When a Belgian malinois named Cora returned from a deployment as a bomb-detecting dog in Iraq, there wasn’t yet a name for the condition that left her startled by loud noises, growling often and acting aggressively toward other dogs. Now, it’s known as canine PTSD, and military dog specialists are learning how to effectively treat it. 

Walter Burghardt Jr., chief of behavioral medicine and military working-dog studies at [Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio], estimates that at least 10% of the hundreds of dogs sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to protect U.S. troops have developed canine PTSD.

Successful treatment can include conditioning a dog to sources of stress, retraining and the use of anti-anxiety medication. Burghart estimates that about half of military dogs with canine PTSD and related problems are retired, but many return to military work or related fields. 

Photo: Cora with Marine Cpl. Drew Daniel Adams. Credit: Tony Perry / Los Angeles Times

1. goddamnedpansies likes this
2. hiaquaman likes this
3. random-proximity-thing likes this
4. itwastheants reblogged this from latimes
5. odetojohn reblogged this from latimes
6. odetojohn likes this
7. straymessages likes this
8. itwastheants likes this
9. ziazhang reblogged this from latimes
10. hugashley reblogged this from latimes
11. toropiski reblogged this from latimes
12. jerryayala reblogged this from latimes
13. zombietoasters likes this
14. zombietoasters reblogged this from latimes
15. waswritinwater reblogged this from latimes
16. waswritinwater likes this
17. basicsand likes this
18. joalonso95 likes this
19. bonchoish likes this
20. katiesober likes this
21. wordsyouveborrowed reblogged this from latimes
22. houseoforange likes this
23. existential-singularity likes this
24. existential-singularity reblogged this from latimes
25. smectite likes this
26. sadsackolympian likes this
27. ickychick likes this
28. tothecityandthesea likes this
29. chandlext likes this
30. raspy likes this
31. neoncrayon likes this
32. starline likes this
33. paperdemons reblogged this from latimes
34. paperdemons likes this
35. itsmelissa likes this
36. krispayne likes this
37. ohcamil likes this
38. thepeterpancomplex reblogged this from latimes
39. thepoliticalnotebook likes this
40. theliberalmormy reblogged this from latimes and added:

    Walter Burghardt Jr., chief of behavioral medicine and military working-dog studies at [Lackland Air Force Base in San...

41. wingsoveriraq reblogged this from latimes
42. carlalacat likes this
43. rachaelrstewart reblogged this from latimes
44. pthomasgarcia said: I miss the front page.
45. dukedesilver likes this
46. jiveassrevolution reblogged this from latimes
47. jiveassrevolution likes this
48. mhuynhh likes this
49. ponchochik reblogged this from latimes
50. catiegirl72 reblogged this from latimes and added:

    Poor puppies :-(

51. Show more notesLoading...