In 2014 about 5-10% of deployed military working dogs showed signs of
canine PTSD – but the disorder can affect dogs far away from
battlefields too
From 2008 to 2009, Gina served a six-month tour of duty in Iraq. She
was tasked with going door to door and flushing insurgents out after US
marines threw flash-bang grenades in before her.
She became jittery and panicked, and was unable to perform her
duties. So she was returned to the United States and a meeting was
called to consult experts on the matter. While Gina’s symptoms lined up
with those of post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental health condition
triggered by traumatic events, she was experiencing something the world
wasn’t as familiar with: canine PTSD.
Wednesday marks Veterans Day, a time to honor all those who have
served the US – including military dogs. The American Humane Association
usually sponsors a float in New York City’s Veterans Day parade in
honor of military working dogs, although this year it concentrated on
its push for Congress to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, to
ensure dogs are brought home after their service overseas.
For the entire article: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/11/canine-ptsd-us-military-working-dogs
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