• Replies 4 replies
  • Subscribers 33 subscribers
  • Views 153 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Could your pet be neurodiverse?

Iain

An interesting article on whether humans are the only neurodiverse species:

https://theconversation.com/autistic-dogs-neurodiversity-in-our-pets-and-what-it-might-mean-for-us-265888

People are increasingly aware of neurodiversity, and diagnoses such as autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) are becoming more common. And scientists are starting to give their attention to the idea that some of our animal cousins may also experience the world in different ways because of diversity in how their brains function. 

It covers some interesting aspects of animal behaviour and asks whether neurodiversity may be much more widespread than we think.

  • I think it is unlikely that a pet such as a dog will ever be diagnosed with autism or ADHD because a dog can’t say how it is affected. Having said that, my old dog often exhibited behaviours similar to those in humans with ADHD. 

    The study on beagles with a Shank3 gene mutation used stressed dogs kept in laboratory conditions.

    Dogs displaying behaviours that look like autistic traits should see a Vet because it may be a behavioural problem or a sign of a physical condition.

    https://manypets.com/uk/articles/can-dogs-have-autism/

  • in reply to Stuart333

    I agree Stuart, but there are plenty of animals that are solitary. But I think we need to be careful about deciding animals are ND as we don't really know what NT is for many species

    But maybe our companion animals copy us? Maybe the breed of dog you choose says a lot about your personality and how you think? Afterall I've met plenty of small yappy men with small yappy dogs, and as for those women who do doggy beauty days where they dye their dogs fur and pain their claws and stuff! I mean whats that about?

    Often people who prefer dogs are disparaging of cat people and vice versa, I often think people project their prejudices through the medium of the animal they associate with.

  • So according to this people and their dogs should take LSD in order to better communicate. Get stoned with you dog but dont have a bad trip! Joy

  • It's not impossible. I'd be surprised if diversity didn't affect animals. But they have more selective pressure, a shutdown or overload gets you eaten, being unable to function in a group makes you an outcast and gets you eaten, having burnout makes you hungry or get left behind and gets you eaten, not knowing social cues causes more problems where complex language does not exist to compensate, etc. For these reasons I'd expect it to be more subtle.

    In terms of pets though, selective breeding and inbreeding and bigger issues.