🐾 Pet Trauma Care 2025: PTSD in Cats and Dogs After Disasters 🐶🐱💔

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

When disaster strikes—whether it’s a fire, flood, or evacuation—pets can be affected just as deeply as their humans. Emotional trauma doesn’t just disappear once things “go back to normal.” Many animals develop signs of stress and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding these signs and providing appropriate care is critical for helping our companions recover. 🧠🐾

🧠 What Triggers PTSD in Pets?

Pets may develop trauma responses due to:

• 🚨 Evacuations or natural disasters
• 🏠 Temporary separation or sheltering
• 👥 Loss of familiar people, pets, or environment

These unpredictable, uncontrollable events create a sense of helplessness—leading to behavioral and physiological stress responses. 😞

🔍 Signs of Post-Traumatic Stress in Pets

In Dogs:

• 💧 Loss of housetraining
• 🐕 Excessive barking or howling
• 🙈 Hiding or avoiding people
• 😤 Aggression or irritability
• 🍽️ Appetite changes or refusal to eat
• 🧷 Velcro behavior—clingy, unable to be left alone

In Cats:

• 🚽 Inappropriate elimination (outside litter box)
• 🙀 Hiding, hissing, or uncharacteristic aggression
• 😿 Loss of appetite or excessive vocalizing
• 🧼 Overgrooming or withdrawing from contact

These signs may appear days, weeks, or even months after the traumatic event. ⏳

🏡 How to Support a Traumatized Pet at Home

1️⃣ Create a Safe Space

• 🛏️ Designate a quiet, enclosed area (crate, laundry room, etc.)
• 🧸 Include familiar bedding, toys, or clothing with your scent
• 🧴 Use pheromone diffusers or sprays to reduce anxiety

2️⃣ Restore Predictability

• 📆 Keep feeding, walking, and grooming on a consistent schedule
• 🧘 Avoid loud noises or chaos when possible

3️⃣ Encourage Healthy Interaction

• 🎾 Short training games with positive reinforcement (no harsh commands)
• 🐕 Gentle walks and structured play for dogs
• 🐾 Treat-based enrichment and gentle petting for cats (if welcomed)

4️⃣ Do NOT Punish

Punishment increases fear and worsens behavior. Instead, offer safety and calm direction. ❤️

💊 Veterinary Treatment & Medications

Veterinarians may recommend:

• 💉 A full physical exam to rule out injury, pain, or illness
• 💊 Short-term anti-anxiety meds like alprazolam or diazepam
• 🧠 For longer-term cases, SSRIs (like fluoxetine) or TCAs (like clomipramine)

Note: Never use acepromazine (“ace”) for trauma—this may increase sensitivity and suppress coping behaviors. ⚠️

🧪 Important Guidelines for Medication Use

• ⏱️ Some meds may take 4–8 weeks to work
• 🧬 Baseline bloodwork should be done before starting
• 📉 Taper slowly under veterinary guidance if discontinuing
• 📅 Some pets may need long-term medication support

🧠 Behavior Modification & Referrals

For complex or long-term cases, referral to a veterinary behaviorist is recommended. Pairing medication with behavior therapy provides the best chance of long-term improvement. 🎯

Support may include:

• 📚 Counterconditioning (retraining emotional responses)
• 🔄 Desensitization to triggers
• 🤝 Relationship rebuilding through trust-based interaction

📍 Final Thoughts

Disasters affect everyone in the family—including your pet. If you notice signs of anxiety or behavior changes after a stressful event, don't wait—your pet may be suffering in silence. With compassion, structure, and veterinary support, most pets can recover from trauma and rebuild confidence. 🐾💙

Need help supporting a pet after trauma? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app to speak with Dr Duncan Houston or a veterinary behavior expert today. 🐶🐱📱