Symptoms of PTSD in dogs can include: panic, panting, fearfulness, being timid and clinging to their owners, aggressive reactions in dogs that were never aggressive before, depression, and hyper-vigilance (especially for working dogs and guard breeds).
Cats and dogs who've been through trauma can develop signs of fear, anxiety, and stress, which can reveal themselves in a variety of ways. Some signs to watch out for are: Attempts to escape or flee. Avoidance behaviors, like hiding, avoiding eye contact, or avoiding certain triggers.
“Dogs and cats may attempt to escape or flee situations where frightened, they may become aggressive when interacted with or if forced out of a hiding spot, may freeze or show avoidance behaviors such as hiding or becoming still, and fidget by pacing, jumping up, or repeatedly pawing at their owners.”
A quiet bedroom, bathroom, or laundry room can be perfect for this. You can help reinforce the idea by making sure only good things happen in their safe space. Never send your pet there as punishment, and don't invade their territory. Eventually, their safe place will represent the idea that the world isn't scary.
Sometimes symptoms of canine PTSD last only a few weeks, but for other dogs that experience particularly stressful ordeals, overcoming their debilitating anxiety isn't as easy. Their experiences change the way they view certain situations, and the confidence that was once rock solid now wavers with their insecurity.
The good news is that it is possible to help your dog recover to some degree from past trauma. Your dog will probably always be a little more nervous than other dogs, but with time and patience, you can give them a much better quality of life.
When it comes to long-term memory, researchers believe that dogs will remember events that were strongly positive or negative and have a major impact on the animal's ability to survive. They also believe that dogs will remember events that have a powerful emotional impact.
The following are likely signs of animal abuse: Tucked tail, flinches at human contact. Unexplained fractures or limping. Unprovoked aggression, whining, or whimpering.
“The symptoms of PTSD in dogs are similar to those in humans and include chronic anxiety; hypervigilance; avoidance of certain people, places, or situations; sleep disturbances; fear of being alone; decreased interest in a favorite activity; or aggression,” Teller said.
With any dog, especially abused, you must allow them space and give them time to be comfortable around you. Allow them to approach you in their own time. Dogs who have been abused tend to be wary around people so if you have any visitors to your home it is important you allow time for your dog to come around to them.
Losing your cool when training your pup is not only mean, but it can also affect your pet.
Sit with Them
One of the best ways to get any kind of scared animal to trust you is to sit with them. Don't talk to them or try to touch them, just sit as close as they will let you. This simple act will establish a certain level of trust over time as they recognize that you aren't there to harm them.
Acute post traumatic stress disorder is the most common form of PTSD seen in dogs. Acute reactions begin occurring directly after the traumatizing incident or incidents and generally subside within three months.
Signs of a stressed or upset dog include flattened ears, a tucked tail, a low bent neck, and downcast eyes. Shaking, hiding, pacing, and panting can also indicate that your dog is scared, anxious, or emotionally distressed.
Your pet won't speak of their sadness, but there are cues that they are experiencing depression. This includes withdrawal/hiding, change in behavior, seeming sad, lethargic, and changes in appetite and energy. Separation anxiety — This occurs when a dog or cat becomes anxious any time they are left alone.
Dogs can get depression, and it's most often caused by big changes, such as the loss of a significant human or an environmental change (such as a move). Depressed dogs may show symptoms such as a lack of interest in activities, loss of appetite, increased irritability, and unusually clingy or needy behavior.
Most dogs that have been abused will shy away from humans and other dogs/animals. Some rescue dogs however become extremely clingy towards their new humans and show signs of separation anxiety in their absence. Aggression is another outcome of abuse and a dog's attempt to defend itself.
The mistreated pups showed classic signs of aggression, and fear toward strangers. They also displayed attention-seeking behavior. The study likened the dogs to children who have been emotionally neglected. That's interesting, considering our pups are believed to have the thought process of a 2 to 2-1/2-year-old child.
Veterinary professionals play a crucial role in not only treating animals — companion, horses and livestock — but also in recognizing the signs of animal cruelty.
Remember, healing from emotional abuse is a slow process, but with patience, love, and the right support, many dogs can make a full recovery.
You can't expect to turn things around after a couple of days. You need to be patient and give your new dog time to accept the new living situation and get over their fear. It can take months or even years for formerly abused dogs to recover and go from a reclusive and scared pooch to a trusting and loving companion.
It is very likely your dog can remember things that have happened in the past and especially events that happened recently, like where they left their ball outside yesterday. So in short, your dog can probably remember certain things from the day before!