Is It Just Stress or Already a Mental Disorder?

In dogs, just like in humans, mental disorders can occur: schizophrenia, neuroses, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more.

Therefore, from the very beginning, it's necessary to distinguish behavioral defects from mental disorders. If you can't handle this by yourself, based on your observations of your pet, an experienced veterinarian can help you.

Behavioral defects usually arise from:

  • Disorders of the functions of one of the sensory organs;
  • Reactions to inappropriate/improper care or the surrounding environment - inadequate behavior can simply be a reaction to stress;
  • Development from incorrect behavioral reactions (a consequence of improper upbringing), which requires increased control.

Mental disorders are innate or acquired changes in behavior resulting from disrupted metabolism in the brain or organic damage to the spinal cord. Mental illnesses can also be partially inherited, so it's never a bad idea to familiarize yourself with a puppy's pedigree when buying one.

The most severe form of mental illness is considered idiocy. It manifests as uncontrollable behavior in a dog, complete untrainability, and spatial orientation disorders.

If you've determined that your pet is just stressed, there's no need to worry - it's a temporary phenomenon and you can try to help them out of this state on your own. When the dog calms down, its psyche can return to its normal state.

But unfortunately, there are cases where a dog's behavior is genuinely concerning and signals a mental illness. And if these worrying symptoms persist for a significant amount of time, there's every reason to take your pet to the veterinarian.

What kinds of mental disorders can dogs have?

Our pets, like us, regularly experience stress, and their nervous system reacts to irritating factors in its way. The most common ones include:

  • Increased anxiety. In this case, the pet anticipates danger and seems to expect trouble in the future (constantly looks around, is overly vigilant, and anxious). The dog's muscles are tense, its autonomic nervous system is agitated, and its motor activity is heightened. If the animal's condition is not addressed, its psychological suffering can manifest physically - it may lose its fur, and its skin may become flaky.
  • Hyperactivity is often characteristic of young males. The dog cannot fully relax, its body temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate increase. It has difficulty transitioning from one activity to another, concentrating its attention, and is not persistent in demonstrating cognitive abilities. The pet is too active, poorly responsive to attempts to calm it, and its motor activity is restless and chaotic. An example of hyperactivity: animals running tirelessly both outdoors and at home until they collapse in a state of exhaustion.
  • Attention deficit syndrome prevents dogs from effectively and quickly learning even simple commands, let alone obedience training.
  • Phobias are intense, rapidly developing fear reactions that do not diminish with gradual adaptation (unlike regular fears). Abnormal fear reactions occur suddenly and intensely, often accompanied by real panic. Phobias are characterized by rapid development, and each attack resembles the previous one. After the first (initial attack) of a phobia, the dog starts to fear all circumstances resembling the trigger. The animal makes every effort to avoid situations reminiscent of the moment when the phobia first appeared. If avoidance fails, it suffers greatly: seeks to hide, shivers, salivates, breathes rapidly, pupils dilate, and sometimes uncontrolled defecation or urination occurs.
  • After the loss of a beloved owner, dogs can develop depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), causing the dog to lose all interest in its surroundings and fall into deep sadness. By the way, service dogs, like soldiers who have experienced war, are also prone to developing PTSD during their service.
  • Psychosis. A dog experiences uncontrollable rage towards people, other animals, and/or objects. It suffers from hallucinations, growls, and barks for no apparent reason, does not respond to its owner, refuses to eat, reacts strangely to familiar situations, and suddenly undergoes a radical change in behavior, becoming aggressive, and more.
  • The veterinarian can diagnose even more serious conditions. More often than not, it's obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), where the dog has an irresistible urge to perform the same, often meaningless, actions, which can lead to self-harm (for example, constantly licking its limbs, biting its tail, and so on).
  • In the case of schizophrenia, the pet suffers from hallucinations and disorientation in space. In the most severe cases, the dog is given narcotics to alleviate its condition and control its unpredictable and aggressive behavior.

Among all these mentioned diseases, it's worth noting that some can be hereditary: schizophrenia, attention deficit syndrome, psychoses, obsessive-compulsive and bipolar disorders. Mental deviations (such as psychoses) can also occur due to brain defects (after a stroke, recurring epilepsy, inflammation, and tumors in the brain).

The intricacies of the psyche, or why there are difficulties in diagnosing

The most significant challenge facing veterinarians is making the correct diagnosis for a furry companion.

 

The First Challenge: Silent Suffering

The first challenge is that the animal cannot express itself. The vet will need your assistance: a very detailed account of the symptoms. What troubles the dog? How long has it been behaving strangely/inappropriately? How does this behavior manifest? What irritants provoke aggression or worsen its condition? Answering these and many other questions will be easier if you've been attentive to your pet and have stored all the important details in your memory. Dogs cannot explain or show where it hurts, so you must carefully observe your animal.

