DO animals suffer from mental illness like humans?

Question

I hope this doesnt sound weird. Do animals suffer from similar illnesses like humans do? I mean have you ever heard of a dog or cat with Down syndrome?
An elephant with Tourettes?
Hows about a schizophrenic Iguana?

Just cos they dont speak in our language, does that mean they all have normal IQ's like us so to speak?

Answer 1

Dont know about all illnesses but animals do suffer mental health problems, have you ever seen film of animals that are locked up in a small cage, they begin to do repetitive movements like pacing up and down all the time or chewing on the bars, bears seem to suffer most from the films a have seen. Some of the "dancing bears" from turkey and India are driven mad by thier owners.

Answer 2

Any creature with a mind can have a mental illness. Of course it would not be the same as a human, because the mind would be different, and the normal behaviour would be different.
An elephant could not have Tourettes syndrome for example, (this is not a mental illness, anyway,its a neurological disorder). Many old male elephants however do become antisocial loners.
It would be very hard for us to diagnose a schizophrenic Iguana, as we diagnose this through communication with the patient, and it is his description of what and how he feels that determine it. An Iguana would not be capable of telling us how he felt.
Down Syndrome is not a mental illness, either, it is a genetic condition, which has very variable physical and mental effects.I think that it must be restricted to human beings, though no doubt other animals have their own genetic problems.
When it comes to animals, we are more interested in behaviour. Unless the cause is a physical one like a tumour, we generally are only interested in changing the behaviour of the animal if it doesn't suit us. We may say an animal is mad or dangerous but what we usually mean is that we can't control it.
Of course, animals in captivity may be under great stress, and suffer mentally. Maybe this is not mental illness though, rather a natural reaction to their situation.
Language is a human skill, other animals have other skills (spiders spin excellent webs) or methods of communication (bees dance).
IQ has nothing to do with mental health. I don't think that there is a way of measuring intelligence across species lines, it's not even really possible within our own species across cultural lines.

Answer 3

I don't know about the schizo iguana, an elephant w/ tourettes, or dogs and cats w/ downs syndrome, but I have a dog that has breakdowns when I leave her- its major separation anxiety. Its probably not what your looking for but it's something.

Answer 4

There's no scientific proof, but I think it's possible. Their illnesses are just a lot more simplified than humans. The only thing that any animal is built to do is fight for survival, and if they are not strong enough, the brain kills them off. Humans, on the other hand, choose to become dependant on guinea pigs within the medical field, allowing medical staff to come up with all these different names for ALL the same problem!

Answer 5

Animals can suffer from mental illness, but not on the same scale as humans. After all, my doggie can't learn to fetch, let alone sit through an I.Q. test *grin*

FYI - Tourette's is a neurological disorder, not a mental illness. It originates with a defective gene, and therefore can't be "all in your head."

Answer 6

Yes they do...animals have a soul which is made up of mind, will and emotions...i had a cat who became frightened and confused, she had an over active thyroid gland and when i realised she didn't know where she was i made the decision to have her put to sleep, she was a lovely little cat, it was the worst time but i couldn't let her suffer...she is at peace now...so yes they do have a soul and communicate in there own language...

Answer 7

Yep just go to a zoo & look at the big cats pacing up & down, as for physical disabilities most die early or a rejected from their familys at birth.

We would be the same if it where not for Medicine & our medical practices & humanity.

Survival of the fittest & Natural selection.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/darwin/origin/oos4_1.htm

Answer 8

I think so. My mother in law's dog is nuts. I would say the animal had been abused, but she got it as a puppy and they tell me she was always like this. I love dogs and that animal scares me. I refuse to allow my daughter around it.

Answer 9

Tourettes is not a mental illness. It is a Neurological condition.

Answer 10

animals are just as conscious and aware as we are, they communicate in similar ways and experience many of the same emotions. i doubt they get the same mental illnesses as human beings because their minds are very different, but i'm sure that they could be born with mental defects.