Traumatized Dogs: The Science Behind PTSD in Dogs
Although PTSD is usually associated with humans, there is a parallel occurrence in our four-legged friends. Beneath their happy tail wagging and playful behavior is a hidden world of emotional challenges that mirror our own. Join us as we explore groundbreaking research that reveals this shared emotional world between humans and dogs. From understanding the stressful effects of traumatic experiences on dogs to uncovering diagnostic tools for PTSD. 57 Swedish cases participated in a study by me, Caroline Alupo (ethologist and canine psychologist), which showed alarming results regarding dog owners' attitudes towards the aggressive outbursts of anxiety disorder. Dogs traumatized by mistreatment were punished as a trusted measure. A perpetual equation between cause and effect, as violence tends to breed violence.
How trauma affects a dog's self-healing ability
Post-traumatic stress disorder in dogs is a subject in dire need of scientific attention. Therefore, I decided to dedicate my master's thesis study to the topic I've been working on as a dog psychologist for over eighteen years. Several thousand dog clients with fear and aggression issues have passed through my door; a significant number of them have been challenging to treat using traditional methods. They stood out, not conforming to the "usual" cases. I've needed to reconsider, broaden my horizons, create, and seek new treatment methods, as the self-healing engine of these dogs couldn't be ignited; it seemed broken.
Common factors in PTSD dogs
These dogs had something in common – they had all experienced a traumatic event. A severe dog attack, a chaotic New Year's Eve, car accidents, abuse, or neglect. Afterward, dog parents had noticed severe symptoms that worsened over time, were unresponsive to training, and the dogs lacked the ability to process the event and thus heal.
Prevention of PTSD in dogs
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences was quick to embrace the idea, supporting my choice of subject. It was important for me to put something down in writing and under scientific scrutiny because, through my work, I've seen how undiagnosed and consequently mistreated PTSD dogs suffer. I believe that PTSD in dogs can be prevented through an increased understanding of their emotional lives.Read more about this in the article Dogs' emotional lives - not unlike ours.
Protect your dog and seek quick help if needed
When you understand how a single event can cause so much destruction, you become cautious. You protect without overprotecting. You don't allow neighbors to demonstrate how a dog should be put in its place; you object to dog groomers correcting dogs with pinches and pressure; you are cautious about playing with unfamiliar dogs that aren't friendly; you are careful with the patio door on New Year's Eve; you repel approaching dogs with a combative gaze, and you don't let dogs settle disputes at someone else's expense. If something happens nevertheless, you quickly seek appropriate help, significantly improving the prognosis for the dogs.
Parallels between human and canine PTSD
PTSD is well-known in humans, and studies show that other animals can develop the syndrome after experiencing a psychologically distressing event. In this study, the diagnostic tool for humans was translated to dogs. Current research reveals how the human and canine emotional centers (the limbic system) function similarly. Thus, we can draw parallels regarding psychological functions between us and dogs. It's not as far-fetched as one might initially think. And indeed, the diagnostic tool created worked exceptionally well for dogs.
Research on PTSD in dogs
The aim of the study was to test the diagnostic tool, as well as to understand how PTSD manifests in dogs (both physically and psychologically) and what type of events typically traumatize dogs. We investigated dog parent's approaches to the problems that arose and their experiences with training methods. More on this can be read in the article How to deal with your fearful dog - food for thought on bribing, cajoling or supporting. It's challenging to comprehensively and standardizedly examine something as complex as dogs' psychological distress and its consequences. As with all research that delves into a new and relatively unexplored subject, this is hopefully the starting point for several studies that ensure answers and further explore the topic.
Survey study: 57 dogs with PTSD symptoms
The survey was completed by 78 dog owners whose dogs had experienced something traumatic. 57 out of the 78 respondents were considered to have dogs with PTSD. This determination was only possible after analyzing multiple diagnostic questions, as not everyone who experiences something traumatic develops PTSD; some (30%) naturally recover after the shock subsides.
Symptoms of PTSD in dogs
The 57 case descriptions provided a comprehensive picture of how PTSD manifests in dogs. Once again, the symptoms were similar to those in humans: high sensitivity to stress, reaction to triggers, avoidance and fears, uncertainty, sadness and depression, self-destructive behaviors, anxiety-driven actions, vigilance, reactivity, and aggression – the list can go on. The results also indicated that dogs could experience sleep disturbances (nightmares, difficulty falling asleep, shallow sleep, frequent awakenings) and gastrointestinal issues (ulcers, diarrhea, IBS) after experiencing trauma, similar to the physical symptoms that people with the diagnosis contend with.
Common causes of trauma in dogs
Recurring events that traumatized dogs in the study included harsh handling and dominance-based dog care/training, abuse, or neglect. Humans were a common denominator in many scenarios. Unfortunately, it was common for professionals in the dog industry, such as groomers, veterinarians, and dog trainers, to be responsible. Dog attacks were also a recurring cause, both from stray dogs and within a pack of dogs. Accidents and experiences with fireworks were another frequent cause. More on managing fear of fireworks can be found in Fireworks fear in dogs - emergency and long-term solutions.
