double blind study-effect of thyroid on owner aggression

* * * PLEASE CROSS-POST TO OTHER CANINE LISTS * * *

From Linda Aronson, DVM
Behaviour Department, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary
Medicine

We still need dogs for our double blind study looking at the effect of
thyroid on owner directed aggression. To be included in the study, dogs
cannot already be on thyroid replacement therapy, and they must show owner
directed aggression - growl, lip lift, snap or bite at least once a day.

All costs for testing and treatment will be covered by the research grant,
and can be co-ordinated through your own veterinarian. Dogs must live in
the United States of America, however.

To be included in the study the dog must meet our criteria for owner
directed aggression and have been living in the home for at least 6 months.

It is helpful if the dog also exhibits some of the signs, however mild, of
hypothyroidism listed here:

Excessive shedding, patchy hair loss or "rat tail"
Dry skin or dull, dry haircoat
Recurrent infections (especially ear, skin and foot infections) Tendency to
gain weight Heat seeking behavior Increased sleep time Hyperactivity Slow
learning Seizures Worried look, tragic facial expression or looking "old"
Reduced hearing, sight and scenting ability Chronic gastrointestinal
symptoms Loss of muscle or bladder tone Head tilt Change in character of
bark Exercise intolerance Infertility, false pregnancy or weak, dying or
stillborn puppies Recurring eye infections

The dog should otherwise be in good health. However, if there are other
behavior problems that might also relate to poor thyroid levels, we would be
interested in following those as well.

If your dog meets these criteria and you would like to participate, you
should fill out the behavior assessment form located at

http://www.petshrink.com/forms/agrform.html

This should be returned to Nicole Cottam at:
nicole.cottam @ tufts.edu [omit the spaces when Emailing] via e-mail

or mailed to:

Nicole Cottam
at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Behavior Department
Department of Clinical Sciences
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536

If the dog fits our behavior criteria, pretest forms will be sent to you to
fill out recording daily aggression (and any other behavior problems) for 2
weeks prior to starting medication.

Information will also be sent to you and your veterinarian explaining how to
collect and submit the blood to Dr. Dodds at Hemopet for CBC, biochemistry
panel and full thyroid panel. (Intact bitches should be tested between 3
months after the end of one season and 3 months before she is next due in
season.)

If your dog is hypothyroid or has suboptimal or borderline thyroid function,
your veterinarian will receive either the thyroxine or placebo. Only our
pharmacy will know which has been dispensed, however, should problems arise
- these are not anticipated - the code can be broken so that the dog
receives appropriate treatment.

The dog will receive either the name brand thyroxine or placebo for 6 weeks.

During that time you will continue to record any daily aggression (and other
problems). At the end of the six weeks we will break the code.

If the dog received placebo, then six weeks of thyroxine will be supplied,
and a behavior treatment plan provided. If the dog received thyroxine and
improved, we will inform your veterinarian and recommend the dog be
maintained on thyroxine, we will also require a second blood sample to
repeat the thyroid panel.

Further behavioral suggestions will also be made.

If the dog did not improve, you can wean it off the thyroxine, and a
behavioral plan will be suggested to further address the problems.

You will be contacted regularly by phone during the 6 weeks of the study to
ensure that all is going well and to answer any questions. You can also
contact us at any time.

The forms take only a few minutes a day to complete, but must be completed
daily, and you will need to make one or two visits to the vet for blood
drawing.

The three phone calls can be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time, and
should take less than 5 minutes each unless you have a problem. All costs
will be covered by the research grant.

You will be required to sign a consent form before enrolling in the study.
Your veterinarian will also be kept informed of your dog's status and
results of the blood work will be sent to him/her. You should be prepared
that your dog's behavior may not improve through the study period,
especially if it receives placebo.

We request that you change nothing in terms of the way the dog is handled or
fed during the course of the study.

Thank you.
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