The Second Challenge: Symptom Similarity

The symptoms associated with mental disorders in dogs closely resemble signs of other illnesses. For instance, increased anxiety, strange and compulsive behavior can indicate parasitic infestations, allergic reactions, or disruptions in metabolic processes in the body.

When Should You Be Concerned?

The American Association of Animal Hospitals highlights the following signs of stress in dogs:

  • Apathy, avoidance of social interaction, and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities;
  • Loss of appetite or digestive problems (diarrhea, flatulence, vomiting);
  • Avoidance of contact or constant demand for attention and affection;
  • Increased sleep duration and heightened drowsiness;
  • Whining or barking for no apparent reason;
  • Involuntary urination and defecation or refusing to do their business in designated areas;
  • Destructive behavior (damaging furniture, shoes, etc.);
  • Self-destructive behavior (excessive licking to the point of injury, chewing on their fur and skin, biting their tail, scratching themselves, etc.);
  • Obsessive behavior: running in circles or back and forth, chasing shadows or imaginary objects, digging holes, and performing these actions for an extended period to the point of exhaustion;
  • Repetitive, unusual actions: chasing their tail, licking their lips, and more;
  • Antisocial behavior, including aggression towards other animals/humans;
  • Trembling, increased salivation, and overly tense muscles.

The aforementioned points indicate that the animal is experiencing stress and mental tension.

Here's how a dog might behave if its brain is affected or its peripheral nervous system is seriously compromised. If you notice the following symptoms, you should urgently consult a veterinarian:

  • Inability to stand, falling over;
  • Repetitive, involuntary movements - occasionally performing arbitrary movements in circles and being unable to stop;
  • Loss of consciousness;
  • Assuming forced and unnatural body positions (e.g., tilting its head to the side, etc.);
  • Stumbling, staggering, imprecise and extravagant movements (e.g., not being able to reach a water bowl to drink);
  • Deafness, not responding to the owner's voice, poor vision, loss of smell.

Possible Causes of Mental Disorders

The most common causes include:

  • Prolonged exposure to stress;
  • Long-term confinement on a leash or in a confined space;
  • Prolonged absence of the owner;
  • Inconsistent prohibitions and punishments by the owner, causing the dog to experience mixed emotions and a long-lasting lack of understanding regarding its behavior. Such "training" can shake the dog's psyche, especially if it is attached to its owner and craves their approval and attention;
  • Aggression/physical violence from humans or other animals;
  • Unfamiliar circumstances, changing living environments, traumatic encounters with strangers or other animals;
  • Hereditary predisposition, including congenital mental disorders.

 

Breeds Most Prone to Mental Disorders:

Dogs are more susceptible to mental disorders when:

  • They are left alone at home without attention and interaction with the owner and other family members.
  • Certain dog breeds are more prone to psychological problems than others, including German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Border Collies, and all working breeds in general. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (specifically, excessive licking of certain body parts) is most common in breeds like Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, and Labradors. Bull Terriers are prone to constant spinning in place, which is also a sign of poor stress tolerance in specific individuals.

Can You Help Your Pet?

If you've noticed a change in your pet's behavior, it's essential to consult a veterinarian urgently! It may be possible to prevent a life-threatening situation.

What are the dangers of neglecting your beloved pet and not providing assistance? For example, with OCD in dogs, due to the repetition of compulsive actions, the pet risks complete exhaustion, refusing to drink water, licking its paws to the point of injury, losing weight, and more. Biting its own tail can lead to baldness or injuries. Excessive licking of the skin can result in granulomas or acral dermatitis.

If it turns out that your pet has a mental disorder, you should be aware that fully curing this condition is almost impossible. However, it is possible to reduce the frequency of disease manifestations. For instance, the dog may lick its skin and fur less frequently. Some forms of mental illness may persist throughout the animal's life. The dog owner will need to support their pet, help it cope, and occasionally visit a veterinarian for treatment adjustments. Most importantly, patience and understanding are required because the pet's behavior is not as you might wish, and it's not under its control – it's a manifestation of its mental disorder.

If you've determined that your pet is merely reacting intensely to stress, you can help it yourself:

  • Include appropriate dietary supplements in its daily diet to relieve tension.
  • Purchase special feeds that already contain ingredients minimizing the impact of stress on the body.
  • Administer medications and antidepressants prescribed by a veterinarian.
  • Regularly exercise your pet, engage in active games. Distract the dog with intellectual toys.
  • If crowds of people or loud noises frighten your dog, do not force it into such situations. Instead, give your pet a break from these frightening factors, at least for a while.
  • Be there for your dog. For every pet, extended periods of solitude without the owner's presence can be highly stressful. Create a cozy, safe corner for your dog, a place it has chosen itself, and put something that smells like you there.
  • Your dog should clearly understand what behavior you expect from it. Undesirable behavior should not be encouraged but gently corrected, and good behavior should be rewarded with treats. Rules should be established and followed: what is allowed and what is not.