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LIFESTYLE
Interview with Dr. Juarbe-Diaz, Veterinary Behaviorist Soraya Juarbe-Diaz, DVM, ACVB is a Cornell-trained veterinarian and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists*. Her post-graduate residency training included neurology, learning theory, normal and abnormal behavior, neuropharmacology, ethology, and other relevant topics. She completed her residency training in 1996, became board certified in 1997, and opened a referral veterinary behavioral practice in Florida. (Website: http://www.drjddvm.com) Dr. Juarbe-Diaz serves on several committees of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Veterinary Behavior. She is an experienced speaker at national and international veterinary meetings and behavior conferences and has authored a variety of papers and articles on behavior written for professional and lay publications. She was a monthly guest host for a nationally syndicated live radio show for 6 years where she answered radio listeners' questions on the air *Veterinary behaviorists help animals with organic behavioral disorders, that is, behaviors that are not normal for the species and are not the result of a training deficiency.
What is canine mental illness? As with humans, dogs have a repertoire of behaviors and emotions that serve one purpose – to keep the body alive and healthy. That means avoiding pain and danger, learning and repeating behaviors that promote well-being, perceiving and learning to navigate the physical and social environment and, if offspring exist, engaging in behaviors that protect and nurture them. When any of these behaviors are performed in a way that is excessive, out of context, and diminishes the dog’s social or physical well being, a mood disorder is likely present. When does it usually manifest? Though mental illness can present at any age, the majority of cases likely begin on or around the time of social maturity, which in the dog roughly falls between 1 and 3 years of age, with smaller breeds maturing early while larger breeds maturing later. At least for pathologic aggression, females may present earlier than males (my experience is that they seem to reach social maturity sooner than males.) What causes it? With the advent of genomic studies in domestic animal species, we may have a clearer answer to this question in the future. Veterinary behaviorists and a large number of other interested scientists support the theory that a predisposition to develop clinical signs of mood disorders is inherited. Animals' environments, diets and exposure to toxins (I refer here to illicit drugs) are better controlled than with humans; there is little animals can (or would) do to make themselves mentally ill. Whether signs will develop is likely influenced by experience or environmental circumstances that would not affect another dog unless it is predisposed. Who is doing research on this issue? A variety of scientists in the fields of veterinary behavior, ethology, psychology, neuropharmacology, psychiatry, and genetics, plus others in lesser known fields have taken an interest in research, either for the direct benefit of animal patients or using animals as models for human disease. Are there any publications you recommend? There are few publications specifically devoted to mental illness in animal patients. The recently established (2006) Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research was developed to serve as a forum to disseminate the latest developments and research in the field of veterinary behavior medicine. To my knowledge, no publication exists that addresses this topic for the pet owner. When I go to the shelter looking to adopt a service dog candidate, are their any clues that I should be on the lookout for in dogs that may have mental health problems? The answer to this question is complex. A shelter setting can be a chaotic and frightening environment for most pets. Dogs may have been abandoned by their previous owners or have wandered homeless for awhile before coming to a shelter. Their background and past can be complete unknowns and some problems, such as separation anxiety, may not be apparent. Nonetheless, wonderful, well-adjusted dogs can be found in shelters. Service dogs of any type must be extremely mentally stable because they will be exposed to many situations during the performance of their duties. They must remain calm in the face of heavy traffic, noisy environments, approach by many unfamiliar people and possibly animals and still be able to focus most of their attention on their person, without feeling threatened by their surroundings. The dog you are looking for will be at the front of the cage (or willing to come to the front to greet you.) S/he will greet you calmly, perhaps lick you. S/he will make eye contact with you with a relaxed, soft expression, and while its ears may swivel as it listens all around, his focus will remain on you. When leashed, he will walk past the other barking, jumping dogs without a second glance and without shying. He will not drag you by the leash, though he may walk to its end. A dog that occasionally looks back at you as you walk and that explores but quickly comes back to you when you encourage him to, shows a distinct desire to interact with a person. Panting is OK, so long as it is in response to a warm ambient temperature, and the slower the better. Pupils should be small (50% the size of the iris unless there is dim lighting.) When approaching others, adult, child or animal, s/he should do so with a slow wagging tail and a relaxed lower jaw. There are probably good dogs out there that do not show all these traits but the more criteria that are met, the better. Avoid dogs that act afraid or look timid. Try to avoid picking a mentally fragile individual for a task that requires adaptability and a roll-with-the-punches temperament. Yes, they might work over time, but you are looking for the ideal dog that will help you. Finally, do not underestimate the power of your own instincts - if you seem to click with a particular dog, take him (or her) out for a walk and see how you feel together. If one is mentally adaptable (by this I mean chemically able to react then recover to and from stimuli) one can handle the stresses of the job. Aptitude is different. So you need to look at both things. What is your advice to people with mental health disabilities who are concerned that their mental illness is unduly stressful for their Service Dog? Are there any signs to watch for? Mental health disability is but one kind of stress that a dog may encounter. A dog may be equally or more stressed in a very noisy household or one with children, or one located near a busy thoroughfare. All owners, whether with or without a mental health disability should watch for signs of stress such as drooling, restlessness, whining, pacing, changes in appetite (usually a decrease,) withdrawal from social contact, hiding, immobility, shaking or trembling. Big pupils given adequate lighting are also a sign of emotional arousal. Because people with mental health disabilities know firsthand how such illnesses feel, they actually may be more sympathetic and more likely to notice stress in their pets. What symptoms are indicative of canine depression? What causes canine depression? How is it treated? Are these treatments always successful? I don't think anyone has described major depressive episodes in dogs, other than situational or temporal, such as when mourning after a death. In those situations, general activity and appetite can decrease. A depressed dog does not interact socially, and activities that it used to enjoy are no longer motivating for the dog. However, other mood disorders including anxiety, phobias, compulsive disorders and impulsive aggression are treated with a combination of medication and behavior modification. In the majority of cases the pet’s quality of life can be improved significantly. What are the risks associated with 24/7 canine partnership when handler and dog must be separated for a period of time? Is separation anxiety more difficult for a service dog that is accustomed to being with its owner 24/7 compared to that of a pet dog? Separation anxiety is not directly caused and linked to how much time a dog spends with its person. Thousands of dogs experience separation from an owner (i.e., dog is given up, owner goes to college) and exhibit no signs or mild signs that would be normal (wane over a few days). However, service dogs do spend far more time with their person. Accustoming any dog to brief periods of being alone or with another person is a good practice in preparation for times when this may happen out of necessity, such as the dog spending time at the veterinary hospital or with friends while the owner travels abroad. My service dog is getting old, and I need to train a replacement. I am concerned that when my current service dog sees me training a new dog this will upset her or make her depressed. What do you think? If you picked the right dog to start with, this should not be a problem, because the addition of another family member will be taken in stride. As you train your new dog, take turns in working with both dogs – this benefits the older dog who still wants to work for you and the younger one, because we know dogs can learn by observation.
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