Cholesterol Biting Problem
Tail-chasing dogs may be biting at more than just a self-amusing activity–they might be suffering from high cholesterol. A study published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice reported there is a link between compulsive tail-chasing dogs and high cholesterol.
The study, conducted at University of Uluday in Turkey, analyzed blood samples from 15 healthy tail-chasing dogs and 15 healthy non-tail-chasing control dogs. The researchers found that the tail-chasers had significantly higher HDL and LDL levels.
This study lends more weight to the theory that high cholesterol may be a marker for behavior issues in dogs, such as obsessive compulsive disorders or panic attacks. Researchers theorize that the high cholesterol levels affect hormones such as serotonin, which in turn may affect mood and behavior–including those compulsive behaviors that are both amusing and concerning.
Although unexplained, the researchers also found that tail-chasing occurred more among female dogs than male.
While high cholesterol is often associated with heart disease in humans, it isn’t a common ailment in dogs. However, other health issues may occur such as obesity, canine diabetes, liver disease, pancreatitis, vision and neurologic problems.
Certainly some tail-chasing behavior may be harmless, good-fun play, such as when puppies discover that wiggling appendage following them around. At other times, however, the nonstop donut-running pattern crosses the line into an obsession that rightly concerns owners. But before assuming your dog is an OCD candidate, eliminate possible health issues first. As always, a visit with the veterinarian is in order whenever owners observe unusual behaviors from their canine companions.
- Teresa Brown Posted 10/30/2009 | Share This | Get Email | Get FREE Magazine
Little Nip Will Do Ya
There’s no mistaking its effect: the sniffing, rubbing, rolling. Catnip is the feline version of a leaf from heaven. According to Cat World (cat-world.com.au), about half of all cats are affected by this mint-family herb. Related to basil, oregano and spearmint, this little perennial is native to Europe and some parts of Asia.
The active element in catnip is nepetalactone, the compound that gives the plant its catty nip. The essential oil is found in the leaves, stem and seedpods of the plant and any bruising or crushing releases the oil. For most cats, a sniff of the crushed plant leads to licking, chewing, head shaking, whole body rubs and head-over-tails romp and rolling.
However, not all cats love an occasional nip. According to the Feline Health Center at Cornell University, kittens under the age of three months aren’t affected by the plant and the attraction appears to be inherited.
The plant, although loved by felines, was used in teas and is said to have a calming effect on humans, among other uses. In the 1960s, a Cornell University naturalist reported that catnip oil repelled insects and further studies have shown that it may repel insects even quicker than DEET, but its effect is short-lived, lasting only a couple of hours.
While chemical explanations may be interesting to us, for Frisky the answer is simple. For a little harmless R and R, break out the catnip, will ya?
- Teresa Brown Posted 10/30/2009 | Share This | Get Email | Get FREE Magazine
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