Can Dogs Develop Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often thought to be a human disorder.

Commonly known by repetitive behaviors and actions as a result of stress or anxiety, these compulsive behaviors can be incredibly difficult to manage. Pups often exhibit repetitive and incessant behavior for no reason. But can they develop OCD?

The short answer is yes. In dogs, the disorder is referred to as Canine Compulsive Disorder (CCD), and multiple studies have proven that there are plenty of similarities between CCD and OCD. Behaviors like flank sucking, which is usually found in Doberman Pinscher pups, repetitive circling, and tail chasing are all examples of symptoms of CCD.

What makes these behaviors unusual? They serve no obvious purpose and can disrupt a pup’s lives, and they are overly repetitive, which is often a sign of trouble in pups. These actions can really affect the quality of a dog’s life.

Pups who suffer from CCD will need medical help. With that being said, it’s not easy to figure out what these behaviors mean, as sometimes repetitive actions are a sign of other problems and reasons. Pain and injury are causes for compulsive behavior, as are neurologic, dermatologic or metabolic diseases.

So if you notice that your pup is exhibiting odd, repetitive, or compulsive behaviors that serve no purpose, then it’s a good idea to get in touch with a vet. Your pup deserves medical attention in order to ease the symptoms, whether they’re a result of CCD or not. Do like and share this information with other pup parents!