Monday, March 25, 2024

How To Help My Dog With Ptsd

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Come Up With A Daily Routine

How My Service Dog Helps with Complex PTSD

A routine is good for all dogs, not just those suffering from PTSD. It helps them get organized and know what to expect at each moment of the day.

Your dogs routine should include daily walks, mealtimes, playtime, and other activities. Make sure that your dog takes part in activities at the same hour each day. This way, shell know what to expect and when to expect it.

When you remove the element of surprise and help your dog predict what will happen next, it can work to keep her calm. This way, she wont get scared because shes used to the activity.

Causes Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder In Dogs

  • Abuse – Severe or chronic abuse can lead to cases of PTSD
  • Accident – Accidents such as car accidents or hunting accidents may also trigger PTSD responses in canines
  • Attack – Attacks by other animals can trigger PTSD to develop.
  • Natural disasters – Natural disasters often leave many dogs stranded and separated from their human family members.
  • Military or police careers – Dogs that are returning from military or police service, sniffing out bombs and tracking down criminals, may develop PTSD humans in these career fields may also develop PTSD

How To Get A Service Dog For Ptsd

One of the reasons is because they can be trained to do a number of tasks efficiently to help those with disabilities and mental health problems.

PTSD is one of the mental health areas where dogs thrive. In fact, they can help so well that a person can live an almost normal life, even if they are blind or are suffering from crippling anxiety.

There have been many studies to prove how helpful a dog can be when it comes to mental health. This is because they can provide a companionship that a lot of other animals cannot offer.

PTSD is something that veterans commonly suffer with, and sometimes they even have hearing or vision loss.

Having a service dog can provide comfort and reassurance, as well as the help they might need every single day.

If you are looking to have a service dog, or you think it could benefit a loved one, read on to find out how you can register your interest.

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Common Joint Issues That Limit A Dog’s Mobility

Dog joints work very much like human joints do, with assemblies of bone and cartilagearticulated by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This similarity means that dogs can suffer fromarthritis just as their owners can. In the mostcommon form of degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis, the cartilage between bone ends wearsout and grows brittle, producing painful friction and inflammation within the joint.Osteoarthritis often develops with age, and obesity can worsen joint pain.Large breeds such as German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Great Danes, face elevated risksfor an inherited condition called hip dysplasia. Poor alignment between the bone and socket ofthe hip joint allows for too much play within the joint, leading to painful deterioration. Inaddition to the general signs of pain and stiffness you’d see from arthritis, your dog maydisplay symptoms such as reduced thigh muscle mass and an odd bunny-hop gait.

Helping People And Animals

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Even in our darkest moments, we can find strength with the help of a canine companion. But its not just us humans who benefit. Programs are helping both people and animals by training shelter dogs to become emotional therapy pets, with some even using inmate programs to help train the dogs. You can help these amazing programs succeed by donating to a therapy dog organization or volunteering your time to help foster a dog in training.

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How To Heal An Emotionally Traumatized Pet

People whove lived through traumatic events may experience symptoms consistent with depression and anxiety years later. Thankfully, treatments are available to help them heal.

But what exists for companion animals whove been traumatized? Cats and dogs are sentient beings, after all, and can be impacted by bad domestic situations, abusive environments, and neglect.

Research on emotional trauma in companion animals is lacking, in large part because of the language barrier. The animal cant tell us what happened to him earlier in life, and whether his fears now come from a traumatic experience or something else, says Dr. Frank McMillan, a research veterinarian and director of well-being studies at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah.

Help is available, however. Veterinarians and behavior experts are effectively treating animals who suffer from trauma-driven fear and anxiety.

Group Differences In Physiological Stress Measurements

Blood Pressure

To examine group differences in BP reaction we calculated a MANOVA with time and group as independent variables, and diastolic, and systolic BP as dependent variables . There was a significant effect of time and a significant time × group interaction . Contrary to our expectations, both control groups showed a stronger and continued diastolic and systolic BP decrease than the dog group. We calculated diastolic and systolic BP changes as the difference between BP during the film and after the dog intervention. While both control groups did not differ significantly, the dog group showed a significantly smaller BP decrease .

