Ethoneuroimmunoendocrinology of fear-related behavior disorders in dogs and cats

SNITCOFSKY MARINA

Milan

Congreso; 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). 2013; 2013

Ethoneuroinmunendocrinology is a veterinary specialty that studies relationships between body control systems, which are communicated through common signaling molecules (neurotransmitters, cytokines, hormones); and views diseases as a result of the rupture of this systems´ balance. Behavior disorders of dogs and cats can be analyzed from an integrative perspective, addressing the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment from the body-control systems´ interactions point of view. Fear-related disorders (phobias and anxiety) often occur along with immune-related chronic physical pathologies in dogs and cats, such as skin disorders (atopic dermatitis and other allergies), endocrinopathies (hypothyroidism), gastrointestinal diseases (IBD, chronic diarrea or vomiting , gastritis, gastric dilatation/ volvulus syndrome), urinary disorders (idiopathic interstitial cistitis, lower urinary tract disease), respiratory diseases (feline bronchial asthma, canine tracheal collapse), neurological diseases (hydrocephalus, epilepsy, strokes). It is not easy to distinguish which is the primary pathology (if any), or if they are comorbid pathologies. There are several hypotheses about the joint occurrence of physical and emotional conditions: 1) Fortuit association. 2) Genetic association. 3) Gene interactions. 4) Emotional disturbances as causal factors of physical illness. 5) Physical illness as causal factor of emotional disturbance. 6) Physical illness and emotional disturbance coexist because they share molecular mediators and signaling pathways. Likely, there is a combination of all the above, which would be difficult to be studied separately. Evidence suggests that the state of chronic stress form living with excessive fear or anxiety can have deleterious effects on health, welfare and lifespan of pets