Sensory deprivation syndrome in dogs

The sensory deprivation syndrome in dogs and other animals it consists of the development of fears and phobias that cause instability in the dog, leading him to perform unwanted behaviors by his human companion, such as barking excessively in certain situations, paralyzing for fear or biting to other dogs or humans.

If you have recently adopted a young or adult dog and have abnormal or presumably pathological behaviors at the mental level, you may find yourself facing a dog that has suffered isolation in a critical period of its growth and has developed this syndrome.In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will talk about the sensory deprivation syndrome in dogs , we will treat the possible causes , the symptoms, how we could diagnose it and its treatment.

Causes of sensory deprivation syndrome in dogs

The main cause of this syndrome is an isolation during the socialization of the dog in any of the early stages of the puppy's neuronal development.

Dogs during their childhood they go through four stages of development and a deprivation of stimuli or contact with other animals or humans can cause damage in the development of their personality, causing in adulthood aberrant and unwanted behaviors, such as pathological fear, observing that the dog is afraid of everything, situations and/or objects or noises.These four periods are:

Neonatal period (from birth to two weeks of life): during this phase, the puppy it is limited to seeking food and heat from its mother or siblings.Its sensory or motor abilities are very limited.A dog or other animal, including the human being, deprived of this period may not fully develop certain hypothalamic functions (region of the brain that be in charge ga, among other things, the regulation of mood).
Transition period: from the third week of age, a dog begins to respond to visual and auditory stimuli , as he begins to develop these senses.At this time the relationship with his mother becomes somewhat less dependent and it is time to know the world around him.He can walk, start games with his brothers, move the tail in response to stimuli that receive and touch and bite objects or other beings.
Period of socialization (from four weeks to twelve or fourteen weeks of age): this is perhaps the most important and sensitive period for the correct physical and mental development of a dog.In this phase you will learn that he is a dog, how dogs behave, with what things or beings he must be careful because they can be dangerous and with which he can be calm.where you should do your needs, how to behave with others Rros, humans or other animals of different species.Your curiosity and exploratory character will develop, each time you will move further away from the place where you rest with your mother and siblings.Around six and eight weeks, it is the key moment to start socializing with human beings.
Youth period (from week twelve to adulthood): during this phase the dog must achieve social independence and not create attachment, which can lead to separation anxiety and, in turn , in destructive behaviors.It is essential, during this stage, to teach the dog the norms of the family with which he will spend the rest of his life.Always, through positive reinforcement, we must show him what behaviors are desired.

The absence of adequate stimuli during any of these periods can trigger a syndrome of sensory deprivation in dogs.

Symptoms of sensory deprivation syndrome in dogs

As we should know the healthy and normal development of a puppy, it is important to know how an alteration in any of these periods can cause the appearance of unwanted behaviors, specifically isolating a puppy from others dogs, of the human being or of any visual or sound stimulus will cause pathological fear.

The symptoms can be observed when the dog faces any novel situation:

Paralysis or blockade.
Rejection of contact with possible flight or attempt to bite.
Uncontrolled barking.
Unintentional urination.
Predatory aggression.
Overexcitation.
Neurodegenerative symptoms: skin problems or digestive disorders (anorexia).

My dog is afraid of everything, can it be a syndrome of sensory deprivation?

The fear of everything if it may be caused by the sensory deprivation syndrome due to the reasons set forth in previous sections, however, is not the only possible cause.In those dogs that have lived multiple experiences traumatic , it is also possible to observe this type of behavior that, sometimes, leads to phobia.That is why, if you have just adopted a dog with fear and do not know his previous life, the most advisable thing is to go to an ethologist to to evaluate the case and establish an appropriate work plan for the animal.

Diagnosis of sensory deprivation syndrome in dogs

If you believe that your dog can suffer from this syndrome, you should first consult a veterinarian who can perform the relevant tests to rule out any other type of pathology.Once it is determined that the state of health The dog is correct, the next step will be to visit a canine ethologist who is empowered to conduct a behavioral study of the dog and can establish, through an anamnesis and concrete tests, if the dog suffers from sensory deprivation syndrome.

Treatment of sensory deprivation syndrome in dogs

It will be the veterinarian or specialized ethologist who defines the therapy to treat the most appropriate sensory deprivation syndrome of the dog .Usually, this treatment can be behavioral or through drugs:

Behavior therapy: in this case, the ethologist or canine educator will study the case and choose the best treatment for the animal, trying to achieve a state in which the dog stops suffering from fear in novel situations.
Drug therapy: here it will be the veterinarian who establishes a treatment with medications to reduce the levels of stress suffered by the dog.

