Canine PTSD: how the US military's use of dogs affects their mental wellbeing

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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