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What Are The Symptoms Of Ptsd In Dogs

It can be difficult to differentiate between PTSD and other anxiety disorders in dogs. For example, going to the bathroom in the house, barking or whining, and destructive behavior can all point at either PTSD or separation anxiety. A dog with PTSD may also display the below signs of stress:

  • Clinging to owner or caretaker in fear
  • Hyper awareness of surroundings and environment
  • Working dogs with PTSD will often shut down and refuse to work

How Long Does It Take For A Dog To Get Over A Trauma

How to Train a PTSD Anxiety Alert for Service Dogs or Interrupt Self Harm Behaviors

Many different factors determine how long it takes for a dog to recover from trauma. The process of decompression for a dog can take up to several weeks or even months. The best thing to do is to keep the dog happy, try your best to approach it calmly, kindly, withsoothing voices and a nurturing demeanor.

As we said, it will take time until your dog feels like they are ready to trust again, but with patience, you will get there. The right support is a primary part of your dogs recovery process.

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Is There Evidence That Ptsd Service Dogs Are Effective

Researchers have gained much scientific understanding from a 2018 study out of Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, co-funded by Research Institute and Bayer Animal Health, a manufacturer of veterinary medicine and products. The research aimed to explore the effectiveness of using service dogs as a complementary treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in members of the military and veterans. Dr. Maggie O’Haire, assistant professor of human-animal interaction at Purdue’s veterinary college, led the study with some assistance from K9s for Warriors, a nonprofit organization that trains and provides PTSD dogs for military veterans. The research studys findings describe the benefits of a trained service dog in this emerging practice of using emotional support dogs for reducing PTSD symptom severity. Results of the study were published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

Lower overall symptoms of posttraumatic stress including calming anxiety

Lower degrees of depression

Higher degrees of life satisfaction

Higher overall psychological wellbeing

Lower degrees of social isolation and greater ability to participate in social activities

Higher degrees of resilience

Higher degrees of companionship

Less absenteeism from work because of health issues among those who were employed

Are These Types Of Serviced Dogs Protected Under Ada Law

Yes, both Psychiatrics Service dogs and Emotional Support dogs who are certified by appropriate agencies are protected under ADA. However, the dogs are only covered if the owner/patient has been evaluated by a medical professional and deemed in need of a dog for their daily functioning or long-term recovery.

Emotional Support Dogs are not trained to perform a particular service , but can be vital to those suffering from social anxiety, for example.

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Research Shows How Service Dogs Can Help Veterans With Ptsd

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. For veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, service dogs might be able to offer both behavioral and physiological benefits to help counter some of those symptoms, according to research that is being led by the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine.

Maggie OHaire, assistant professor of human-animal interaction in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is at the forefront of the research that is taking a closer look at how service dogs help veterans with PTSD. The latest findings have indicated that veterans may benefit physiologically from having a service dog the first published research to use a physiological marker to show the effects of service dogs.

I think a lot of veterans are struggling and they are looking for treatment options anywhere they can find them, OHaire says. There is a lot of hope around this practice and veterans deserve to know if it works.

A preliminary study that took place in 2015-16 showed that overall symptoms of PTSD were lower among war veterans with service dogs. The pilot study was co-funded by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute and Bayer Animal Health. The study examined 141 veterans with 76 of them having a service dog and 66 being on a waiting list for a dog.

Another phase of that study funded by Merrick Pet Care and Newmans Own Foundation examined the dogs themselves and how they are incorporated into the treatment of veterans. That data is currently being analyzed.

Symptoms Of Ptsd In Dogs

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In humans, PTSD manifests through a series of thoughts, memories or dreams. This is because the problem is one that manifests at a cerebral level. The same happens in dogs only our companions cannot explain whats happening to them.

A dog suffering from PTSD-like symptoms will show changes in her behavior. Usually, these changes are of a negative nature, as theyre fueled by stress and discomfort. PTSD can even lead to aggressiveness triggered by fear and stress.

A dog suffering from PTSD may become less trustful when around new people. She might become shy, preferring to hide instead of seeking human company. Such a dog may also be vigilant in an excessive manner. Any changes in her surroundings might make her raise her guard.

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Signs That Your Dog May Be Going Through Something That Requires Treatment:

Its inevitable that your dog will encounter the occasional stressful situation that may inflict some temporary anxiety, but at what point do you need to seek out treatment for your pet? There are two things that Pachel looks for that suggest that a patient might need professional treatment:

1) The extremeness or the severity of the reaction. I once worked with a three dog household where all three dogs were exposed to the same situation but one dog in particular responded significantly more emotionally than the other two. Pachel cites that example as a situation where the nature of the animals response may indicate a need for more immediate intervention: This dog is not responding in the way that these other dogs are, so maybe were going to need to take a more involved approach.

What Are Traumatic Experiences For Dogs

Just like people, different experiences affect dogs differently. Some dogs are highly affected by a thunderstorm while others will sleep right through it. Here are some experiences that can have a profound effect on your dog.