Likewise, it is possible that the specialist in the case decides to carry out a combined treatment, that is, in which drugs are administered and work with the animal to treat their fears.In any case, it is vital not to force the animal ever or force it to expose itself to what scares him.

This article is merely informative, at Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any diagnosis.We invite you to Take your pet to the veterinarian in case you present any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Sensory deprivation syndrome in dogs-Causes and treatment , we recommend that you enter our section on Mental Problems.

Bibliography

Drape, DD (1976).Improper Puppy Socialization and Subsequent Behavior.lOUJ'a State University Veterinarian.38 (2).
Fox, MW (1966).The Effects of Short-term Social and Sensory Isolation upon Behavior, EEG and Averaged Evoked Potentials in Puppies.Physiology and Behavior.2, 145-151.
Fuller, JL (1967).Experiential Deprivation and Later Behavior.SCIENCE.158, 1645-1652.
Landsberg, GM, BSc, DVM, MRCVS, DACVB, DECAWBM, Director, Veterinary Affairs and Product Development, CanCog Technologies, and Veterinary Behaviourist, North Toronto Veterinary Behavior Specialty Clinic Sagi Denenberg, DVM, DACVB, Dip.ECAWBM (Behavior), MACVSc (Behavior).(2018).Behavioral Problems of Dogs.MSD MANUAL Veterinary Manual.

Comments

Why does my dog attack me without reason?

Today my dog ran out of the house and I was chasing him until he reached it.This was near a car in which I set the floor and continued to smell.It was this morning, I was in a hurry because I was already late to the school and I had to go back as soon as possible.I grabbed him by the collar and started running, I crouched down, since he didn't bring a leash with me.Then I stopped for a moment because I had dropped something, my dog also stopped and started Snarling, I said "What's wrong with you?" As I lifted the object and out of nowhere it pounced on me, I managed to dodge the first bite, but then I caught my arm and began to shake it without wanting to let it go.I had never behaved like this.I went to tell my father that the dog had gone out and that he needed his help.When he returned with my mother, he told me that she had also taken a bite, but that I was not able to give it.The dog in question is a Shepherd German, we rescued him from the street when he was...

How are chicks born? - Incubation and Birth (With VIDEO)

If you live with chickens or have found eggs fertilized orphans, you may wonder how chicks are born to be prepared and check that everything is going well.Well, the first and most important thing is to check that the eggs have actually been fertilized and that From them chicks will be born.Once this data is confirmed, we will have to follow a series of recommendations to ensure an adequate development of the embryo. In this article of Animal Expert we will focus on explaining how chicks are born from hen , probably the most widespread bird worldwide.Keep reading! How do hens reproduce? Before going on to explain how chicks are born, we will briefly talk about the reproduction of chickens.These birds at birth already have all their eggs , which are their reproductive cells.one of them develops and passes through the reproductive system.This trip is when the formation of the egg that the chicken is going to take place takes place.The process always happens in the hens, without ...

Company Animal Names

Names for male and female doberman dogs The Doberman Pinscher is a dog of large size, stylized, elegant, muscular and proportionate.It stands out for its peaceful and friendly character, despite what many people may think due to the unfair fame that this canine breed has acquired throughout Unfortunately, many are the... Names for male white dogs and females Have you ever thought about adopting a white dog? Surely it is! However, you should keep in mind that owning one of these dogs requires a lot of attention to keep the fur clean, although we must say that it will be worth it when you admire the elegant white mantle. If you're thinking... Names for cats in English and their meaning-Males and females Searching for names for cats is a very fun experience and that generates great expectations among all the members of the family unit.If you are also at this time, you are likely to look for names for cats in English and their meaning, a language every time more globalized In this...

Why does my dog bark at some people and not others?

Why do dogs bark? To understand why your dog barks at some people and not others, you must first know why dogs bark, although our hairy people mostly use their body language to express their moods, emotions and perceptions about their surroundings , barking plays a very important role in its relationship with people, with other animals and with the surrounding environment. In their day to day, dogs bark to communicate the different emotions and experiences that they live, which depends a lot on the environment they are in and the stimuli they perceive.By saying stimuli we are not only referring to noises, images or smells, but also to the presence of other individuals in their territory (people, dogs, cats or other animals).Therefore, there are many possible meanings of the barking of dogs. In order to identify what each bark of dogs means our hairy, we must pay attention to their postu flush, facial expressions and their meanings.A stressed dog, in addition to barking, usual...

