Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Dogs
Treatments for dogs with PTSD can be a combination of behavioral and medical treatments. The most commonly prescribed medication given to dogs that are exhibiting behavior consistent with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is Alprazolam, a benzodiazepine sedative more commonly known as Xanax. Other sedative drugs that may be considered include Diazepam (Valium), Sertraline (Zoloft), or even Fluoxetine (Prozac). Most humans use talk therapy in one form or another in order to work through the stress of the traumatic incident. Unfortunately, this isn’t an option for our canine companions. Instead, we focus on retraining techniques that help the dog feel that the world is a safe place again. These methods could include: Keeping a stricter routine so the dog knows what to expect, exercise and play therapies, and dog pheromone collars and infusers.
Exercise and play therapy sessions should be vigorous, but the dog should be relaxed and enjoying the playtime. These sessions are intended to increase the levels of dopamine, improving your dog’s mood in a safe and efficient manner. If your dog is exhibiting aggression instead of play, the chemicals that are being released are more likely to be stress hormones, inflating the problem rather than reducing it. Any sign of tension or fear should end the session for the time being until the dog is able to relax again.
Worried about the cost of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Dogs
PTSD symptoms in humans are primarily cerebral by nature, signs like reoccurring thoughts, re-experiencing the event, and a distorted sense of self. As dogs are unable to explain to us what they are thinking or experiencing, we have to try and speculate these things from their behaviors. Behaviors that can indicate C-PTSD include:
Severe stress reactions in dogs can include:
Types
Acute post traumatic stress disorder is the most common form of PTSD seen in dogs. Acute reactions begin occurring directly after the traumatizing incident or incidents and generally subside within three months.
Dogs with chronic post traumatic stress disorder also start showing symptoms within a relatively short time after the trauma, however, the symptoms remain persistent or easily triggered for longer than three months.
Delayed onset post traumatic stress disorder is PTSD that occurs more than six months after the inciting event. This is sometimes a worsening of symptoms that were initially very mild, or it may refer to symptoms that appear after a long delay.
Things That May Cause PTSD-Like Symptoms in Dogs:
Dogs can be thrown into a state of extreme stress over a variety of different experiences. Common causes may include weather – including natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes, car accidents, household accidents, and physical or emotional trauma during interactions with people or other animals.
“I’ve seen severe fear reactions that have developed from things such as a dog being attacked by another dog or from being startled by a person appearing suddenly from around a corner. I’ve also worked with dogs that have been exposed to confrontational training methods that consequently react fearfully or aggressively when someone reaches for their collar or goes to put on their leash. Their reaction is excessive for the situation at hand in a way that suggests they are responding more to the previous trauma than the current interaction,” says Pachel.