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Why dogs chase their own tails: High Cholesterol

By Queuebot in Animal on Mar 25, 2009 at 9:45 am


Veterinarians have discovered an interesting connection between dogs who chase their own tails and their blood cholesterol levels.  In a study published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, researchers took blood samples from 15 healthy dogs that were compulsive tail chasers, along with samples from 15 healthy dogs that did not chase their tails.  When their samples were analyzed, the tail chasers were found to have significantly higher levels of blood cholesterol

Researchers theorize that cholesterol affects the cell membranes which control the flow of brain hormones.  Previous studies have shown a correlation between high cholesterol levels and certain behavioral problems in humans.





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COMMENT
  1. Guybrush Threepwood
    Mar 25th, 2009 at 10:54 am

    "Previous studies have shown a correlation between high cholesterol levels and certain behavioral problems in humans."

    ...Like... chasing my own tail?

  2. Detroit Indian
    Mar 25th, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Isn't this pretty obvious? Anxiety disorders like OCD will increase stress hormones which can increase cholestrol.

  3. I C Tail
    Mar 25th, 2009 at 11:36 am

    That's Tail. Totally Tail, I tell ya!

    - Urf!

  4. Cori
    Mar 25th, 2009 at 11:53 am

    I don't see how this can be considered conclusive in any way when the sample size was so small.

  5. VonSkippy
    Mar 25th, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    "Researchers theorize that cholesterol affects the cell membranes which control the flow of brain hormones."

    More likely that the cholesterol effects blood flow and therefore causes the tail to itch.

  6. Edward
    Mar 25th, 2009 at 7:42 pm

    Who in the world would think to research this? Who would fund this kind of research?

  7. DOJ
    Mar 25th, 2009 at 9:11 pm

    Why doesn't the post title doesn't mention the word "theorize"

  8. Billiam
    Mar 25th, 2009 at 11:09 pm

    Aside from the sample size, correlation isn't causation.

  9. Kalel
    Mar 25th, 2009 at 11:46 pm

    Just in case, I've removed my dog's tail to reduce his cholesterol.

  10. Absent
    Mar 26th, 2009 at 9:17 am

    My cat chases his tail. He dips it in the bath, jumps down then chases his wet tail round and around flinging water everywhere. Then he jumps back up on the bath, dips it in again and repeats this over and over until I get out of the bath.

  11. Avarana
    Mar 26th, 2009 at 10:40 am

    Kalel, avoid transference or ghost appendage syndrome, chop the head.

  12. mb
    Mar 26th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    30 dog sample size? :/
    Not so statistically significant.

  13. Gauldar
    Mar 26th, 2009 at 12:37 pm

    I agree, the amount tested is too small to be considered scientifically valid.

  14. CourtC
    Mar 29th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    My dog chases his tail right before he poops...

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