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Third in a series Compulsive disorders are a harsh reality for anybody who is saddled by a literally uncontrollable requirement to engage in repetitive, (stereotypic) behaviors. Most are related to somewhat normal activities, but they’re exaggerated, serving no useful purpose. They’re regarded as ritualistic because the sequences appear the same each time. And they may continue for a long time, and are usually difficult or impossible to interrupt. Well-intentioned people have tried all manner of corrections, along with attempts to redirect the mental focus of these sad pets. They are wasting everybody’s time and energy while repetition strengthens the responsible neural pathways in the brain. Until dogs like Milo are treated appropriately, they get worse. The underlying problem in this poor little guy’ noggin needed the best modern medicine had to offer. Milo’s compulsive attention to his rear end is rooted in his brain’s anatomy. He has a dysfunction called…

Second in a series Quiz: Why did Milo chase and bite his tail? a)       He was bored b)       Attention-seeking c)       He was compulsive d)       He needed a different home Milo’s repeated biting of his tail had resulted in a rapidly advancing wound. When I first met this sweet little guy it was immediately clear that his two previous surgeries, while well-intentioned attempts to the eliminate infected tissue, accomplished nothing. His agitation, spinning, growling, and biting at the more recent amputation site only triggered another raging infection. Repetitive behaviors and self-mutilation are not newly recognized in dogs but recent research has brought the cause to light, allowing us to get our arms around most of these cases. Milo’s attention to his tail didn’t start with the swelling, infection, and self-inflicted injury; it began in his brain. Tackling the underlying cause for his overwhelming need to twist and snap would take months.…

Question: Our longtime neighbor got a dog last year, but has not, it appears, had it trained to not bark when it goes out 4 to 6 am, and 11 pm, waking us up. We get along just fine, but the dog wakes us up DAILY from a deep sleep. Our bedroom is on the same side of the house (there is a fence) where her dog goes. What can we do without alienating our neighbor? Dr. Nichol: You sound cranky and you are not alone; barking is among the most common complaints to animal control departments. We all want it to stop. You could write to Dear Abby but she may not be aware that dogs are highly social creatures who communicate a lot. Those who bark excessively are doing it for a reason. This dog’s nightly verbal catharses might diminish with consistent punishment but his underlying motivation would…