BehavioRx Case of the Month
for December 2003

To their horror, the clients' 9 month-old, spayed, female German Shepherd started turning on her stools and eating them. On our advice, they took to their veterinarian for a complete physical work-up, which included blood work and fecal examinations. The results indicated she was in excellent health, except that her stools did contain some undigested nutrients besides the normal undigestible roughage. Two weeks earlier, she had started eating one meal per day, in the morning. The clients said she was voraciously hungry for her morning meal, but didn't seems all that hungry in the evening. She was fed a popular dry kibble on which she had been raised from 5 weeks of age. She was having two bowel movements, morning and mid-afternoon. Her stools were described as being "ropy," which is not uncommon on single-meal schedules.

"Tammy" was switched back to two feedings a day and the veterinarian recommended a raw meat, canned diet, Wysong, mixed 50/50 with their recommended dry food, moistened with warm tap water. Along with this, all tidbits were cut out... no more table scraps. Her stools immediately firmed up and were formed, firm pieces. She was put on the learn-to-earn praise and pets program and was distracted by a single clap of the hands after each bowel movement, then happily praised as the clients led the way back indoors. Success was immediate, even though she did turn and sniff the stools, which is not abnormal canine behavior. In a week, even the sniffing ceased.

Correcting stool-eating is not always this simple. Very often veterinarians find collateral physical problems which, when successfully treated, resolve the problem
along with the foregoing behavior therapy.

The following list of physical conditions associated with behavior have been compiled from our case records between 1967 and the present. We hope it will motivate pet owners always to consult their veterinarians when behavior problems are first experienced. It's our Christmas present to our wonderful canine friends and companions.

HEALTH/BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS*** copyright 2003


ANAL GLAND IMPACTION, INFECTION, CONSTIPATION
Aggression,* Escaping, Growling, Housesoiling, Scooting, Self-mutilation

ARTHRITIS, HIP DYSPLASIA, HYPERESTHESIA, SPINAL ANOMALIES**
Aggression,* Chewing, Growling, Fearfulness, Hyperactivity, Overprotectiveness, Self-mutilation, Shyness,Tail-chasing

DENTAL PROBLEMS
Aggression,* Anorexia, Barking, Biting, Chewing, Digging, Finicky eating, Self-mutilation

EAR INFECTIONS
Aggression,* Barking, Biting, Chewing, Growling, Mood swings, Overprotectiveness, Poor learning, Scratching

PANCREATITIS
Aggression,* Attention deficit, Chewing, Eating stools, Housesoiling, Poor learning, Self-mutilation, Voracity

THYROID DISEASE, ALLERGIES to Food, Dust, etc.
Aggression,* Mood swings, Restlessness, Scratching/licking

URINARY TRACT/VAGINAL INFECTIONS
Aggression,* Biting, Housesoiling, Masturbation, Scooting, Sexual mounting, Self-mutilation

VISUAL PROBLEMS, CATARACTS, OCCIPITAL APLASIA:
Aggression,* Biting, Growling, Fearfulness, Fighting, Fly-snapping, Poor learning, Shyness

* Aggression includes, Barking, Biting (offensive and defensive), Fighting, Growling, Mounting, Overprotectiveness

**Anders Hallgren, Swedish Vet. Study; Animal Behavior Consultants Newlsttr; July,1992, V.9 No.2.

*** Compiled from case records, 1967-2003, Wm. E. Campbell, PO Box 1658, Grants Pass, OR 97528 (541-476-5775)

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