Is there a link between treatments with exogenous corticosteroids and dog behaviour problems?

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Behavior
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Exogenous corticosteroids are known to have side effects in humans and animals.
• Recent studies suggest a potential link between corticosteroid use and behavioral changes in dogs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between corticosteroid treatment and behavioral problems in dogs.
• To assess if corticosteroid history predicts negative affective states, aggression, or other behavioral issues.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 345 dogs from a behavior clinic caseload (February 2012 - November 2014).
• Utilized Pearson's chi-squared test and regression analysis to assess relationships between corticosteroid treatment and behavioral outcomes.
• Compared dogs treated with corticosteroids to those treated with other drugs.

Main Results:

• A history of corticosteroid treatment was a significant predictor of various behavior problems.
• These problems were associated with negative affective states in dogs.
• The observed relationship may be influenced by age-related effects, requiring further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Corticosteroid treatment history appears linked to a higher incidence of behavioral issues and negative affective states in dogs.
• The findings suggest a need for careful consideration of behavioral side effects in dogs receiving corticosteroids.
• Further research is recommended to elucidate the causal relationship and control for confounding variables such as age.