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It seems scientists are finally looking at the fact that animals suffer from mental illnesses the same way humans do.

This is a long article, but it is very good. The important thing is the fact that they are acknowledging mental disorders in animals.

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150909-...ntally-ill

Those of us who live with animals have known about animal depression and animal PTSD all along. I am sure I have met a few psycho cats.

I have had dwarf hamsters die from grief when a mate is lost. Guinea pigs I have rescued from difficult situations have never totally gotten over their trauma. Flora was found in the park and she suffered from fears and anxiety. Murray made her feel secure. Losing her hit Murray hard and he just stared into space with a sad look in his eyes. Now that Murray has two new girls for company that terrible look in his eyes is gone. He stands tall and is like his old self again.
Caring for a pets mental health/emotional needs is as important as good food. Without that care the pet won't thrive.

Perhaps learning about animal mental health will give us a new perspective on mental health issues in general. We certainly haven't figured out humans yet.

It makes me wonder about insects and spiders.
Yes, animals of all species are complex Beings. They don't just eat, sleep, poop and breathe. They feel as well, have sensitivities, and are just as likely to suffer badly from traumatic events as we are. And yes, they do grieve, and they do that each to their own way, just as we do.

Yet even though I know that about them, I am always amazed by their capacity for forgiveness, and the readiness with which they will often start anew after even horrific events. They do not mooch about and feel self pity.

However, I disagree with Jane Goodall, about Flint. That was not 'depression', that was 'Grieving'. Each is fundamentally different and needs to be treated differently in all species including Human.
Quote:Yet even though I know that about them, I am always amazed by their capacity for forgiveness, and the readiness with which they will often start anew after even horrific events. They do not mooch about and feel self pity.

Animals do seem to have a better capacity for getting on with life. They grieve very deeply and then they carry on. Animals who suffer terrible injuries do the best they can to carry on with life. Maybe they forgive better than us because they had no mistaken idea that bad things never happen.
Dogs forgive people over and over again.

Animals do get depressed the way people get depressed. I don't know enough about Flint, but I do know we mistake grieving for depression.
At a certain point the grieving person is depressed as part of the normal response. You should feel depressed, there has been a loss and it can't be fixed. I think if you treat grief as depression it doesn't help.
In the old days there were rituals around grief that allowed for its expression. People now days do not know how to grieve. Maybe we will have to learn from animals.

We shall have to start treating military dogs for PTSD when they return. They certainly suffer as much as any other veteran. Animal "psychiatry" is a whole new area to think about. I do think we will learn to help ourselves when we learn to help animals.
PTSD in demobbed military dogs is a very important issue. We hear a lot about how dogs help former soldiers, but not enough I think, about the dogs' own rehabilitation. Many military dogs become unsuitable for adoption, and there are some sad stories. Even our own Prince William recommended some dogs be put to sleep once, so I hear. He was lambasted for it, but I can understand. Unless some rehab facilities are in place, those dogs can have a hard time adjusting to 'civvy street'.
I have a problem with putting the military dogs to sleep. If we can't fix them then we should stop using them in the military. I think we owe it to these four legged soldiers to mend them and give them happy lives. Maybe they will have to built a dog veterans home where they can be cared for.

If we allow them even once to put down a PTSD dog, then all the rest will die. In fact they will probably stop even bringing them home. They will shoot them on the spot and discard them like other broken equipment.

It is too convenient to get rid of a problem before anyone else knows there is a problem. Dead dogs in a foreign country don't get the same sympathy as a "wounded" soldier dog at home.
In my heart I definitely agree with you Catherine. There should be something in place to try to help these dogs. Without such facilities, then in some cases putting the dogs to sleep may have been the best option under the restrictive circumstances. But the point is, I feel, that there should be some rehabilitation for ex -military dogs.
Dogs are great survivors. And dogs learn quite quickly, with the right guidance.

Have you ever seen the film "Max"? I saw it the other day, and really enjoyed it. It's about an ex-army dog. No-one thinks the dog will ever be 'normal' and recover, but they had forgotten about love and loyalty.
I shall try to find the link to the movie (Unfortunately the version with Korean subtitles, and slightly distorted soundtrack, for copyright reasons -but still very watchable.)

Here's the trailer -for now (while I search back for the full movie.)
https://youtu.be/6EPPMCwD5bw

Okay I found the full movie with the Korean subtitles and slightly distorted voices. But you can still hear what they say:

https://youtu.be/Ie33YHy6ajw
I will have to watch the movie tomorrow. I don't even dare look at the trailer tonight because I will want to watch the movie. I think I have heard of Max.

I am sure PTSD soldier dogs can be helped. If they need special homes then they should be provided with special homes. We owe them that much.
Smiley19 That was beautiful. Smiley19

Love transforms and heals any wound. I believe even more strongly that we owe service dogs, military and other, the best care possible. A damaged dog deserves even more than what is possible. Those dogs deserve miracles.

I think they can be helped with love and patience. PTSD soldiers can be helped, so why not the soldier dogs.

It is a form of mental illness that wasn't even recognized until recently. It would take work, but the dogs can be helped.
My dog was abused before I got her. She was so scared of everything and everyone but after being with me for the past 3 years she is completely at ease and loves people again.
Quote:My dog was abused before I got her. She was so scared of everything and everyone but after being with me for the past 3 years she is completely at ease and loves people again.

You are proof that damaged dogs can be helped. I think enough love and care can heal any wounds. It just takes time and motivation. The military would rather get rid of the problem so they can say "What Problem". If they made public how many dogs were damaged by the military experience maybe the public would protest and demand that they stop using dogs.
They have enough trouble with the fact of how many human soldiers are damaged. My father was sent home in good health in 1945-6 and lived until 1999. He was emotionally damaged all those years and nothing was ever done to help him.

Getting help for dogs is not going to be easy. Giving help admits that help is needed.