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September 29, 2002
Excessive Licking in Dogs

Canine acral lick dermatitis involves excessive licking of the paws or flank, even to the point of self-mutilation, and can produce ulcerations and infections that require medical treatment. Based on patterns of behavior and response to medication, veterinary scientists propose that canine acral lick dermatitis, also known as canine compulsive disorder (CCD), is an animal model of human obsessive-compulsive disorder. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind
crossover clinical study evaluated the efficacy of the medication clomipramine
for treatment of canine compulsive disorder. Fifty one dogs with CCD were given clomipramine (dose adjusted for body weight) orally every 12hours for 4 weeks and then placebo for 4 weeks. At the end of each treatment, each owner rated
the severity of their dog's behavior. Results suggest that clomipramine was effective in dogs with CCD and was not associated with serious adverse effects, although sedation and reduced appetite were reported more commonly when dogs were given clomipramine than when they were given placebo. However, treatment for 4 weeks was not curative. Each dog's behavior was reevaluated 1 to 2 years after completing the study. Forty-five dogs available for follow-up evaluation still had their behaviors. The implication is that while drug therapy
can be helpful, therapy may need to include behavior modification to optimally manage CCD.

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