Do they suffer mental illnesses like we have? Do you know any animals that have? What's your profession and why would you know this?
2007-09-08 17:38:03 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I am going into vet school and I have taken many animal behavior classes, as well as being a pet owner.
Yes, animals can get depressed- when you wean horses (separate mom and foal) they both can get stressed and lose weight. If I do not go see my horse for a week, she will attack the stablehands that work with her (luckily I am out there almost every day).
I have seen dogs in the vet office with no will to live- they got tired of life.
If you are talking illnesses like schizophrenia or manic depressive, there is not a lot of research done on the area. I know people are starting to prescribe antidepressants to animals, but the dangers of the drug and if they actually work yet is unknown.
2007-09-08 17:48:31 · answer #1 · answered by D 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes, animals can suffer from mental illnesses, including depression
how do I know? my kitten has been diagnosised with clinical separation anxiety by two different vets, so I've been doing alot of research in this area
I'm not an expert, I'm a student attending college to be a veterinary technician so I really wouldn't have a clue about the subject if my cat didn't have similar problems
however
even though I'm not an expert, I can give you some pretty awesome links that I did some of my research on when my kitten first started having problems
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/64352/how_to_help_overcome_your_pets_depression.html
http://dogs.about.com/cs/disableddogs/a/depression.htm
http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/grief-pining-canine-depression-bach-whining.html
http://www.pets.ca/pettips/tips-83.htm
hope this answers your question
2007-09-08 17:51:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Animals can and do get depressed. They do not have mental illness although if beaten, starved, etc., they can have behavior problems.
I have two dogs and many parrots. When a parrot leaves the flock for any reason - death, sold to new owners, the entire flock reacts. Mostly with a depressed attitude: not eating, looking around all day for the missing bird, etc. If they are young and almost weaned from baby food to real food, they will revert to needing to be fed baby food for a few days.
2007-09-08 17:43:00 · answer #3 · answered by Owlwoman 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, animals suffer depression and mental illness.
Sometimes it's for the same reasons people do. Their needs aren't being met (food, exersize, love). Interestingly enough, being locked up for long periods can make them insane, just like it does for people.
Sometimes animals can be born crazy. Mostly dogs, but I believe people can sometimes be born with a "screw loose".
Bad breeding and socialization can caused "craziness" too.
I'm a vet tech, I've seen some crazy ones!
I hope this helps.
2007-09-08 17:48:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have seen my cats and dog become depressed or sad. When I lost one of my cats to illness, the other went into a deep depression, bordered on diabetes, and meowed and looked for the other cat constantly. I got another on and he snapped out of it.
My dog, if not given enough attention hangs her head and sighs. She can look so lonely. Animals have feeling as you well know, and if you think about it, react similar to humans.
Have had cats my entire life and I'm over 50.
2007-09-08 17:47:56 · answer #5 · answered by Laurie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have heard of animals grieving for months after their owner has died.
A few years ago, I was hospitalized for one week. My husband said that our cats looked everywhere for me the first day, then moped around, hardly ate, wouldn't play, until I returned. I had major surgery, and when I came back, they were at the door, and followed me to the bedroom. After I got in bed, they all got on the other side of the bed, and one special cat laid his head on my pillow and patted my face with his paw. Additionally, no cat jumped on the bed on my side, for an entire month.
Animals have more intelligence that many people give them credit.
2007-09-08 17:52:38 · answer #6 · answered by Cat Lady 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they can suffer depression. When a person or other animal leaves or dies, animals mourne too. Especially elephants who even have "funerals" and mourn their dead.
Animals can also suffer anxiety. When my mom was sick her cat started pulling out his fur. The vet said it was anxiety and prescribed him a kitty anti-anxiety medicine.
I have a biology degree and work in as a veterinary assistant. I also have personal experience.
2007-09-08 17:45:05 · answer #7 · answered by altaira 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm no vet but they get all the diseases humans get!
so if they are unhappy & they have no reason to be unhappy
it can be a mental disorder
BUT if they are treated mean & not cared for that will make them sad & angry & depressed
2007-09-08 17:46:22 · answer #8 · answered by ausblue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they can. For example, if you have 2 bonded rabbits. One dies. The other can go into serious depression and not eat, some staying like this for long periods of time.
2007-09-08 17:43:12 · answer #9 · answered by ~Bunny~ 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well im not realy a person wiytha perfeesion im only in school but i dide notice very huge change with my cat it had like 4 babys and well i couldent keep them so i ahd to donate them to pets mart so some one could adopt them and wen i gave them all away she was alwys in one spot and woukld smell were they used to sleep and would stand in the front of door just looking and barley ate i thought it was cuz of her kids she lost
2007-09-08 17:42:55 · answer #10 · answered by pb4evr 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