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. 2012 Dec;53(12):1279–1284.

Table 1.

Descriptive data collected from behavioral consultations, questionnaires, and home videos

Dog Breed Age of dog (y) Age of onset of fly biting behavior (y) Weight (kg) Gender History of fly biting behavior Frequency: fly biting bouts Duration: fly biting bouts Other signs; Owner comments; Treatments prior to referral
1 Bernese mountain dog 9 8 38.6 NM 1 y + After meals 2×/d 2 to 3 min Chronic intermittent diarrhea; air licking; repeated swallowing with fly biting; stops if spoken to loudly or touched
Metronidazole (diarrhea)
2 Cavalier King Charles spaniel 7 3 8.8 NM 4 y
After meals
Every hour daily Seconds to minutes Air/floor licking; hiding; yelping; leaping; neck pain; worse when anxious
Clomipramine and fluoxetine
3 Boston terrier 6.5 6.5 10.2 IF 6 d Increasing frequency 5 to 60 min Agitated; panting; racing; pacing; leaping; worse when excited
Phenobarbital
4 Cavalier King Charles spaniel 6 4 12.5 NM 2 y (20 to 45 min after meals or treats) 1 to 10×/d 34 to 60 min Agitated; racing; hiding; pica; pain (anal sac); air licking; self licking (limbs, anus); up and down on furniture; staring at ceiling and walls; worse in evening
Phenobarbital
5 Labrador × Bernese mountain dog 2.5 1.8 37.8 IF 8 mo
Spontaneous remission 1×
3×/2 h/evening 1 to 5 min Licking lips at times
6 Schnauzer 10 8.1 SF 2 mo Early morning to night time A few minutes Occasional vomiting/regurgitation; flatulence; noise and thunder phobia
7 Rottweiler × Bernese mountain dog 2 0.5 49 NM 1.5 y
Spontaneous remissions
2 to 3×/d or more A few seconds Lip/air licking; agitated; hiding; following the owner; attention-seeking; occasionally feces with mucus

IF — intact female; NM — neutered male; SF — spayed female.