Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect both humans and animals. When animals experience trauma, they may physically shake to discharge the energy from the event. If they are unable to do this, the animal is at risk of death. The amygdala region of the brain holds memories of terrifying events that can lead to PTSD in both animals and humans. Brain imaging has shown that PTSD suppresses neurogenesis in response to threats like predators that trigger fears related to past trauma.

2.  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental
health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event
by experiencing it or witnessing it.
 Unlike humans, animals also suffer from post-traumatic
stress disorder.
 When animals suffer trauma, it has been documented
that they will literally shake it off, which helps the
animal discharge the energy of the traumatic event.
They often die if they are unable to shake off the
trauma (Shaw, 2021).

3. Like humans, traumatized cats and dogs can
develop fear and anxiety disorder. The signs of
stress or trauma are as follows:
 Tucked ears and tails
 Raised hackles
 Lip-licking
 Excessive vocalization
 Avoid eye contact

5.  Mammals, birds and even some
invertebrates share a common basic
structure and common responses to fear,
terror or joy.
 Amygdale is a complex structure of the
brain that holds the memories of terrifying
events that causes post traumatic
disorder.
 Brain imaging studies have shown that
animals or humans with PTSD have a fear
of predators or any terrifying incidents
suppresses neuro-genesis (Levy, 2021).

6.  Levy, S. (2021). Do animals suffer from post-traumatic stress?. Bbc.com.
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210827-do-animals-
suffer-from-post-traumatic-stress.
 Shaw, B. (2019). When Trauma Gets Stuck in the Body. Psychology Today.
Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-the-
body/201910/when-trauma-gets-stuck-in-the-body.
 Fitzsimmons, P. (2018). How to Heal an Emotionally Traumatized Pet |
PetMD. Petmd.com. Retrieved from
https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/how-heal-emotionally-traumatized-pet.
 Levy, S. (2021). Do wild animals get PTSD? Scientists probe its evolutionary
roots. Knowable Magazine | Annual Reviews. Retrieved from
https://knowablemagazine.org/article/living-world/2021/do-wild-animals-get-
ptsd.