Читать книгу Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff - Группа авторов - Страница 129

When placed in situations of frustration or conflict, some animals will show displacement behaviors, and grooming is commonly seen as a displacement behavior in many species. Psychogenic alopecia is a term often used to refer to a skin condition of cats in which irregular patches of hair are removed, presumably by licking and chewing. Some have suggested that oriental cat breeds (Siamese, Burmese, Abyssinian) may be at higher risk of developing this problem (Sawyer et al. 1999). Hair may be missing over the flanks, abdomen, front legs, or virtually anywhere on the body. This condition may occur secondary to anxiety or environmental stress but is a diagnosis of exclusion because many pathophysiological conditions can contribute to feline overgrooming. One case series that examined cats with a presumptive diagnosis of psychogenic alopecia found that 76% of the cats had medical conditions causing pruritus (Waisglass et al. 2006). A painful sensation may cause cats to overgroom as well, so radiographs may be helpful in some cases. Regrowth of hair and resolution of the overgrooming, after treatment with pain medication, is suggestive of pain as an underlying cause for the behavior.

While less common, dogs can also overgroom areas of their body due to environmental stress or anxiety, although, as is the case with cats, painful sensations may also lead to overgrooming in the dog. When overgrooming behavior occurs primarily as a response to anxiety or conflict, it has the potential to develop into a repetitive disorder, generalize, and eventually occur even in the absence of the original stressors. Some have referred to this as a compulsive disorder. Regardless of the terminology applied, if the animal is believed to be overgrooming due to stress or anxiety, the primary treatment approach must be aimed at relieving the anxiety through a combination of environmental management, behavioral modification, and anxiety‐relieving medications.