[moopogyOvenny]

We know that a human child can grow to puberty or full maturity and seem perfectly average. Then, such as with schizophrenia, mental illness strikes and everything changes. Hell, my sister in law is a flight attendant and has lived a perfectly normal and ordinary life. Suddenly, in her late 30's, she started talking to aliens and angels and even said that dogs she passed on the street were telling her things. Turns out she is schizophrenic, spent some time in the hospital voluntarily, got on meds, went back to work and is living her life as normally as possible.

So, do you think its possible that other species can also suffer a form of mental illness that strikes later in life? Specifically, dogs. Do you think its possible that some dog attacks are the result of a formerly perfectly normal dog being stricken with mental illness?

Dogs can't talk, so I imagine if this was possible we probably wouldn't know or study would be in its infancy.

[rhiniddibiarmr]

Don't know but I would say no. I think a lot of mental illnesses are because we are 'too' smart,we use our brain to worry,plan,dream. I think because animals are 'stupid' that they don't have the ability to become mentally ill.

[allemnendup]

Talking to angels and communicating with animals does not mean a person is mentally ill. Society pumps people full of diagnosis and meds because they don't understand. It's a cop out and hurts a lot of people.

As far as dogs go, I don't believe they have the capacity for the degree of what you are talking about. But they do get depressed and sad, they become anxious. Etc. So who knows.

[foonlesse]

Thats a VERY good question, I dont have an answer but eagerly await more responses.

[YpbWF5Yo]

Well,I beleive the answer is ''yes''.War dogs seem to suffer PTSD,some dogs can have obsessive compulsive behaviours(OCD in humans),acral lick (flank sucking) syndrome could be considered like human disorders of self inflicted mutilation(cutting,burning oneself as a response to stress)seperation anxeity would be close to any anxiety disorder as found in humans.Dogs can become compulsive eaters or anorexic as well,both are linked with mental state.
I wouldn't say dogs are alone either,birds mutilate themselves by chewing themeselves and pulling feathers out,scream out of stress and boredom.Caged or restrained animals like bears,elephants or big cats pace and do repetitive behaviours if not stimulated, entering a state of neurosis after a prolonged period of such stress.
I do not know about schizophrenic disorders,but some of the lesser mental illnesses are evident in behaviour of certain animals.

---------- Post added at 02:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:43 PM ----------

Talking to angels and communicating with animals does not mean a person is mentally ill. Society pumps people full of diagnosis and meds because they don't understand. It's a cop out and hurts a lot of people.

As far as dogs go, I don't believe they have the capacity for the degree of what you are talking about. But they do get depressed and sad, they become anxious. Etc. So who knows.

That is a good point.

If a preist ''talks to angels'' its normal.If a shaman ''communicates with animals'' its also normal.If joe Q public does either,he's nuts.What is wrong with that picture?

How do you know if what a schizo sees or speaks to isn't real? Perhaps they are more aware,more spiritually awake,seeing in another dimention, speaking to the old ones or long dead souls,etc? Just because WE cannot see it,does not mean it isn't real.....
Ever wonder into a room in pitch black,fumbling for a light and stub your toe on the leg of a chair? You didn't see it-but it was obviously there.

[eocavrWM]

I think dogs can suffer from some kind of illnesses, but definitely not the extent of what we do. Depression, anxiety, etc can affect a dog but I doubt things like schizophrenia could because the very definition of it is "out of touch with reality" and dogs don't really have a "reality" like we do. Their minds just don't process things at a high enough level.

Also, I'd like for this topic to stay "on topic" and not have people going off about what is and what isn't a mental illness in PEOPLE. Unless you're a trained psychologist (with a PhD) none of us have the professional education to diagnose somebody. And for those people who "disagree" with psychology, your opinion could hurt others, so I'd say it may be best to refrain from such.

[Desflahd]

Fuck yeah they can. Separation anxiety, fear aggression, the list is long. All signs of an unstable dog that is all MENTAL.

Put em down and move on.

Not to be rude but all you people talking about how dogs process thoughts and don't have reality and such are talking out your asses. You have NO IDEA how dogs process thoughts or anything else that goes on in their heads. Many of them are smarter than half the human beings I've met LOL

[eocavrWM]

Not to be rude but all you people talking about how dogs process thoughts and don't have reality and such are talking out your asses. You have NO IDEA how dogs process thoughts or anything else that goes on in their heads. Many of them are smarter than half the human beings I've met LOL

I'm speaking in general terms. We can't prove that dogs think like us - but we can't prove that they don't, either.

No matter how you look at it - dogs are not as evolved as humans. They don't have speech like us, they cannot function like humans do. There's very basic differences between the two and that's what I meant.

I highly doubt that a dog is thinking that there are aliens who control their mind and that the Government is out to get them, which may be what somebody with schizophrenia is thinking.

But maybe they do, who knows.

[YpbWF5Yo]

Fuck yeah they can. Separation anxiety, fear aggression, the list is long. All signs of an unstable dog that is all MENTAL.

Put em down and move on.

