Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anxiety and aggression linked to itchy skin in dogs
By McAuliffe, Lindsay R et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2022·From the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Associations Between Atopic Dermatitis and Anxiety, Aggression, and Fear-Based Behaviors in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with atopic dermatitis (a skin condition causing itching) were found to show more signs of anxiety, fear, and aggression compared to healthy dogs. Owners reported behaviors like fear of strangers, aggression towards other dogs and people, and increased sensitivity to touch in their itchy dogs. These behaviors can make training more difficult and affect the dog's overall well-being. Recognizing these issues early can help owners and veterinarians work together to improve the dog's quality of life through better treatment and support.
People also search for: dog itching anxiety · aggressive behavior in itchy dogs · atopic dermatitis treatment for dogs
Abstract
The goal of this study was to determine if anxiety, aggression, and fear-related behaviors are more common in pruritic dogs with atopic dermatitis than nonpruritic, healthy dogs. One hundred forty-one pruritic dogs >1 yr of age with a clinical diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and a >3 mo history of pruritus were recruited. Dog owners completed a behavioral survey (canine behavioral assessment and research questionnaire) and a pruritus scale (pruritus visual analog scale). Pruritic, atopic dogs showed significant increases in fear- and anxiety-related behaviors as well as aggression compared with a large control group of healthy dogs. Stranger-directed aggression, owner-directed aggression, familiar-dog aggression, dog-directed fear, nonsocial fear, touch sensitivity, excitability, and attention-seeking behaviors were all increased in the study group. Trainability was decreased in the study group. Chronically pruritic dogs experience fear and anxiety and are more likely to display aggression. This is an important welfare issue for these animals. Early recognition of the behavioral derangements that can be associated with chronic pruritic skin disease could allow early intervention with a multidisciplinary approach for these patients, thus improving patient and owner quality of life and long-term treatment outcomes.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35793484/