This was on another board I am a member of, someone may be interested in this. Shana
PLEASE CROSS-POST TO OTHER CANINE LISTS:
From Linda Aronson, DVM
Behaviour Department, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary
Medicine
We still need dogs for our double blind study looking at the effect
of thyroid on owner directed aggression. To be included in the study
dogs cannot already be on thyroid replacement therapy, and they must
show
owner directed aggression - growl, lip lift, snap or bite at least
once a
day. All costs for testing and treatment will be covered by the
research
grant, and can be co-ordinated through your own veterinarian. Dogs
must
live in the United States of America, however.
To be included in the study the dog must meet our criteria for
owner
directed aggression and have been living in the home for at least 6
months. It is helpful if the dog also exhibits some of the signs,
however
mild, of hypothyroidism listed here:
Excessive shedding, patchy hair loss or "rat tail"
Dry skin or dull, dry haircoat
Recurrent infections (especially ear, skin and foot infections)
Tendency to gain weight
Heat seeking behavior
Increased sleep time
Hyperactivity
Slow learning
Seizures
Worried look, tragic facial _expression or looking "old"
Reduced hearing, sight and scenting ability
Chronic gastrointestin
al symptoms
Loss of muscle or bladder tone
Head tilt
Change in character of bark
Exercise intolerance
Infertility, false pregnancy or weak, dying or stillborn puppies
Recurring eye infections
The dog should otherwise be in good health. However, if there are
other
behavior problems that might also relate to poor thyroid levels, we
would be
interested in following those as well.
If your dog meets these criteria and you would like to participate,
you
should fill out the behavior assessment form located at
<http://www.petshrink.com/forms/agrform.html<about:blank>>
http://www.petshrink.com/forms/agrform.html<about:blank> This should
be returned to
Nicole Cottam at <mailto:nicole.cottam@tufts.edu<about:blank>>
nicole.cottam@tufts.edu<about:blank>
via e-mail or mailed to Nicole Cottam at Tufts Cummings School of
Veterinary Medicine, Behavior Department, Department of Clinical
Sciences, 200
Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536. If the dog fits our behavior
criteria, pretest forms will be sent to you to fill out recording
daily
aggression (and any other behavior problems) for 2 weeks prior to
starting
medication. Information will also be sent to you and your
veterinarian explaining
how to collect and submit the blood to Dr. Dodds at Hemopet for CBC,
biochemistry panel and full thyroid panel. (Intact bitches should be
tested
between 3 months after the end of one season and 3 months before she
is next
due inseason.)
If your dog is hypothyroid or has suboptimal or borderline
thyroid function, your veterinarian will receive either the thyroxine or
placebo. Only our pharmacy will know which has been dispensed,
however, should problems arise - these are not anticipated - the code can
be broken so that the dog receives appropriate treatment. The dog
will receive either the name brand thyroxine or placebo for 6 weeks.
During that time you will continue to record any daily aggression
(and other problems). At the end of the six weeks we will break the
code. If the dog received placebo,
then six weeks of thyroxine will be supplied, and a behavior
treatment plan
provided.
If the dog received thyroxine and improved, we will inform your
veterinarian and recommend the dog be maintained on thyroxine, we
will also
require a second blood sample to repeat the thyroid panel. Further
behavioral
suggestions will also be made. If the dog did not improve, you can
wean it off the thyroxine, and a behavioral plan will be suggested to
further
address the problems. You will be contacted regularly by phone
during the 6 weeks of the study to ensure that all is going well and
to answer any
questions. You can also contact us at any time. The forms take only
a few minutes a day to complete, but must be completed daily, and you
will
need to make one or two visits to the vet for blood drawing. The
three phone
calls can be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time, and should
take less
than 5 minutes each unless you have a problem. All costs will be
covered
by the research grant. You will be required to sign a consent form
before
enrolling in the study. Your veterinarian will also be kept informed
of your dog's status and results of the blood work will be sent to
him/her.
You should be prepared that your dog's behavior may not improve
through the study period, especially if it receives placebo. We
request that you
change nothing in terms of the way the dog is handled or fed during
the
course of the study.
Thank you.
