Dogs Can Get Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Just Like Humans
August 11th, 2010 | Published in Dog Information, Uncategorized | 70 Comments
Like people, animals, especially dogs, can experience trauma, which leads to Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), in some cases. Dogs are incredibly sensitive and intuitive beings, and, for some, experiencing a traumatic event, can cause behavioral and emotional problems. That behavior being anti-social and withdrawn (with humans or other dogs), skittish, or overly aggressive.
 Military dog barking The Mayo Clinic defines PTSD as “a type of anxiety disorder that’s triggered by a traumatic event. You can develop PTSD when you experience or witness an event that causes intense fear, helplessness or horror.” The traumatizing experience can be anything, from abuse and neglect, to fireworks or witnessing war. Gina, is a military service dog profiled in the article US PTSD Military Dog. Gina is a highly accomplished bomb-sniffing German Shepherd, but after her wartime experiences in Iraq, she has come home with many of the same symptoms that servicemen and woman present. As sensitive and observant beings, canines are affected greatly by their experiences, positive or negative. Gina was witness to war atrocities, and explosive sounds, and these memories are now imprinted on her in a detrimental way. Veterinarians have varying opinions, as to whether dogs can truly develop PTSD. But, as PTSD is the result of one’s nervous system being altered by trauma (putting it in constant flight or fight mode), it makes sense that dogs would be affected in the same way. People diagnosed with PTSD, experience biological changes, affecting stress hormones and chemicals in the neurotransmitters. This can cause the nervous system to get stuck, so to speak, in a perennial flight or fight state. Look at a dog who has been abused, and notice his wariness, the way he’s conscious of all escape routes, and his general discomfort if anyone looks at him. He’s ready to run, or attack, because his mentality is stunted in that fear; in those imbedded memories of his trauma. These same behaviors can be seen in abused children, witnesses to crimes, and, most certainly, to those who have experienced war firsthand. For sufferers of PTSD, human or canine, help should be sought as soon as possible, to prevent suffering long-term symptoms. For people, psychotherapy and medication are in order, plus gentle love and support. With dogs, we can use some of the same therapy techniques, such as gradual exposure therapy, and, of course, much love, support and patience. Canine anxiety mediation is also available, plus alternative therapies such as pheromone diffusers and aromatherapy. Gina, the service dog, is doing well now, after a year of such therapy and guidance.
Whether we can define what a dog experiences as PTSD or not, looking at the clinical and behavioral descriptions, it seems that our four-legged friends have an equal capacity to carry their trauma negatively, as humans do. For more information about PTSD: Mayo Clinic on PTSD |
August 12th, 2010 at 3:09 am (#)
Great article, thanks for sharing this. I have subscribed to your RSS feed and am looking forward to reading more from you.
Keep up the good work and don’t stop posting please.
August 19th, 2010 at 3:03 am (#)
Excellent article. Glad to see the medical professionals are finally acknowledging what we have know for years.
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:26 pm (#)
Hi Ann, I just saw your post. I know the dogs can be a great help in hostile situations, but I hate that they have to go through such distress.
July 20th, 2011 at 1:18 am (#)
buy@generic.LEVITRA” rel=”nofollow”>……
Need cheap generic LEVITRA?…
July 29th, 2011 at 4:11 pm (#)
Purchase@Abilify.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric meds…
July 30th, 2011 at 7:03 am (#)
Order@Cheap.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buynow it…
July 31st, 2011 at 6:39 am (#)
Cheap@Generic.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now…
July 31st, 2011 at 12:11 pm (#)
Buy@Discount.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buywithout prescription…
July 31st, 2011 at 2:04 pm (#)
Purchase@Cheap.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow it…
August 2nd, 2011 at 2:48 am (#)
Purchase@Cheap.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription…
August 3rd, 2011 at 4:17 am (#)
Purchase@Abilify.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric pills…
August 3rd, 2011 at 2:02 pm (#)
Buy@Discount.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
August 3rd, 2011 at 5:24 pm (#)
Order@Cheap.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buynow it…
August 4th, 2011 at 4:52 am (#)
Get@Acai.Online” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric drugs…
August 4th, 2011 at 10:23 am (#)
Buy@Acai.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 4th, 2011 at 10:31 pm (#)
Buy@Discount.Energy.Boost” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow it…
August 5th, 2011 at 8:11 pm (#)
Cheap@Accupril.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 5th, 2011 at 11:12 pm (#)
Buy@Accutane.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 5th, 2011 at 11:12 pm (#)
Buy@Cheap.Accutane” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs…
August 6th, 2011 at 7:41 am (#)
Cheap@Accutane.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric meds…