Harmful methods to control aggression
Regarding training, dog parents found tattling-training and BAT (behavioral adjustment training) effective – not as a complete solution for PTSD in dogs, but rather for aggression issues stemming from trauma. Methods like punishment, correction, and to some extent, overexposure, were considered ineffective at best and detrimental at worst. The results might seem logical when considering the difference in methodology. The former training philosophies shift the dog's feelings and reinforce signs of relaxation around a trigger, whereas opposing methods aim to suppress an outlet for frustration. An alarming finding was however that dog parents often used punishment such as jerking, hitting, kicking, leash hanging, alpha rolls, and other dominance-related actions to control outward aggression, like leash pulling. But, since these dogs had been traumatized by similar experiences, retraumatization and worsening effects occurred. A vicious cycle was created, increasing suffering and worsening the prognosis.
Ethical practices for handling dogs
The study reinforces that harsh and confrontational methods should be generally avoided and absolutely avoided when dealing with dogs exhibiting behavioral issues. Aggression cannot be resolved with more anger; in most cases, the dog becomes more reactive or introverted and withdrawn, and the suffering remains unchanged. It might be understandable that as a dog parent, out of sheer frustration, you'd want to silence and suppress aggressive behavior, sometimes using any means necessary. I hope this study can inspire dog parents and professionals in the dog industry to gain more knowledge about dogs' emotional lives and adopt appropriate, ethical, and modern ways of handling dogs in general, particularly aggressive and fearful dogs. Understanding why dogs behave as they do is essential before attempting to address behaviors that bother us. Ultimately, our approach is a matter of ethics and animal welfare.
The need for diagnostic tools and rehabilitation
I recognize the need among dog psychologists for a concrete diagnostic tool for PTSD and holistic, causally oriented rehabilitation measures for these dogs. Therefore, I now travel extensively to lecture on the subject, so that PTSD dogs can receive the rehabilitation they so desperately need. No one should have to carry a painful burden from the past if something can be done about it.
How to diagnose PTSD in your dog
One can personally assess their dog's well-being and identify the syndrome. However, it's crucial to seek help from a properly trained dog psychologist if you suspect your dog is suffering from PTSD. Only then can you receive assistance in confirming the diagnosis and providing appropriate treatment.
Events that can lead to PTSD in dogs
The diagnosis hinges on the "stressor," the traumatic event that caused the dog to exhibit symptoms. The event needs to be psychologically distressing and perceived as life-threatening by the dog, likely resulting in an extreme stress response in most dogs. If elements of unpredictability and uncontrollability are present, the ensuing symptoms are expected to be worse.
The role of time in the diagnosis of PTSD
Afterwards, the time perspective between the event and the development of symptoms is examined. The dog needs to have displayed symptoms in relation to the event (within the last 6 months), and the symptoms must have persisted for at least 1 month and ideally over 6 months for a complete diagnosis. This ensures that the symptoms are enduring. Dogs that self-heal, improve over time, do not have PTSD.
Four symptom criteria to identify PTSD
Only if the event is deemed capable of traumatizing the dog do we examine the symptom profile. Four categories with symptom criteria are of importance:
- Persistent memories and re-experiencing. Memories cannot be proven in dogs at present. However, we can observe signs of re-experiencing in the form of reactions to triggers. For instance, a dog that has been in a car accident might react with fear to visual and olfactory cues or sounds associated with cars. Therefore, trigger reactions are an important symptom of PTSD in dogs. Nightmares can also suggest re-experiencing, if they occur after the traumatic event. However, we cannot prove that these nightmares contain visual memories of the event.
- Avoidance of triggers reminding of the traumatic event is an important symptom. In the example above, the dog might react by showing avoidance behavior and wanting to escape in the presence of cars, anticipating a car ride or perceiving a demand to ride in a car. More offensive reactions like lunging, biting, growling at cars might also occur.
- A negative change in mood can be seen as persistent fear, anxiety, insecurity, or anger. A lack of interest in engaging in activities that the dog previously enjoyed, such as training, exercise, walks, or playing with other dogs, can be a symptom. The dog might also start avoiding dogs and/or people with whom it previously had a positive relationship. Behaviors indicating joy may be displayed less often, and over time, the dog's state might resemble depression.
- A heightened alertness and arousal after the traumatic event is an important symptom. For example, sleep difficulties, irritability, aggression, concentration problems, heightened reactivity, and/or seemingly unprovoked startle reactions. The dog might start lunging on the leash, snapping at the dog parent, avoiding handling, guarding more, pacing, and reacting "excessively" in situations that we don't perceive as threatening but that, from their perspective, hold potential danger around every corner. However, decreased vigilance can also result from PTSD in dogs, which is more common in passive stress handlers that become more withdrawn, introverted, and subdued. Some dog owners also experience their dogs oscillating more between these two opposing states. Do you suspect your dog suffers from PTSD? Don't hesitate – seek help to assist your dog in achieving harmony.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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