Does That Also Affect the Number of Times They Walk in a Circle Before Lying Down?

Doberman pinschers that curl up and suck their flanks for hours — a compulsive behavior — share a gene, report researchers in Molecular Psychiatry. Nicholas Dodman and his colleagues studied the genomes and pedigrees of 94 Doberman pinschers that sucked on their flanks or on blankets, or both, with 73 Dobermans that did neither. From their genome-wide association study and fine-mapping, they found that the most significantly associated SNP is within the CDH2 gene, which mediate synaptic activity-regulated neuronal adhesion. “As little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms for compulsive behaviors, this discovery could provide a better understanding of disease biology and facilitate development of genetic tests, enabling earlier interventions and even treatment or prevention of compulsive disorders in at-risk canines and humans,” the authors write.