Not to be rude but all you people talking about how dogs process thoughts and don't have reality and such are talking out your asses. You have NO IDEA how dogs process thoughts or anything else that goes on in their heads. Many of them are smarter than half the human beings I've met LOL

No Doubt! Sadly we cannot cull the stupid people from the breeding population like we can with unstable dogs.

[GinaGomesz]

I have seen my dogs think through a problem and I can practically see the cogs turning over in their little minds. Some are better at it than others. I have no doubt that their level of thought is not as advanced as a typical human but they are not silly.

One thing to consider is that todays dogs typically live a stressful lifestyle. Being taken about in the car and not getting the exercise of yesteryear is a very stressful situation for dogs. They have developed for millions of years to roam and run, not be contained in a small yard or house. They need things to do. Without this, they do suffer.

I think this is a brilliant topic and kudos to OP for thinking about it.

[SmuffNuSMaxqh]

I think dogs can have mental illness, but not the same kinds as us, with some exceptions of PTSD and anxiety and stuff.

Well,I beleive the answer is ''yes''.War dogs seem to suffer PTSD,some dogs can have obsessive compulsive behaviours(OCD in humans),acral lick (flank sucking) syndrome could be considered like human disorders of self inflicted mutilation(cutting,burning oneself as a response to stress)seperation anxeity would be close to any anxiety disorder as found in humans.Dogs can become compulsive eaters or anorexic as well,both are linked with mental state.
I wouldn't say dogs are alone either,birds mutilate themselves by chewing themeselves and pulling feathers out,scream out of stress and boredom.Caged or restrained animals like bears,elephants or big cats pace and do repetitive behaviours if not stimulated, entering a state of neurosis after a prolonged period of such stress.
I do not know about schizophrenic disorders,but some of the lesser mental illnesses are evident in behaviour of certain animals.

---------- Post added at 02:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:43 PM ----------



That is a good point.

If a preist ''talks to angels'' its normal.If a shaman ''communicates with animals'' its also normal.If joe Q public does either,he's nuts.What is wrong with that picture?

How do you know if what a schizo sees or speaks to isn't real? Perhaps they are more aware,more spiritually awake,seeing in another dimention, speaking to the old ones or long dead souls,etc? Just because WE cannot see it,does not mean it isn't real.....
Ever wonder into a room in pitch black,fumbling for a light and stub your toe on the leg of a chair? You didn't see it-but it was obviously there.

I know a person who is skitzo, she went completely batty and lived in a cave in the woods for like 10 years. But she decided she wasnt going to stay there forever, found a man, got prego, ditched him and she said her daughter saved her life. She was prescribed those "anti crazy" meds and after they almost killed her she stopped taking them. She is incredibly smart, so smart you dont need google, just ask her your question. I have yet to ask her something and she not know what the answer was or what I was talking about. I think skitzo is just a person who is very intelligent, kind of.. connection into another part of our brains and worlds that we dont see because our brains havnt converted over. Or maybe it was all the acid she did as a youngster?

EDIT oh yea, and I know her cousin who sometime in the 70s did a ridiculous amount of PCP and just never came back from it. He is very crazy. You cannot mention computers, or the government anywhere around him.

[Gilowero]

Anything with a brain has brain chemistry and there for can be chemically imbalanced.

[HilaryNidierer]

Yes they can...

[cymnPrayerm]

Not sure if you would class it as mental illness but we used to have a Dalmatian bred from a Canadian Crufts winner. In bred sadly & the dog was psychotic, totally un-controllable & constantly aggressive. After numerous attacks & injuries from him we made the call to euthanize it.

[flnastyax]

Anything with a brain has brain chemistry and there for can be chemically imbalanced.

This. I definitley believe that Scarling has some sort of chemical imbalance.

[YpbWF5Yo]

I think dogs can have mental illness, but not the same kinds as us, with some exceptions of PTSD and anxiety and stuff.



I know a person who is skitzo, she went completely batty and lived in a cave in the woods for like 10 years. But she decided she wasnt going to stay there forever, found a man, got prego, ditched him and she said her daughter saved her life. She was prescribed those "anti crazy" meds and after they almost killed her she stopped taking them. She is incredibly smart, so smart you dont need google, just ask her your question. I have yet to ask her something and she not know what the answer was or what I was talking about. I think skitzo is just a person who is very intelligent, kind of.. connection into another part of our brains and worlds that we dont see because our brains havnt converted over. Or maybe it was all the acid she did as a youngster?

EDIT oh yea, and I know her cousin who sometime in the 70s did a ridiculous amount of PCP and just never came back from it. He is very crazy. You cannot mention computers, or the government anywhere around him.

Pookie.I am not say that there aren't truely some people with mental illness out there,but some of the people we label as 'mental' aren't. They are just differant.Society doesn't like those who are ''differant''.It's unnerving to us as a whole.We tend to fear what we do not understand. Fear of things makes us attempt to control or destroy them,or at least hide them away.That is human nature,and we do it to our own kind.

