Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can occur in dogs and, as with humans, it is characterized by behaviors that are repetitive, constant and seem to have no obvious purpose. For dogs, this may manifest itself as constant or repetitive tail chasing or biting at the air. In small-breed dogs, the most common type of obsessive-compulsive behavior is a compulsive chewing of the front paws and nails, while larger dogs tend to develop lick granulomas, or self trauma resulting from excessive chewing.

There are many reasons why obsessive-compulsive disorders may occur in dogs. Physiological causes like genetics or a localized skin infection can be to blame. Also, there is evidence that some breeds and lines of dogs may simply be more predisposed to this behavior. Other times, psychological factors are to blame. These may include factors like stress, anxiety, boredom, or aversive experiences or conditioned behavior like conflict or fear.

Regardless of the cause, much patience and understanding is required when treating obsessive-compulsive behavior. Often times, an owner's first attempt to treat compulsive licking involves the application of some foul-tasting topical cream. However, if obsessive-compulsive disorder is the root of the compulsive licking, this usually will not work and the dog will simply continue to lick elsewhere. Treatment should begin with a trip to your veterinarian to rule out any possible medical problems. Once these are ruled out, the next step is to identify the cause of the behavior. For instance, the obsessive-compulsive behavior may be occurring as a result of anxiety. Once that is determined, the next step is to remove or correct the cause, in this case remove the cause of the anxiety. Never use punishment when attempting to treat the behavior. In fact, punishment often times is a contributing factor and will only make matters worse. If behavior modification techniques do not work, your veterinarian may recommend drug therapy.