Disorder - Nervousness

Organ Systems Involved
Nervous/sensory

Brief Description

Extreme fear response to humans and unfamiliar scenarios.

Presenting Signs

Dogs begin to show behavioural characteristics of this disorder between three and nine months of age. Abnormal behaviour includes excessive timidity and over-reaction in situations in which normal dogs would not respond. They can become so terrified in the presence of humans that they literally freeze. Nervous dogs also seem inhibited in new environments and do not display the normal exploratory behaviour of other dogs. In addition to these symptoms, these dogs also show a marked rise in heart rate compared to normal dogs in the above situations. The dogs behave normally in the absence of fear-provoking situations.

Treatment

Medical

Related Disorders

Deafness

PubMed References
Nervousness

Further Reference Material [OMIA Number]
713


Contributor
Susan Gottlieb