Can animals get mental illnesses like schizophrenia/bipolar etc.?

Question

How would you get them diagnosed so that they can recieve proper treatment?

I don't have an animal with a mental illness, I'm just really curious.

Answer 1

I don't know about schizophrenia and bipolar, but I do know that I had a cat that had INCREDIBLE anxiety and was treated with Buspar to calm him down.

I have also seen my dog depressed when my other dog died. My living dog exhibited the same "symptoms" of human depression ~ lied around, did not want to play, did not eat.

So, yes, animals can experience mental illness.

Answer 2

Animals have psychological problems too. There are even animal psychiatrist now. I had a dog who was very neurotic. I loved her to death anyway. One problem with animals is they can't tell you their symptoms. For example, they can't tell you if they are hallucinating. A diagnosis is made solely on their behavior. I'm told a large percentage of animals suffer with depression.

Answer 3

No, but some veterinarians say that animals can experience depression and anxiety. Some animals are even treated with Prozac.

Answer 4

I think they can get mental illnesses ( like retardation ) but so much as schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder; I don't think so.

Answer 5

VERY unlikely. Schizophrenia and Bipolar are specific mental health conditions that come from imbalances in the human brain. Both may have a connection to dopamine receptor sites and the central nervous system. I doubt that animals have seritonin and dopamine receptor sites in their central nervous systems.


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Answer 6

duh. animals have emotions no different from us. they get depressed sometimes too. im sure a lot of animals are depressed especially those that are stuck in cages their whole lives. i would feel suicidal too if i was a hamster.