Can animals get sick from sadness, according to science?

When we are first animalsone of the attitudes that mobilize us is trying to communicate with them, regardless of the language.

Depending on the species we are dealing with we can obtain some answers (a dogfor example) or simply indifference (a fish).

It also depends on how much we know the animal; if it is ours and we know it habits, it is easier to identify whether they are happy or sad, affectionate or grumpy. And it is clear that a dog communicates more than a cat, but if we know our cat we will know something about his Humor.

A study carried out on dogs and shared by the scientific journal Behavioral processesshowed that dogs responded with neural activity corresponding to joy when they perceived odors familiar and with restlessness and anxiety when the smells were unfamiliar.

Animals get sick from sadness

What do animals have emotions are felt, although the ability to demonstrate this may vary depending on the species. The place The mind is wonderful he understands that, at least, animals can hear them emotions: fear, joy, disgust, sadness and anger. The chimpanzees demonstrated empathy and compassion towards their peers. And some animals, like elephants, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

For animals, just like for humans, negative emotions can do this lead to sadness or depression. Emotion processing in mammals and humans is considered similar because the brain and neurochemical structures are similar.

An interesting article from National Geographic cites a study published on Scientific magazinecarried out by the professor of neuroscience of the University of Pennsylvania (United States) Olivier Berton, on rodents, primates and fish. Scientific research has revealed in these species states of disinterest towards their habitat and towards their companions.

Berton affirms this some symptoms of the disease They can be detected in animals, such as anhedonia, which is the loss of satisfaction and pleasure in food or sexual activity. They also alter their relationship with other group members and show behavioral changes in sleep and daily activities. They can become aggressive and even give up, without defending themselves, in a stressful situation.

A depressed primate behaves similarly to a depressed human, e.g He shows this with his facial expressions and his eyes.as well as refusing to eat or being unable to sleep, among other symptoms.

The professional clarifies that there are some obstacles to reaching more advanced stages of research: it is difficult to study these behaviors in the laboratory because only by studying animals can we reach serious conclusions. in its natural habitatand this is not always possible.

But he points out that many studies associate these disorders with theirs chance of survival. “There may come a time when they won’t be able to cope with the situation and will become easier prey for their predators,” she says.

Professor Berton acknowledges that vets often deal with antidepressants for dogs who for some reason temporarily move away from their owners and are stressed by the separation. There are also animals that scratch themselves until they bleed, a behavior understood as psychiatric disorder.