How to raise a sparrow? - Complete CARE GUIDE for BABY GORRIONS

How to care for a fallen sparrow in the nest? If you have encountered a baby sparrow on the ground, the first thing you should check is if it is close to the nest.Many times, when they are feathered they have not fallen from the nest, but They are learning to fly .If this is the case, it is best to try to return it to the nest or simply place it in a safe place where it can be picked up by their parents. Now, yes you can not leave it again in the nest and you see that it is injured, follow the following tips: Go to a recovery center for wild animals or visit a veterinarian specialized in birds to take care of their breeding, especially if it is a newborn sparrow. If there are no recovery centers in your area, look for a box and build a small bed so that it is comfortable, you can do it with a soft cotton fabric or some old socks.The idea is that it is always hot so as not to interrupt its process of growth. These small animals must be kept well hydrated .You can drink t...

Why does my dog ride a stuffed animal?

Until we reach the age of sexual maturity we can observe both females and males performing the same riding behaviors, this can occur between the anus and the 2 years of life.We could say that it is "physiological" "and will tend to diminish and even disappear when they begin their adult life. Not everything is sex, there are different causes to which this behavior can be attributed to our little ones.Knowing the exact circumstances why this behavior may be occurring, whether due to the family environment or your lifestyle, we will find it very difficult to determine the cause of the ride but we will give a list of causes that may be influencing: Stress and anxiety : It is the main cause in most cases, especially in a situation that the dog can not handle.It can happen by forcing some training that does not you want and even force you to do certain things.They can also generate stress the lack of walks, unwanted visits, a negative encounter with another dog and ...

How to improve the relationship with my dog

Having a dog does not mean having a nice ornament for home.Having a dog means include a new member within our family, for this reason, the well-known phrase "the dog is man's best friend", which is also usually very true. However, build a relationship with your pet so that later he becomes your "best friend" is not a simple task, nor quick to achieve, it is a process that requires a lot of effort, patience and time.It can also happen that even if we have years with Our dog, we have not been able to establish that connection that we love so much and that we also know that the dog needs.The question is: How can I do to improve the relationship with my dog? The relationship with our dog is something we have to work on.If you want to know how to improve the bond with your pet, continue reading this article of E xpertoAnimal where we will help you cross this goal.Rest assured that you will discover a new unconditional partner. Hello! I want to be your frien...

Where the peacock lives

We are used to seeing peacocks in parks and gardens of all continents, with the exception of Antarctica, because, because of its striking plumage and being a simple animal to tame, the peacock has been introduced in those areas centuries ago, but where does it originate from? areas you can find wild peacocks ? To clarify all your doubts regarding this topic, at ExpertAnimal.com we explain where peacocks live , Keep reading! Asian origin of wild peacocks To answer the question where peacocks live, it should be noted that the common peacock is native to southern India and the island of Ceilan (Sri Lanka) At present, populations of wild peacocks are mostly found in the Indian subcontinent and in Sri Lanka, in the driest areas of the island, although the probability of finding groups of wild peacocks is not it is limited both to a specific geographical area and to the habitat where the species can thrive. Peacocks feed on berries, seeds, young shoots, insects and even smal...

Why do chow chow have blue tongues?

Chow chow's tongue is blue or purple due to the presence of pigment cells , that is, cells that contain elements called pigments that provide that color.Genetically they have a higher concentration of these cells and, therefore, have a different color to the other races.These cells, in addition to being in the tongue, are, above all, in the mucous membranes, that is why the chow chow is the only dog with lips, gums and palate characterized by being blue/blackish, if not almost entirely. A curious fact is that this characteristic is not only presented by certain dogs such as chow chow, but we also see it present in other animals such as giraffes, the breed of Jersey cattle and some bear families, such as the polar bear.In fact, some studies conclude that chow chow comes from Hemicyon , a species of mammal that is between the dog and now extinct bears, and that he lived in the Miocene.However, there is still no definitive scientific evidence to reduce this hypothesis, so, for ...

Exotic birds of Venezuela

Venezuela is a country of Latin America very rich in flora and fauna.The birdlife of this territory is very wide and covers more than 1400 species, of which 33, are threatened with extinction. Colors, sizes and shapes...exotic birds that live in all kinds of weather, from the abundant forests tropical to the warm coasts.In Venezuela there are so many types of birds due to the extensive and diverse natural geography, being one of the most complete countries in this regard worldwide. In ExpertAnimal we want to show you the great animal variety that exists on our Planet Earth.Continue reading this article and discover the exotic birds of Venezuela . 1.Turpial The turpial is the national bird of Venezuela .It is an animal very appreciated for its great beauty and because it sings beautiful melodies.It is considered one of the best singing birds.Lives in the Plain Venezuelan forests and it is so popular that even appears on the bills .It is characterized by a mixture of vibrant c...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog