As with people, the different stimuli around us affect each dog individually. Hence, some feel a greater fear than others of shouting, cars, scooters and other factors that are part of our daily lives. When this fear is disproportionate, we may be facing a case of Sensory Deprivation Syndrome.
What is it?
Sensory Deprivation Syndrome is a behavioral pathology that occurs after subjecting the dog to a state of isolation for a long period of time, between three weeks and four months of age. In this way a malformation of the nerve areas of your brain responsible for processing sensory stimuli. Thus, a defect is created in the development of interneuronal connections. Consequently, the animal suffers great difficulties adapting to the environment, always seeking solitude and reacting with fear or anxiety to any stimulus.
Symptom
The most common in these dogs is that they show a scary look, a fearful posture and are not curious about their surroundings. In severe cases, it may reject food and any human or animal contact, as well as present other types of neurodegenerative responses: dermatological problems, disorders in the digestive or urinary system, etc. In many cases they have sleep disturbances, excessive attachment to their family, a phobia of any noise and extreme shyness.
Transmission
Depending on the state of this pathology and its symptoms, one treatment or another will be appropriate. Many times it is necessary to combine several methods, the following two being the most common.
1. Behavior therapy. It is essential to solve this problem. and must be carried out by a qualified ethologist or canine educator. This therapy is totally personalized depending on the case of each dog, and its main objective is to improve the emotional management of the dog in the face of stimuli that cause fear.
2. Administration of psychotropic drugs. If necessary, we can administer mediation to reduce the anxiety of the dog, always under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Tips
It is important not to force the animal to face its fears when it is not yet ready, as this can greatly exacerbate the problem. Likewise, we must provide them with a quiet environment and always treat them with great affection and patience; Let's not forget that he is not guilty of the situation and that he is the first victim of it.