Ronald S. Hines DVM PhD 11/16/07

Over the years, I have seen this condition in pets that I have not found described in veterinary textbooks. Ghost pain

Dogs, particularly those that are all or part German Shepherd and between the ages of one and one-half and four years of age may suddenly and violently attack a portion of their body as if it itched severely. The most commonly affected area is the end of the tail, but sometimes a paw is affected. These are generally high-strung dogs with other neurological problems (like tail chasing or fly snapping). This problem has been called self-mutilation syndrome. It may be a form of seizure similar to frontal lobe epilepsy. I have not observed this problem in horses. When it does occur in horses, it is thought to be an obsessive-compulsive behavior trait. Some of these dogs and horses will respond to antiseizue medications (Phenobarbital, Primidone, Dylantin). Other cases respond well to the tricyclic antidepressant, chlomipramine (Clomacalm) and antidepressant, amyltriptiline (Elavil). Prozac is also effective in some dogs. Although Phenobarbital and Primidone are often effective, long-term use of these drugs can cause liver damage. It may take 5-8 weeks before an improvement is noticed. There is anecdotal evidence that placing these dogs on a greatly reduced protein diet may also be beneficial.

Cats, particularly female Siamese cats will occasionally react by jumping into the air as if they had been shot with a pellet rifle. These cats often growl and vocalize and the skin over their spine ripples as the even occurs. I believe this is an inflammatory condition of the spinal cord. These cats will also occasionally self-mutilate their tail or lick there tummies bare of hair. They may also have lip and tongue ulcerations and plaques characteristic of Eosinophilic complex disease. Many have elevated blood eosinophile counts over 7%. Eosinophilic complex disease is a poorly understood form of allergy. As such, it is prudent to place these cats on a hypoallergenic diet. The disease responds well to intramuscularly injections of methylprednisolone acetate (1.25mg/lb body weight) as well as to Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) given three times a week. One eighth of a 20mg megesterol (Megace) tablet given three times a week is also effective in controlling the disease. These products can cause elevated blood glucose and weight gain. So cats on either megesterol or medroxyprogesterone need strict weight control. I have also had success controlling this condition using 4mg ciproheptadine tablets given three times a week. Ciproheptadine appears to have Prozac-like effects in cats and may have fewer side effects than the other medications mentioned.

I have, on occasion, considered that ghost pains in cats might be related to the herpes-1 virus of cats which normally lives in the facial nerves between relapses.

Some veterinarians believe that this may be a form of epilepsy. It is true that certain cats seem to benefit from anti-seziure medications such as phenobarbital. However, this may only be due to their sedative properties.

Others feel this is strictly an emotional problem. Some cats do improve when given mood altering medications such as clomipramine HCL (Clomicalm) or Prozac. It may take several months for these medications to have effect.

Others associate this problem with specific allergies. Hair spray -- do not spray when pet is in the same room. Things such as cigarette smoke, food preservatives, sodium nitrite, air fresheners, plastics, formaldehyde-containing products and various scented products have all been mentioned. Also try changing your cat's diet.

Birds, particularly cockatoos and African Gray and Eclectus Parrots are also notorious for self-mutilation. In their case, this disease appears to be a form of exaggerated grooming brought on by stress. This stress can be nutritional – due to seed diets, sexual maturity in a young adult bird, the loss of a bonded owner (mate), excessive egg laying, boredom in a family where both partners work, too small a cage, a lack of chew toys, failure to mist off the bird daily, an exaggerated seasonal molt brought on by too much or too little full-spectrum sunlight, the addition of a new rival bird, or any other condition that stresses the bird. The feathers of the breast are the ones first affected. At this stage, the problem can usually be reversed by a combination of changes to the bird’s environment. Chew toys such as coconut husk are quite helpful. Playing the television may also help distract the bird. Late in the disease, the problem becomes a deeply ingrained habit, which is hard to break. I usually reserve Elizabethan collars for the most severe cases. Biters No-chew mist does not help. Besides making some of the changes I have mentioned above, I often place the birds on the anti-compulsive medication, chlomipramine HCl (15mg/bird). Medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets or Depo-Provera suspension (10mg) ground into a berry syrup is also effective.

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