What are the symptoms of PTSD in dogs?
Mariano Casper
2025-06-26 15:35:06
Count answers: 12
Anxiety, Hyper-Vigilant, Acute Fear Response - Flight, Terrified Of Everything. Every sound, shadow, sudden movement, car door slamming, car alarm, trees rustling, empty blue bin on the sidewalk, trains, motorcycles, lawnmowers, anything and everything has the potential to be a threat. He is in constant flight mode. His gait is no longer one that is open and excited to explore his world, it's now in pre-flight mode. Most recently he became so terrified by an empty blue bin that he leapt up in the air, over the blue bin, into the street, and dragged me head first into the blue bin which of course confirmed that blue bins were evil. From there he panicked, and broke free running with the retractor leash smashing behind him on the sidewalk, creating an even more terrifying experience for himself. Now a walk is no longer one he looks forward to. Any motion toward the gate has him fleeing to the back yard. Once off property, his expectation of potential terrors are all around us at any given moment.
Antonetta Skiles
2025-06-26 13:59:17
Count answers: 5
Peeing or pooping in the house, howling, barking, or whining, and destructive behavior can be signs of PTSD and separation anxiety. A dog with PTSD might show these signs of stress: tucked tail, pinned back ears, panting, and crouches low to the ground. Other clues your dog could have PTSD: they cling to you in fear, sudden aggression, depression, and hyperawareness of their surroundings. They won’t get PTSD because you whacked them on the snout that time they chewed up a pillow, but they might develop PTSD because of a natural disaster, like a hurricane, being abandoned to live in the wild, the loss of their caretaker, military combat, physical or emotional abuse, a serious accident, or bad interactions with other animals. Anything you know about their history with bad experiences can help your vet make the right diagnosis.
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