Table 4.
Owner-reported clinical signs (ORCS) including number and percentage of dogs with specific ORCS.
| ORCS classification | 796 (100%) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Without ORCS | 376 (47.2%) | No ORCS |
| With ORCS | 420 (52.8%) | ORCS present (any number of ORCS) |
| Specific ORCS | (100%) | |
| 1. Scratching with skin contact, rubbing head or ears, or both | 242 (57.6%) | Scratching head, neck or shoulder areas with front or hind limbs. Rubbing head or ears with front limbs, on walls, or on the floor. |
| 2. Air licking | 129 (30.7%) | Licking the air frequently and repetitively. |
| 3. Spontaneous signs of pain | 109 (26.0%) | Any sign that suggested to the owner the dog may be or have been experiencing pain that is not elicited by external stimuli or activities (e.g., touch). |
| 4. Persistent licking front and/or hind paws | 95 (22.6%) | Excessively and/or repetitively licking front and/or hind limbs without identifiable skin disease. |
| 5. Phantom scratching | 95 (22.6%) | Scratching toward the neck area, but not making skin-contact. |
| 6. Provoked signs of pain | 62 (14.8%) | Any sign that suggested to the owner the dog may be or have been experiencing pain that was elicited by external stimuli or activities [e.g., by being picked up, touched, or when asked to perform certain activities (playing)]. |
| 7. Head shaking | 60 (14.3%) | Unprovoked head shaking. |
| 8. Lethargy | 57 (13.6%) | E.g. increased sleepiness, decreased excitement. |
| 9. Hyperexcitability | 56 (13.3%) | E.g. overreaction to external stimuli, inability to relax, episodically running in circles. |
| 10. Fly catching or tail chasing | 54 (12.9%) | Repetitively, episodically biting the air (as if there is a fly to catch) or chasing the tail. |
| 11. Vocalization | 39 (9.3%) | Yelping, yelling, screaming, barking (without identifiable other reasons). |
| 12. Aggression | 28 (6.7%) | Toward other dogs, companion animals, house mates, visitors, or owners. |
| 13. Swallowing, yawning, panting | 20 (4.7%) | Excessive or repetitive swallowing unassociated with food or water intake, excessive or repetitive yawning, excessive panting unrelated to exercise. |
| 14. Weakness | 18 (4.3%) | Tripping, falling, difficulty walking or supporting weight. |
| 15. Facial expression suggestive of pain | 12 (2.9%) | Changes in facial expression interpreted by the owner as signs of pain (e.g., squinting eyes, “unhappy” look). |