pet with medication—or a combination of both.
One strategy we are trying is to give Bud something else on which to focus his oral fixation. A rubber toy—such as a Kong—that is filled with peanut butter allows him to act on his impulse to lick something, but it's not harmful to him.
We also try to distract him with another activity whenever he begins the behavior. This could be a toy, a game or even a treat.
A third strategy for treating obsessive-compulsive tendencies is exercise. A tired dog cannot be an anxious dog. Now that the weather is cooler, we will all enjoy walks more, so we hope to give him an outlet for his nervousness in this way.
What we have learned is that punishing Bud for the behavior only makes it worse. Punishment creates anxiety, which is precisely what we hope to reduce. If you are trying to break your animal of a similar behavior, replace it with a positive activity—do not offer a negative consequence.
Finally, if the behavior persists, a short-term treatment with medication might be the key. Animals with these problems are typically given mild anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication. This allows time for the behavior to stop and for the animal to be reconditioned before the medication is gradually removed. Seldom is this kind of intervention needed for the long term.
If your attempts to dissuade your companion from engaging in these behaviors do not result in a satisfactory result, consult your veterinarian for additional help. Animals exhibiting these tendencies are in conflict about something. A bit of detective work and some persistence, patience and reassurance can go a long way toward making your pet's environment stress-free once again.
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