Just out of curiousity,have you personally ever read the psychology manuals on defining/identifying mental illness? Basicly if that were the standard to judge our ''sanity''-we'd ALL be considered mentally ill in some way,shape or form.

[SmuffNuSMaxqh]

Thats what I was trying to get at lol I know there are people who main society claims as "Mental" who in fact arent at all.
I think it all comes from us back when we were more "wild" anything odd or off couldnt be trusted because uncertainty was a sign of weakness, just like if you act very ancy and weird your dog picks up on it. Same with people in a sense, but I think 99% of mental illness in this country is just people who are different and no one wants to understand them, rather they want to put them on medication and "fix" them.

I havnt read them, but from what my friend who is skitzo and works with other mentally unstable people, she has seen the true crazy people, but most are just different that main stream. Basically anyone who isnt exactly what you are can be considered "crazy" or "mental".
Which is dumb, when she was younger her Mother was considered "crazy" so they used electro therapy on her, which did make her crazy. They tried to do it to my friend, and the did it to her cousin who is VERY crazy. She however in my mind, isnt any more crazy than me lol which isnt saying much depending on who ask lol
I mean, she does talk to the voices in her head, but now she has a handle on them, and who doesnt have those different voices in their head? Maybe our "conscience" is just a lot louder than other peoples? Maybe ours like to hold a conversation with you? So that doesnt mean I am crazy..

[eocavrWM]

Just out of curiousity,have you personally ever read the psychology manuals on defining/identifying mental illness? Basicly if that were the standard to judge our ''sanity''-we'd ALL be considered mentally ill in some way,shape or form.

For the record, my abnormal psych teacher, on the first day of class, bluntly stated that we are ALL mentally instable at one time or another, or our inner most "thoughts and feelings" could be defined as "insane" or "abnormal". I definitely agree - none of us are "normal" and we all are a little "nuts" sometimes.

The difference is knowing when a person cannot take care of themselves anymore or they become a threat to themselves or others. Having mental illness is NOT a sole reason to commit somebody. You can't call up the police and say "my grandma is nuts! she's gotta go away!" Because there needs to be solid proof that she's going to hurt you or herself, and then a long legal chain of actions has to take place after that point (and in the end it'd probably be a verdict of "yeah, she's kind of crazy and kind of a bitch, but we can't do anything about it, sorrrryyy").

[moopogyOvenny]

My SIL was raised Catholic, so I wouldn't say talking to angels is crazy. Its more or less part of her spiritual upbringing. But when the angels started hanging out with her, the aliens put something in her brain and the dogs she passed on the street were speaking English in her head and telling her stuff...well, yeah, I think she needed some help. Luckily, her fellow flight attendants told her they were worried and she was sane enough to seek help on her own. Also pretty awesome is that the airline she works for and has worked for the last 22 years was willing to give her time off for treatment and allow her to return to work.

Is it possible she is just able to see and hear things from another dimension, heaven, what have you..no proof she can't. However, the meds have made a huge difference and she is able to function normally so I am going with the diagnosis of schizophrenia as being correct.

I have seen a few people misdiagnosed and put on the wrong meds with disasterous effects and I have seen correct diagnosis with the meds not working without a lot of trial and error.

I have seen people use a mild mental illness, the kind we all pretty much struggle with daily, as an excuse to not work, not care for themselves or their kids and pets (people who were doing these things until someone told them they were ill and then they stopped saying ' I caaaan't! I have an illness!") and no one wants to tell them that we all have something wrong, suck it up and get on with life. I firmly believe no one makes it through childhood unscathed, that we all have our mental problems and that some of us can deal while others need help.

I also believe we do not fully understand our brains and brain chemistry and that mental illness treatment is still in it's infancy because there is so much we don't know. Since we haven't gotten a handle on our own species, I don't expect us to get a handle on dogs any time soon. But I do think its possible for dogs to suffer from mental illness. And I do think that a dog suffering from a type of mental illness that makes living torture for the dog or makes the dog unsafe means the humane thing to do is euth it.

[Nidsstese]

Im on my phone so I'll keep it short. Many diagnosed mental illnesses are either genetic and\or neurob biological so by default yes they can. I study autism and related disorders of which have identical mechanisms found in rats, showing social"superiority" doesn't make is any different. From many perspectives humans are actually inferior to many other species. it's funny to me how for a bunch of apes wr hold ourselves in such high regard

---------- Post added at 02:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 PM ----------

I should also say we produce rats with "autism", a lab I work in sometimes genetically alters rats to be "aggressive", another lab we work with produces rats which through parental "neglect" cause behavioral issues in rats.... just because it is a different species means nothing. As another person said, different doesnt mean mentally ill either. I define mentally ill very different than many other people. I dont believe most people diagnosed with autism and ADD have either, then again I also believe society attempts to medically "assimilate" everyone. If you dont work 9-5(aka 7-11), can sit at a desk and drink 40 cups of coffee each day, be nice to all your coworkers to their faces, and go home to 2.2 children behind your picket fence you have an illness... me thinks not!