| The dictionary defines psychosis as: | | | | anyone unfortunate enough to be in their aggressive |
| "...a mental disorder characterized by symptoms, such | | | | path. They often do not respond to outside stimuli. |
| as delusions or hallucinations, that indicate impaired | | | | Their moods quickly change from manic to depressive. |
| contact with reality." | | | | Some psychotic dogs will not eat to the extent that |
| Psychologists and psychiatrists may argue indefinitely | | | | they will actually die of starvation. |
| as to where to draw the line between neurotic and | | | | A dog's erratic behavior more likely to be diagnosed |
| psychotic behaviors, and it is no doubt difficult to | | | | as psychotic if one or more of the following conditions |
| discern symptomatic differences at that common | | | | are present in the dog's history: an accidental |
| junction; but, when one focuses upon the outside | | | | overdose of drugs, extensive corticosteroid drug |
| extremes of each condition, the differences become | | | | therapy, distemper before three months of age, a |
| obvious, even in dogs. | | | | serious parasitic infection before six months of age, |
| A neurotic dog may exhibit chronic anxiety, fear, | | | | diabetes, a history of severe beatings, an injury to the |
| hyperactivity, obsessive behavior, and inappropriate | | | | spine or the head, and extreme psychological trauma. |
| responses to stimuli. Truly psychotic dogs, however, | | | | The pattern of the occurrences of psychosis in dogs |
| are deranged. Their behavior is acute and | | | | fairly well parallels the occurrence of psychotic disease |
| unpredictable. It ranges the spectrum from manic highs | | | | in humans. Some dogs have a genetic condition that |
| to deep depression, and tends to be dangerous and | | | | reveals itself with destructive behavior early in life. |
| destructive to the dog as well as to other animals and | | | | Others lead normal lives until, at a certain age, serious |
| humans with which the dog comes into contact. | | | | psychotic behavior is exhibited. |
| Many of these behavioral characteristics are | | | | The mental health of dogs is of interest and concern |
| sometimes exhibited by non-psychotic dogs that are | | | | to veterinarians. Some specialize in the evaluation and |
| "having a bad day." Others may be troubled by some | | | | treatment of these mental diseases, but psychosis in |
| distressing ailment that is temporarily affecting their | | | | dogs does not enjoy the same level of scientific |
| behavior. When the distress is gone, the behavior | | | | research that is invested in studying human psychiatric |
| returns to normal. The difference between these dogs | | | | problems. Most owners, while willing to invest |
| and the truly psychotic animals is that the psychotic | | | | considerable sums of money to treat physical ailments |
| animals seem to be completely unaware of the nature | | | | with the proven hope of a cure, are not willing to incur |
| of their destructive behavior. The psychotic dog is not | | | | similar costs to speculatively treat their dog's mental |
| misbehaving; it is simply not able to control its actions. | | | | disease. Truly psychotic humans receive professional |
| Dogs suffering from psychosis often have periods of | | | | psychiatric care, in a secure residential facility if |
| intense violent rage for no apparent reason. They | | | | necessary. Dogs that exhibit serious psychotic |
| injure themselves, attack inanimate objects, and attack | | | | behavior are euthanized. |