Pheromones: dog

So far it has been possible to identify and associate very few pheromones with a precise behavioural function. As far as concerns mammals, the pheromones found have been classified according to the glands by which they are secreted or by their type of action. The latter classification includes pheromones of adoption, appeasement, identification, territorial delimitation, alarm and sexually-related activities. In the dog pheromones of adoption, dissolved in the amniotic fluid, are able to induce the mother of the neonate to provide parental care, encouraging the development of bonding (mother – puppy).

These molecules, whose secretory structures have not been identified, disappear on average 3 days after the birth of the puppy. Following a Caesarean section or in order to facilitate the adoption of a neonate by another female, it is worth conserving part of the amniotic fluid to sprinkle over the neonate before presenting it to its mother. Pluriparous females are less sensitive to pheromones of adoption because only seeing the newly born puppy is sufficient to trigger maternal care.

The pheromones of appeasement are secreted from the intermammary sulcus of lactating bitches starting from the third to fifth day after delivery. These secretions facilitate the development of bonding between the puppy and the mother. The mother becomes the point of reference, a reassuring pole around which to begin the first explorations and against which the puppies huddle together to sleep. Bonding enables correct sensorial, psychomotor and social development. When exploring the surrounding environment, the puppy tends to draw close to the mother when it perceives a situation of danger. In this period of behavioural development centred around the maternal figure, apaisine stabilises the emotional response of the puppy, calming it and re-establishing the so-called “star-shaped” exploration. Thanks to this exploration, the puppy will be able to memorise objects, sounds and odours that will make up the animal’s “data base” and, consequently, contribute to the development of sensorial homeostasis (the balance that is formed between an individual and its environment, consisting of a lack of emotional and motor responses below the average level of stimulation present).

The pheromones secreted by the perioral glands are implicated in social exchanges (recognition of individuals, identification of social rank). The pheromonal secretions from the supracaudal and subcaudal glands seem to play the same role. The pheromones contained in anal secretions, emitted during defecation, are involved in identifying social rank and sexual behaviour. An inflammation in this site can alter the characteristics of the secretion and can cause aggressive behaviour by other dogs in the social group  (Fig. 1). Alternatively, there may be an exacerbation of straddling and mounting behaviours by members of the group. The emission of urine and faeces constitutes a system of communication that combines postural and olfactory messages. The choice of place of this emission, cocking a posterior limb in the male or lifting the hind quarters in the female and scratching the ground emphasise the presence of pheromones.

It is thought that the ground “scratching” carried out with the anterior and posterior limbs following urinary or faecal marking may be completed by the deposition of status pheromones through the interdigital glands (Fig. 2). The footpad glands can secrete alarm pheromones in conditions of stress.The urine discharged by females also contains pheromonal information concerning sexual activity.

The pheromones contained in the vaginal secretions emitted by females in oestrus induce an increase in urinary marking by the male and longer nosing of the ano-vaginal region (Fig. 3).

PHEROMONE THERAPY: THE USE OF SYNTHETIC PHEROMONES

The possibility of using pheromones for the treatment of behavioural disorders was opened up by the work of P. Pageat on the relation between behaviour, facial marking and urinary marking in cats. Since the beginning of pheromone therapy, pheromonal molecules have become the object of great interest, in particular for carnivores, but also for humans. In fact, in 1986, G. Preti demonstrated the possibility of using axillary secretions in the treatment of menstrual delays in women.

As far as concerns animals, P. Pageat isolated the apaisine of the sow (pig appeasing pheromone) and then synthesised it in the laboratory. Following the marketing of this product, important effects were obtained in stressful situations such as transport or group changes. Recently the same researcher has synthesised canine apaisine, which has appeared on the market under the name of dog appeasing pheromone. The veterinarian can use pheromone therapy and behavioural therapy without pharmacological support or in association with psychoactive drugs. Appeasement pheromones can be used on the occasion of adoption of a puppy, a house move, or a holiday in a hotel or apartment; the pheromones can be placed in the room most frequently used by the puppy/adult dog (leaving the vaporiser day and night) or be applied to the animal by using a specifically designed collar.

The rooms can be ventilated even several times a day, since the pheromones remain in the environment. Furthermore, during hospitalisation of a puppy/adult dog in a clinic or confinement in its owner’s home, the use of pheromones reduces the patient’s stress and accelerates its psychophysical recovery.

To facilitate a clinical examination, pheromones can be sprayed on the examination table (previously washed with soap and water) about 20 minutes before the arrival of the patient (Fig. 5). Furthermore, synthetic pheromones can be sprayed inside a car, allowing a puppy to journey peacefully and the clinician to treat “car sickness” of behavioural origin. It is important to highlight that following symptoms such as the emission of urine and/or faeces in inappropriate places, destruction, vocalisation or excessive licking, the choice of treatment depends heavily on the nosographic, functional and contextual diagnosis made during the behavioural examination. In fact, pheromones cannot be considered a panacea: the disappearance of signs shown by the patients presupposes the contemporaneous introduction of appropriate cognitive-relational therapy and, in the cases in which there is a pathological state (phobia, anxiety, depression), also of pharmacological treatment.

Table summarizing the use of synthetic pheromones in the dog. 

Suggested readings

1. Colangeli R., Fassola F., Giussani S., 2002, “L’uso dei feromoni nella terapia comportamentale del cane. Esperienze cliniche”. Rivista di Zootecnia e Veterinaria, luglio/ dicembre 2002: 13 – 34;
2. Colangeli R., Fassola F., Giussani S., 2002, “Approccio clinico all’utilizzo della feromonoterapia”. Rivista di Zootecnia e Veterinaria, luglio/ dicembre 2002: 35 – 46;
3. Coupry V. «L’attaccamento primario è indispensabile per la sopravvivenza», La Settimana Veterinaria, n° 361, 23 ottobre 2002;
4. Gaultier E. «La communication canine», 3° cycle professionnel des Ecoles Nationales Vétérinaires, Ecole de Toulouse mai 2000;
5. Gaultier E. «Demarche diagnostique lors de nuisances canines», 3° cycle professionnel des Ecoles Nationales Vétérinaires, Ecole de Toulouse mai 2000;
6. Pageat P. « La communication chimique dans l’univers des carnivores domestiques», Le Point Vétérinaire, vol. 28, n° 181, février 1997;
7. Pageat P. « Patologia comportamentale del cane », Edition du Point Vétérinaire, 1° edizione, 1999;
8. Pageat P. «Les phéromones d’attachement», Pre – congrès Mondialvet, Lyon 1999;
9. Pageat P. « Bases biologiques de la psychodermatologie: exemple du chien », Veto – Alp 2002, Chamonix;
10. Pageat P. « Le patologie legate alla separazione nel cane », 44° Congresso Nazionale SCIVAC, Milano maggio 2002;
11. « Cours de Base du GECAF », Strasbourg 2001;
12. «I feromoni nel cane e il loro impiego», Ceva Santé Animale, La Settimana Veterinaria n° 360, 16 ottobre 2002.