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barking) and when not to bark (ignore bad medications at lowered doses are usually Prevention
barking), coupling both to words used only safe other than the potential for sedation, Early intervention is key. When dogs are added
VetBooks.ir ○ When the dog barks in a context that • Fluoxetine, paroxetine, and possibly sertra- level of barking is acceptable to the client should Diseases and Disorders
to the home, education of the dog about what
in which case dosages can be adjusted
in those situations.
downward.
be instituted on the first episode of unwanted
annoys the owner, redirecting the dog to
an incompatible behavior (e.g., catching
a toy with the mouth, playing tug) stops line, if given with tramadol, may increase barking.
the risk of serotonin syndrome (p. 1281).
barking and rewards an alternative If coadministration is necessary, start both Technician Tips
behavior. The offered alternative behavior at reduced dosages, titrate each to effect, • Verbal reprimands serve no useful purpose.
must be of higher value to the dog. and monitor for serotonin syndrome. If a dog is barking excessively in the hospital,
• If barking is pathologic, the anxiety state changing stimuli (e.g., moving the dog to
that leads to the abnormal vocalization must Possible Complications an area with less/more activity or different
be treated. Clients who attempt behavior modification too animals in surroundings) is far better.
○ Identify triggers and limit exposure to quickly (e.g., rewarding sitting even when the • Dogs may bark or whine in a hospital setting
them whenever possible. dog is distressed instead of working on relax- due to anxiety and the stress of being in an
○ When barking occurs, redirect the dog’s ation), with force, or inconsistently (in a unfamiliar and overwhelming environment
attention and activity to alternative multi-person household) may experience slow in addition to the physical distress of illness/
behaviors (play, relaxation) and reward or no progress. Leash, choke chain, or pinch injury. These vocalizations should not be
for compliance; use a leash or head collar collar corrections are contraindicated; they can ignored; distress has a negative effect on
if necessary; reward all decreases in barking damage the esophagus, trachea, larynx, and the immune system and healing. Evaluate
in response to triggers. adjacent structures. the patient’s body language so that the need
○ A neutral stimulus (noise, bouncing ball/ for analgesics, short-term anxiolytics (e.g.,
toy) may be used for interrupting the Recommended Monitoring benzodiazepines), or sedatives is not ignored.
behavior, followed by positive engage- Frequent follow-up with clients (at least weekly) • Reactive barking in the examination room
ment in a different, non–barking-related is helpful. Medications should be monitored should trigger a conversation with the owner
behavior that can be rewarded. for cardiac, renal, or hepatic side effects (uncom- to inquire what other situations provoke a
○ Treatment with psychotropic medication mon) or sedation (more common). similar reaction.
is appropriate only if barking is a mani-
festation of a behavioral disorder (e.g., PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME Client Education
anxiety); consider referral to a behavior • Yelling at a dog to be quiet will increase
specialist. • For species-appropriate but inconvenient arousal and is therefore counterproductive.
○ Punishment, yelling, and use of shock barking, prognosis is very good to excellent • Clients can teach their dog the level of alarm
collars should be avoided. Aversive when owners understand the diagnosis. barking they can tolerate by calmly taking
responses serve only to increase rather than • For pathologic barking, prognosis ranges the barking dog away from the trigger (using
decrease arousal and may exacerbate the from fair to very good, depending on severity a leash if necessary), asking for an alternative
barking behavior. and chronicity of disorder. behavior (sitting while looking at the client
• Dogs should be taught to relax while making • Both are influenced by client compliance, in a relaxed fashion), and then rewarding
eye contact with the clients as a preferred environmental circumstances, and response the quiet response.
default/substitute behavior when the dog to psychotropic medication in the case of • Clients can also thank their dog for barking
encounters a situation about which it is pathologic barking. when the barking is appropriate (e.g.,
anxious or unsure. someone is in the driveway) and then reward
• Systematic desensitization can be used PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS them for stopping, which the dog will do
if the triggers can be identified and when he or she looks at the client in response
manipulated (e.g., Pet Tutor [https:// Comments to the client’s praise.
smartanimaltraining.com/]). Shock collars have no place in the treatment
• An alternative alert should be taught so the of any behavioral condition. They always SUGGESTED READING
dog still signals information (e.g., sitting in exacerbate anxiety, even if they may suppress Pongrácz P, et al: Barking in family dogs: an ethologi-
a designated spot or in front of the clients). some aspects of behavioral signs; the behavior cal approach. Vet J 183:141-147, 2010.
of dogs trained with a shock collar changes
Drug Interactions even outside the context of the training environ- AUTHOR: Soraya V. Juarbe-Diaz, DVM, DACVB
• Amitriptyline, fluoxetine, and clomipramine ment (display of signs of anxiety). Assessment EDITOR: Karen L. Overall, VMD, MA, PhD, DACVB
should not be used with monoamine oxidase for the potential risk of physical abuse of pets,
inhibitors (e.g., amitraz, selegiline). Combi- spouses, and children should be made in any
nations of different classes of psychotropic case in which owners insist on their use.

Bartonellosis

BASIC INFORMATION fastidious gram-negative bacteria in the Synonyms
genus Bartonella. These bacteria are trans- • Cat-scratch disease (common disease con-
Definition mitted by hematophagous insects. Of more sequence of human infection with Bartonella
Bartonellosis is infection with any of a than 36 known species, at least 17 are henselae, resulting in self-limiting lymphad-
number of different species of intracellular, pathogenic. enomegaly ± fever and malaise)

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