<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Researchers in the Netherlands found that more than half of veterinarians say they have ‘likely’ seen the phenomenon in their clinics – with dogs and cats the most common proxies<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
‘Yet, presently little guidance exists for early recognition of these particular animal abuse cases.’\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Named after a German aristocrat, Baron Munchausen, who became famous for telling wild, unbelievable tales about his exploits, Munchausen’s syndrome is complex and poorly understood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many people refuse psychiatric treatment or psychological profiling, and it’s unclear why people with the syndrome behave the way they do.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some people with Munchausen’s syndrome may spend years travelling from hospital to hospital faking a wide range of illnesses in themselves or their child. When it’s discovered they’re lying, they may suddenly leave hospital and move to another area.<\/p>\n
People with Munchausen’s syndrome can be very manipulative and, in the most serious cases, may undergo painful and sometimes life-threatening surgery, even though they know it’s unnecessary.<\/p>\n
In pets, Munchausen’s by proxy looks relatively similar to how it appears in humans, say researchers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Animals can be poisoned, injured or starved to create the need for veterinary treatment – while others are brought in for conditions that mysteriously disappear once the animal is examined.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nearly 90 veterinarians were surveyed in the study, which was published in the journal PLOS One last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of those surveyed, 51.2 per cent said they were likely to see cases of Munchausen’s by proxy in animals – also known as animal abuse by falsification.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cases were most common in cats and dogs, but vets also noted seeing signs in rabbits, rodents and a horse.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vets surveyed said the most common tell-tale sign of animal abuse by falsification were animals being brought in for ‘vague or inexplicable complaints’ that were ‘difficult to check or confirm medically’.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Others reported ‘incompatibilities between medical history and clinical findings’ as well as owners ‘relatively often visiting the clinic with this or multiple animals’.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The low rates of reporting this form of animal abuse were likely due to the lack of clear standards in identifying the phenomenon, the research team concluded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vets also cited their own lack of knowledge of available resources and concerns about breaking client confidentiality.<\/p>\n
‘Due to the existence of variants of the phenomenon, just like in child abuse cases, diagnosing AAF in animal abuse cases will be challenging,’ wrote the research team.<\/p>\n
‘It is therefore logical that our participants indicate the need for more knowledge on AAF, and on support when dealing with suspected AAF cases.’\u00a0<\/p>\n
Better identification of cases of animal abuse by falsification could also help catch cases of child abuse by falsification, they concluded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Several historic cases of Munchausen’s by proxy in children have also involved pets – with one 2001 case of a child being poisoned by a parent also involving the poisoning of a pet dog.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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