November 11, 2026, 12:43 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Some dogs chase their own tails for hours or lick their paws until the skin is raw. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are familiar with such behaviors. They repeat the same actions over and over, even though it doesn’t benefit them. But does this also occur in animals? The short answer: There are behaviors that closely resemble human compulsions. Whether it’s the same is debated among researchers. PETBOOK spoke with veterinarian Nicholas Dodman, who has researched compulsive behavior in animals at Tufts University in the U.S. He explains what is known, which animals can be affected, and when owners should definitely take action.
Are There Compulsive Disorders in Animals?
In veterinary medicine, the term “canine compulsive disorder,” or CCD, is used when dogs exhibit such behaviors. Whether dogs can actually develop a compulsive disorder in the human sense is debated among scientists. Researchers do not have access to the inner world of animals and cannot reliably determine if an animal has obsessive thoughts. However, some studies support the idea of using dogs as a model for human OCD, as the same medications work in both humans and dogs, and the same neurotransmitters in the brain seem to become imbalanced.1
Nicholas Dodman also considers compulsive disorders in animals possible: “Yes, they can have a compulsive disorder comparable to human OCD.” However, it cannot be proven. Therefore, terms like “Canine Compulsive Disorder” or “Feline Compulsive Disorder” are more scientifically acceptable. Compulsions can occur without preceding obsessive thoughts, as is already the case in humans.
What Does Compulsive Behavior in Animals Look Like?
Depending on the species, compulsive behavior can take various forms:
- Dogs: Chasing tails, excessive licking of paws or limbs (known as lick granulomas), and chasing light reflections or shadows. In Dobermans, sucking on their own flank or on blankets also occurs.
- Cats: Excessive grooming leading to hair loss, and sucking or eating wool and fabric.
- Horses: Cribbing, where the horse grabs a solid object with its incisors, pulls on it, and swallows air, weaving, where it rhythmically swings its head and neck and shifts weight between its front legs, and box walking.
- Birds: Feather plucking, which is more common in African grey parrots.
- Pigs: Chain chewing and bar biting.
In humans, compulsions often occur alongside anxiety. Dodman describes a similar cycle in animals of tension, repeated behavior that provides brief relief, and new tension.2,3,4,5,6
What Causes It?
Dodman cites two factors: a hereditary predisposition, such as an anxious or easily excitable temperament and tendencies of breed and species, as well as a stressful, conflict-ridden environment. It is the environment that turns natural behavior into compulsion.
In Dobermans, researchers have also found genetic traces. A team led by Kerstin Lindblad-Toh and Elinor Karlsson from the Broad Institute, along with Nicholas Dodman and Edward Ginns, examined around 150 affected and unaffected dogs in 2009 and found a gene called CDH2, which affects the connections between nerve cells.
Another study compared the brains of 16 Dobermans using MRI, eight of which had compulsive behavior. It found changes in certain brain regions that resemble findings in humans with OCD. Dodman emphasizes in the press release that the study is small and further research is needed. Nevertheless, he sees it as evidence that the same neurotransmitters, namely serotonin and glutamate, may play a role in Dobermans as in humans. However, these findings are from this one breed and cannot be easily generalized to other dogs or species.
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What About Stereotypes in Zoo Animals?
Animals in zoos or stalls also exhibit repetitive movements. Big cats pace back and forth along the enclosure edge, elephants sway, and parrots pluck their feathers. This is referred to as “stereotypies,” meaning meaningless, repetitive movements without a discernible goal. The animal welfare organization World Animal Protection attributes them to captivity, stress, boredom, and lack of stimulation, citing a study that estimates more than 85 million animals worldwide exhibit stereotypic behavior.7
When Should Owners See a Veterinarian?
Owners should intervene if an animal repeatedly exhibits a behavior, injures itself, or is difficult to distract from it. First, a physical cause should be ruled out. Dodman cites examples such as brain tumors that can cause dogs to run in circles, allergic skin conditions that lead to excessive grooming in cats, and partial seizures.
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How Are Compulsions in Animals Treated?
If no physical cause is found, Dodman suggests medication and a calmer environment. Possible strategies include using medications that increase serotonin in the brain, such as Prozac, and drugs that affect glutamate in the brain. Exposure therapy does not work in animals, “but environmental enrichment and the opportunity to engage in species-specific behaviors help.”
According to Dodman’s professional article, engagement alone does not usually eliminate a compulsion but can reduce relapses and help prevent compulsions from developing in the first place. Most animal compulsions can be successfully treated, sometimes to the point of cure.
What Can Owners Do Themselves?
Dodman recommends four things:
- consult a knowledgeable veterinarian, “preferably a veterinary behaviorist”
- create an interesting and engaging environment for the animal
- spend more time outdoors and allow more contact with conspecifics
- increase exercise, as “exercise generates serotonin, which is a mood stabilizer”
Dodman advises against blocking the behavior with collars or stall dividers. In his view, it only increases anxiety. He also opposes surgeries like tail docking.