Canine Dysfunctional Behavior is defined as persistent, abnormal behavior that interferes with a dog’s quality of life. Just like people, dogs can suffer from a variety of mental health conditions, including conditions that are classified as types of Canine Dysfunction Behavior. Noticing personality shifts or abnormal behavior in your dog can be scary and concerning for pet parents, but there are steps you can take to support your pup’s wellbeing and happiness once you understand how to spot the signs.
In this article, we will discuss the types and symptoms of dog mental health concerns, how and when to seek professional help, plus the link between dog behavior and the microbiome (the community of bacteria and other microbes in the digestive system), known as the gut-brain axis.
Let’s explore proactive steps you can take to improve your pup’s mental health.
Table Of Contents: What Is Canine Dysfunctional Behavior and How Do I Tell If My Dog Has Poor Mental Health?
- Can Dogs Have Mental Illness?
- What Is Canine Dysfunctional Behavior?
- Symptoms of Dog Mental Health Issues
- How The Gut Can Health Impacts Dog Behavior
- The Role of Diet in Canine Mental Wellness
- Supporting Your Dog with Probiotics
- Vet-Backed Resources on Dog Mental Health
Can Dogs Have Mental Illness?
Yes, just like people, dogs can absolutely suffer from emotional and psychological disorders, and there has been increasing research regarding canine emotional complexity. Veterinary behaviorists specialize in managing canine mental health conditions. Common mental health conditions seen in dogs include:
- Generalized anxiety – Dogs with generalized anxiety experience chronic, excessive worry and tension, not tied to a specific trigger. They may appear hypervigilant, restless, and unable to truly relax. This constant state of unease significantly impacts their daily quality of life and ability to cope with normal events.
- Separation anxiety – This is a panic disorder where a dog experiences extreme distress when left alone or separated from their primary person. Signs occur only during separation, and include destructive behavior (especially around doors/windows due to escape attempts), persistent vocalization, and house soiling.
- Fears and phobias – This includes intense, persistent, and often excessive or irrational fear of a specific stimulus, such as thunderstorms or fireworks, leading to panic behaviors such as hiding, trembling, pacing, attempting to escape, excessive drooling, or panting.
- Depression – Canine depression can manifest as a persistent low mood, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, lethargy, and changes in sleep or appetite. It is critical to rule out other medical causes that can cause similar symptoms.
- Canine OCD (compulsive behaviors) – These are repetitive, often exaggerated behaviors performed out of context, such as persistent tail chasing, light or shadow chasing, excessive licking of a body part (potentially leading to sores), or flank sucking. These actions seem difficult for the dog to control and often stem from underlying anxiety, conflict, or frustration, interfering with their normal daily functioning.
- Aggression – Aggression is a symptom, not a diagnosis, defined by threatening or harmful behavior (growling, snarling, snapping, biting) towards people, other animals, or objects. It has many underlying motivations, including fear, resource guarding, territorial defense, or frustration, and requires careful assessment to understand the cause.
What is Canine Dysfunctional Behavior?
Canine dysfunctional behavior is defined as persistent, abnormal behavior that interferes with a dog’s quality of life or ability to function normally. It’s important to distinguish dysfunctional behaviors from normal but undesirable dog behavior, like barking at the mail carrier, counter-surfing, digging, or jumping up when excited. While normal undesirable behaviors can usually be managed through training, dysfunctional behaviors often have underlying neurological, genetic, or deep-seated emotional components (like anxiety or fear) and require a thorough assessment by a veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist. Treatment involves behavioral modification, environmental management, and sometimes medication.
Symptoms of Dog Mental Health Issues
Mental health issues can affect dogs in a variety of ways, often varying based on the underlying case and the individual dog; however, canine dysfunctional behavior symptoms often include:
- Excessive vocalization, such as barking or whining
- Pacing, panting, or restlessness
- Aggression or fear reactivity, including growling, snapping, biting, or lunging
- Hiding, freezing, or avoiding interaction
- Destructive behaviors, such as chewing, digging, and urinating or defecating indoors
- Repetitive actions, such as tail chasing and licking
- Disruptions in sleep, play, and appetite
How The Gut Can Impact Dog Behavior
The connection between gut and mental health is known as the gut-brain axis, and it is a new and fascinating area of study. This complex, two-way communication network operates through several pathways, including direct nerve connections (like the vagus nerve), hormonal signals (such as the stress hormone cortisol), and the immune system. The gut microbes themselves have many important jobs, including producing and influencing mood-regulating neurochemicals. Several studies have shown that chronic stress and behavior issues are often accompanied by gut dysbiosis, indicating that dog anxiety and the gut have a close link.
The Role of Diet in Canine Mental Wellness
Diet isn’t just about supporting physical health – it fuels the brain as well. It’s important to choose a diet that is complete and balanced (to provide the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your dog needs) and appropriate for your dog’s lifestage, be it puppy, adult, or senior. A balanced diet will provide appropriate “building blocks” for essential bodily functions, as well as the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA that are involved in mood, cognition, and anxiety. Other components of the diet that are key for mental wellness include antiinflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, prebiotics, and B vitamins critical for nerve cell health, neurotransmitter production, and reduction of stress and anxiety.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association provides guidelines to help pet parents choose the best diet for their dog.
Vet-Backed Resources on Dog Mental Health
If you’re looking for more in-depth, reliable information on canine mental health, it’s important to turn to reputable veterinary organizations and trusted experts.
- American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB)
- Websites associated with veterinary schools, such as Tufts or Cornell
- Veterinary Partner
Additionally, if you’re concerned about your dog’s mental health or if they are exhibiting recent changes in behavior, make sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. In some cases, there may be a medical issue at play, such as canine cognitive dysfunction. If a behavior or mental health issue is suspected, you may then be referred to a veterinary behaviorist or a dog trainer specializing in positive reinforcement techniques.
Conclusion: Canine Dysfunctional Behavior -Symptoms & Management
Your dog’s mental health is a complex and crucial component of their overall quality of life, and it should be taken just as seriously as their physical health. The growing understanding of the gut-brain axis highlights a powerful connection between what happens in your dog’s digestive system and how they feel and behave.
Ultimately, supporting your dog’s mental wellness and managing canine dysfunctional behavior requires a holistic and multi-modal approach, including a high-quality, balanced diet, positive reinforcement training, appropriate physical and mental stimulation, loving social interaction, and a collaborative partnership with your veterinary team.