August 7th, 2011 at 5:07 am (#)
Order@Aciphex.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buyno prescription…
August 10th, 2011 at 5:57 pm (#)
Generic@Actonel.35mg.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric pills zdg…
August 10th, 2011 at 9:16 pm (#)
Order@Cheap.Actoplus.Met” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs krg…
August 11th, 2011 at 10:45 pm (#)
Buy@Generic.Actos.15mg.30mg” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric meds qmo…
August 12th, 2011 at 5:18 pm (#)
Order@Cheap.Coral.Calcium” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs lzt…
August 13th, 2011 at 5:14 am (#)
Order@Cheap.Abilify” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription xiu…
August 13th, 2011 at 8:44 pm (#)
Abilify@5mg.10mg.15mg.20mg.30mg.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buygeneric meds svb…
August 13th, 2011 at 11:09 pm (#)
Buy@Cheap.Acai” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription wkp…
August 14th, 2011 at 1:15 am (#)
Order@Acai.Online” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription jui…
August 14th, 2011 at 7:56 am (#)
Cheap@Acai.Online” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buyit now sge…
August 15th, 2011 at 12:55 pm (#)
Purchase@Cheap.Energy.Boost” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buyit now ojb…
August 16th, 2011 at 5:18 pm (#)
Buy@Cheap.Accutane” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyno prescription tao…
August 17th, 2011 at 2:58 am (#)
Get@Accutane.Online” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buywithout prescription ccw…
August 17th, 2011 at 6:39 pm (#)
Cheap@Generic.Accutane.10mg.20mg” rel=”nofollow”>……
Buynow it zdg…
August 17th, 2011 at 8:48 pm (#)
Accutane@10mg.20mg.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buygeneric drugs ajd…
August 19th, 2011 at 5:55 am (#)
Aciphex@20mg.Without.Prescription” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buynow it lmg…
August 19th, 2011 at 9:28 am (#)
Buy@Discount.Acomplia” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buydrugs without prescription faj…
August 23rd, 2011 at 7:30 am (#)
Cheap@Advair.Online” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buygeneric drugs nih…
August 24th, 2011 at 12:55 am (#)
Buy@Advair.25mcg50mcg.25mcg125mcg.25mcg250mcg.50mcg500mcg.50mcg100mcg.50mcg250mcg” rel=”nofollow”>..< /blo…
Buygeneric meds dxy…
August 24th, 2011 at 2:14 am (#)
Buy@Advair.25mcg50mcg.25mcg125mcg.25mcg250mcg.50mcg500mcg.50mcg100mcg.50mcg250mcg” rel=”nofollow”>…< /bl…
Buygeneric drugs vbr…
August 24th, 2011 at 10:53 am (#)
< a href="http://trig.com/advair4746/biography/?ml=Generic-Advair-25mcg/50mcg-25mcg/125mcg-25mcg/250mcg-50mcg/500mcg-50mcg/100mcg-50mcg/250mcg-Without-Prescription Generic@Advair.25mcg50mcg.25mcg125mcg.25mcg250mcg.50mcg500mcg.50mcg100mcg.50mcg2…
Buydrugs without prescription jlg…
August 27th, 2011 at 5:20 am (#)
allopurinol@cheap.buy” rel=”nofollow”>..…
Buyit now…
September 22nd, 2011 at 1:29 pm (#)
Download@pop.Rock” rel=”nofollow”>……
Search rock US Charts…
October 17th, 2011 at 9:54 am (#)
warfarin zoloft…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
October 17th, 2011 at 11:33 am (#)
do cats carry ringworm…
Buy_generic meds…
October 17th, 2011 at 4:33 pm (#)
recent advances in cancer breast…
Buy_now…
October 19th, 2011 at 9:50 am (#)
soft food diet ideas…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
October 21st, 2011 at 5:23 am (#)
tuna during pregnancy…
Buy_generic meds…
October 24th, 2011 at 3:03 pm (#)
adult circumcisions and complications…
Buy_generic meds…
October 25th, 2011 at 6:05 am (#)
gestational surrogacy…
Buy_now…
October 25th, 2011 at 9:24 am (#)
combination food diet…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
October 25th, 2011 at 10:46 pm (#)
buying prescription drugs in mexico…
Buy_now it…
October 26th, 2011 at 10:23 am (#)
faye sick lung cancer…
Buy_drugs without prescription…
October 28th, 2011 at 3:41 pm (#)
blood pregnancy test jacksonville fl…
Buy_generic meds…
October 28th, 2011 at 9:38 pm (#)
swollen ankles headache pregnancy…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 1st, 2011 at 10:59 pm (#)
questions about ortho tri cyclen…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 5th, 2011 at 12:28 am (#)
canine medi cam rx…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 7th, 2011 at 10:28 pm (#)
social interaction anxiety…
Buy_without prescription…
November 8th, 2011 at 9:02 pm (#)
at home diet programs…
Buy_generic pills…
November 11th, 2011 at 7:02 pm (#)
how can i lower my cholesterol…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 12th, 2011 at 4:41 pm (#)
foods with triglycerides in them…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 13th, 2011 at 7:41 am (#)
advisory group on hepatitis uk…
Buy_no prescription…
November 15th, 2011 at 11:40 am (#)
flat warts and probiotics…
Buy_generic drugs…
November 16th, 2011 at 12:59 am (#)
medicare drugs covered…
Buy_generic meds…
November 16th, 2011 at 4:21 am (#)
state of arizona ontiveros drug…
Buy_now it…
November 16th, 2011 at 3:58 pm (#)
lexapro versus prozac differences…
Buy_without prescription…
November 16th, 2011 at 8:59 pm (#)
sample ncp for diabetes…
Buy_without prescription…
November 17th, 2011 at 3:40 am (#)
what year was advil introduced…
Buy_now it…
December 8th, 2011 at 9:49 am (#)
Download@pop.Rock” rel=”nofollow”>.…
Buy rock US Charts…
December 10th, 2011 at 1:22 am (#)
.…
Buydrugs without prescription…