Ansiedade em cães com hipercortisolismo espontâneo

Abstract

Anxiety in dogs has become an increasingly frequent behavioral complaint in small animal clinical practice, particularly when associated with hormonal imbalances caused by endocrine disorders. Among these, hypercortisolism is notable for disrupting the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis, leading to chronically elevated cortisol levels, which may influence behavioral patterns. A structured questionnaire, based on the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) and adapted to the scope of the study, was administered to the guardians of eight dogs diagnosed with hypercortisolism and treated at the Endocrinology Service of the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândia (HV-UFU). The findings indicated a high frequency of behaviors compatible with mild to moderate anxiety, particularly excessive attachment, reactivity to auditory stimuli, and difficulty relaxing. Although causal associations cannot be established due to the limited sample size, the results highlight the relevance of considering potential behavioral alterations in dogs with hypercortisolism and reinforce the importance of an integrated clinical approach addressing both physical and emotional aspects to promote patiente welfare and quality of life.