  • Changes in the weather, like a thunderstorm, flood or hurricane.
  • Accidents around the house, car crashes and emotional trauma are others.
  • Bad interactions with other people or animals can turn a normal dog into a stressed-out dog.
  • The loss of her family or caretaker through death or abandonment.
  • Military combat .
  • Physical and emotional abuse.
  • Abandoned by her family in the wilderness.

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What Ptsd Service Dogs Are Trained To Do

Dogs can be trained as service dogs or provide emotional support as therapy dogs. The main difference between these two breeds of dogs are the kind of assistance they provide to their owners, and what kind of rights theyll have in public. According to the ADA, a service dog is one that has been trained to help someone with an emotional or physical disability that impacts one or more major life activities. If you have been diagnosed with PTSD, you and your certifiably trained service dog may be protected under this act. Emotionally supportive therapy dogs, although life-changing companions, are usually not protected by the ADA, because they havent been formally trained to assist in aiding you in your daily tasks, such as taking medication or overcoming anxiety issues. Whatever education your dog receives, there are several important functions she will perform to help ensure your wellbeing.

Service dogs must have a primary focus on their owner. Although the bond between dog and human is strong and loving, the dog is still on the clock full-time to be alert to cues that indicate her owner is in danger. Even in a social setting where there may be a lot of distractions, the dog must be able to drop everything should her owner suddenly find himself in the midst of a panic attack.

Teaching Your Dog Good Manners

Watch how a dog helped one veteran conquer his PTSD
  • 1Use clicker training. Clicker training is a great tool to teach your dog all of the skills it needs. To get started, sit across from your dog and wait until it meets your eyes. Then click your clicker and give it a treat. Click and offer a treat a few more times until your dog begins to look for the treat when it hears a click.XTrustworthy SourceBest Friends Animal SocietyNonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving animal lives by operating and supporting no-kill animal sheltersGo to source
  • Test your dog by asking it to do something simple it already knows how to do, such take its favorite toy from you. Then click and give it a treat. If it succeeds, you’re ready to use your clicker for training tasks.
  • 2Teach obedience skills. Your dog must learn basic obedience commands, which include sit, stay, come, down, and heel. It should also know a command to return a dropped leash, such as “leash.” Not only will this make your dog easier to train, but its also required for your dog to be used in public as a service dog.XResearch source
  • To teach each skill, hold a treat over the dogs nose, then give the command. When it correctly performs the command, click and give the dog the treat. You should also praise the dog.
  • Its best to teach your dog both verbal and hand commands to make it easy to signal it in public.
  • As an alternative, you can send your dog to obedience school.
  • The dog should not bark, bite, nip, lunge, or growl at people or other animals.
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    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:

    • Avoiding familiar areas
    • Out of proportion aggressive behaviors
    • Shaking or trembling

    Severe stress reactions in dogs can include:

    • Tail down or between legs
    • Rapid breathing

    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.

    What Is Ptsd In Dogs

    PTSD occurs in people whove experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. It can be a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war or combat. They could deal with threats of death, sexual violence or serious injury. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder as theres often no physical injury. It can involve vivid flashbacks, nightmares and intense distress when reminded of the trauma.

    Dogs go through traumatic experiences even though their means of recall is different from humans. And their way of expressing it is different. But the trauma and fear is real.

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    Tips For Traumatized Dogs

    In recent weeks, weve discussed fearful and brittle dogs. Some dogs can have the best start in life and still grow up with behavioral concerns. Other dogs missed out on critical socialization experiences as puppies, which impacted their development. But what about dogs who have had it even worse? How does trauma impact dogs?

    Some of the dogs we take into our homes dont just come from neglectful pasts but have lived with outright abuse. Sometimes this abuse has been due to mistreatment at the hands of a past owner, and sometimes it has happened in the current home despite to the owners very best intentions. Trauma has a lifelong impact on many dogs.

    Training is still an unregulated field, which means that there are still many so-called trainers who use aversive training techniques to address behavioral problems. Theres a reason why the AVSAB, the organization for the premier experts in animal behavior, has a position statement regarding the use of punishment in training. Manufacturing fear or avoidance in an already panicked animal does not create an environment where critical learning can take place. Ive heard of trainers shocking dogs who suffer from separation anxiety for barking in their crates, hanging dog-aggressive dogs by their neck when they lunged at others, and strapping electronic collars to dogs genitals in the name of behavior modification.

    If your dog has a history of trauma, whether suspected or confirmed, here are some guidelines to remember.

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