Poste on August 16th

Pet enthusiasts have long touted the health benefits of owning a pet, from lower blood pressure to increased oxytocin levels — the so-called “feel-good hormone.” But did you know pets also struggle with depression, anxiety and many of the other mental issues as we humans? If left unchecked, these conditions can lead to behavioral issues like aggression or destructive chewing and chip away at your pet’s quality — and length — of life.

Read on to learn more about your pet’s mental health and what you can do to get your beloved companion the help he or she needs.

Mental health in pets

A companion animal struggling with a mental illness may stop eating, behave violently or develop severe anxiety and depression. Luckily, there are treatment options for everything from mild anxiety to compulsive disorders.

Some of our picks for best pet insurance companies may cover treatment, though the options are limited compared to traditional veterinary care. The companies that cover behavioral issues, for instance, might reimburse you for prescription medications, but not training or therapy unless it’s prescribed and provided by a licensed veterinarian. Take note of what pet insurance covers before you book an appointment so there aren’t any surprises.

Common mental health conditions in pets

These are the most common mental disorders in companion animals:

Anxiety

Pets with chronic anxiety live in a constant state of stress and hypervigilance. Often, the pet cannot relax, is easily triggered and reacts adversely to stimuli, noises, people, animals or being left alone. Treatment for anxiety includes medication, natural supplements and behavior modification. Anecdotal evidence also indicates that pressure wraps like the Thundershirt ease anxiety.

Dog separation anxiety

There’s been a recent uptick in reported separation anxiety as pandemic restrictions are being eased and more people are returning to work. Signs of distress include pacing, escape attempts, destructive chewing or soiling the house, even when the pet’s housetrained. Research suggests there’s a genetic component as well.

Cat separation anxiety

A cat’s cool demeanor can be confused with indifference, but cats also suffer from separation anxiety. Excessive meowing and crying, failure to use the litter box, escape attempts, destructive behavior and an unusually high level of excitement when you return home can mean your cat had a hard time in your absence.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Your pet may suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) if it repeats extreme behaviors at the expense of routine habits like eating or engaging with you. Some dog breeds — Dobermans, English bull terriers, Great Danes and Border collies — are predisposed to canine compulsive disorder.

Signs of canine compulsion may include incessant licking, tail chasing, spinning, pacing, chasing shadows and biting at invisible items in the air. The compulsion can be so overwhelming that your pet can’t stop even if they’re hurting themselves.

A cat’s obsessive behavior is similar to a dog's — sucking and chewing on fabric, hunting and pouncing at invisible prey, foot chewing, overgrooming and incessant vocalization. One possible trigger of compulsive behavior in cats is a rare condition known as feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS), where your kitten experiences extreme skin sensitivity that triggers aggression and even self-harm.

Dementia

Pet dementia impacts memory, learning and comprehension in aging pets.

Demenia is most common in dogs (canine cognitive dysfunction or CCD) and cats (feline senile dementia or FSD). Signs include disorientation, aimlessness, staring at nothing, forgetting learned commands and failing to recognize familiar faces.

Like some other mental conditions, there is not a specific diagnostic test, so your vet will probably test your pet for other possible illnesses and diagnose dementia by process of elimination.

Sadly, there’s no cure for dementia, but symptoms are treatable. Frequent play, prescription medication, supplements and special diet food can slow the progression up to a certain point. After that, the best treatment is patience, comfort and extra care. A cozy bed, a night light (to help him or her move in the dark) and placing pads or litter boxes around the home can help give your pet the best end-of-life care.

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