A new study out of the UK found that 80% of dogs in the country suffer behavioral problems and could benefit from drugs like Reconcile (doggy Prozac), which is currently used in the United States and expected to get a license in Britain this year.
 
The study, carried out by Dr. Claire Corridan, the honorary secretary of the Companion Animal Behavior Therapy Study Group, found that traditional dog behaviors such as  barking at strangers, cowering from loud noises or howling when left alone are being reinterpreted as  "hyperactivity", "phobic behavior" and "separation anxiety."
 
The most common issue in the study was hyperactivity, with 60 percent of pets exhibiting this behavior "frequently", "sometimes" or "all the time." Other common diagnosis’ were fears and phobias (30%), while 22.5% of those dogs studied were described as having "obsessive compulsive disorders" such as excessive paw-licking or tail-chasing. 12% exhibited "separation-related problems."
 
Dr. Corridan explained the shift in recognizing these issues as behavioral problems, saying, "We all have busy lifestyles, so quite often cats and dogs are spending less time with their owners and less time being socialized. It's now not such a big deal to say you are going to see a pet psychiatrist or behavior counselor."
 
Are Drugs A Good Thing?
 
Dr. Corridan very wisely pointed out that there is a risk that relying on drugs to "fix" a dog's behavioral problems means that the root causes of a pet's problems will not be addressed. Her research has prompted warnings that owners and the veterinary industry could be "medicalizing" normal animal behavior and providing excuses for bad ownership.
 
Beverley Cuddy, the editor of Dogs Today, also noted, "Maybe people are becoming a bit more perfectionist and want their dogs free of all negatives. But this means you are not tolerating normal doggy behavior. There are lots of things you would prefer your dog not to do, but that is part of having a pet."