Border collies are brilliant dogs, but border collies can also suffer from various mental health problems.
Many different reasons can cause these border collie mental illnesses, and the symptoms of border collie mental illness vary depending on which border collie is suffering from it.
Separation Anxiety – Border collies are known as working dogs because they were bred to work on farms and herding sheep with their owners.
They would stay with their owner for most of the day until night came around, where they would sleep outside or in a fenced-in area that was available to them.
However, today’s border collies do not have this luxury because there is no one home to look after them during the day or do border collie work together with.
This lack of attention and border collie work can make border collies feel very lonely, resulting in separation anxiety, which is the main border collie mental illness that border collies suffer from.
Border collie mental illness
Border collie mental illness is not uncommon in border collies as a breed.
Border collies are especially vulnerable dogs to border collie mental illness due to their temperament and border collie intelligence.
There are a variety of border collie mental illnesses that border collies can suffer from, including separation anxiety (when the border collie becomes overly attached with his owner, traumatised when they’re left alone), obsessive-compulsive disorder (when border collies become obsessed with something, such as toys or objects, and will go to extremes to keep said object) and Phobic fear (when border collies experience intense anxiety in the face of specific stimuli, such as storms or fireworks).
How border collies can suffer from separation anxiety
Border collies are usually very energetic dogs that enjoy playing with other animals and humans.
They are border collies, which means they can suffer from various mental illnesses. The most common border collie mental illness is separation anxiety when the dog becomes overly attached to its owner and traumatised by being left alone.
In border collie dogs, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is present now and then in border collies.
However, it is not a true OCD because border collies are obsessed with something they deem necessary or unique.
Sometimes this obsession could be with toys or objects. For border collie dogs, their toys must be with them at all times.
They will go to extremes to keep these things or to avoid them.
Concerning border collie mental problems, border collies can suffer from dementia and canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) as well.
With border collies, they begin having these problems in their mid-age of life.
You could see these signs as older dogs chasing shadows, disorientation, and decreased attention span.
However, border collies are not the only dogs that suffer from such mental disorders.
Many dog breeds could be affected by various mental ailments.
Any dog could also develop different behavioural issues due to multiple causes.
One of them is the dog’s environment and his interaction with his environment.
For example, if a dog does not have enough exercise or gets abused by people around him, he could develop behavioural problems like human-dog aggression.
In general, for all dogs that live with humans, it is important to understand that your dog needs constant attention. Suppose you do not have enough time to spend with your dog.
Get a friend or family member who can help you take care of him.
You could also enrol your dog in various activities like agility training, where he is forced to complete various tasks and have fun at the same time.
The symptoms of border collie mental illnesses and how they vary depending on which border collie is suffering from it
Border collies are a dog breed that is known for being very intelligent.
They also happen to be one of the most at-risk breeds for developing mental illnesses due to their intelligence and high activity level.
Dogs that have an intense fear can display signs of escape and anxiety.
The symptoms vary depending on which border collie is suffering from it.
For example, some might stop eating while others may shake or drool excessively.
Just like humans, border collies that have a mental illness tend to display symptoms of the illness.
Border collies are known for being one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world. Some dogs are even referred to as “collie smart”.
Due to their high intelligence and activity level, Border Collies can be at risk of developing any health problem due to stress.
Border collies are also very active as they require lots of exercise time and dislike being left alone for extended periods.
Lonely Border Collie Syndrome is when a border collie does not receive much attention or physical interaction from his owner.
This lack of awareness causes an individual dog to develop behaviour issues that could lead down a path to mental illness.
Border Collie Mental Illness – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Border collie mental illness is a canine disorder that shows up in your border collie as obsessive-compulsive behaviour.
Canine obsession and compulsion can make dogs very unhappy and their behaviour extremely difficult to live with.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in dogs is generally resistant to treatment, but there are some things you can try.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Symptoms The following list of symptoms may indicate OCD, but it’s not always easy to spot the signs:
The dog appears to be in a trance and does not respond to you at all.
He may stare into space with his eyes wide open, drooling from the mouth, or panting heavily.
The dog seems very anxious about something that is not there.
For example, your dog may start shaking out of fear when you go near him because he thinks you are going to punish him even though you have already forgiven him for doing something wrong.
Some dogs compulsively chase their tail over and over again without success, and others tap their paws on the ground repeatedly as if they want to do some work but cannot quite remember what it is at that moment.
The obsessive-compulsive disorder can make life very unpleasant for your dog, and you will need to find a way to help him.
Many different treatments for this canine disorder are available today, but finding the right one for your border collie can be difficult.
Foods that Cause Canine Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Any food item could cause OCD in dogs, but any highly processed food is likely to carry more risk than whole natural foods.
People who feed their dog a diet rich in artificial chemicals may find that they have an obsessive-compulsive disorder case on their hands.
Also, it should be noted that older dogs become more susceptible to OCD just like humans do as they grow older.
One theory believed by veterinarians working with Border Collies is that excessive protein in your dog’s diet can cause canine obsessive-compulsive disorder.
One of the most common protein sources for dogs is fish, and it should be noted that all fish are very high in mercury content these days.
It is generally not recommended to feed your border collie fish because of its potential toxicity.
Symptoms of border collies with obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as becoming obsessed with something that he deems important, like toys or objects
Border collies with the obsessive-compulsive disorder will be fixated on something they think is essential, like an object or toy.
They will spend a lot of time focused on the item and are likely to go into a panic when it’s taken away.
The dog will have this “strong, obsessive reaction” to things that are not only important to him but also deemed “sacred”, such as a toy or object.
The dog’s obsession can destroy the item he is fixated on.
For example, if something is wrong with the toy, such as it has been disassembled, then the border collie will chew and tear at it until he believes it is right again.
It doesn’t matter how long it takes him to make the object how he wants; his obsession drives him to take action against what bothers him.
The longer they obsess over an issue, dogs tend to become more agitated while attempting to decide what makes them unhappy.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in border collies can also be seen as “licking”, repetitive behaviour that includes licking or chewing an area of hairless skin or an object.
This may appear to be excessive grooming, and many pet owners believe that the dog has some skin problem or yeast infection when, in fact, it is a symptom of their obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The obsession becomes so overwhelming that they become agitated and anxious at the same time.
Another common compulsion for these dogs is tail chasing – an action where they constantly circle themselves in circles while focused on their tails only.
It’s believed that this could stem from witnessing another dog chase its tail, therefore copying what he sees others doing.
Treatment for border collies who have OCD, including medication and behavioral therapy
Border collies with OCD are often treated with a combination of medication and behavioral therapy.
A licensed veterinary behaviourist should be consulted to determine the best course of treatment for individual dogs.
The type of medication prescribed will depend on the severity of symptoms and can include SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), clomipramine, or amitriptyline.
Behavioural therapy for dogs can be very helpful in managing canine behaviour problems; it’s essential to work closely with a veterinarian and a certified professional dog trainer when implementing changes to your dog’s environment or routine.
What you can do to help your border collie cope with their mental illness
The best thing to do is to help your border collie find a new meaning in life.
You can take your border collie on walks or give them a new dog friend who they can play with.
Many of these coping techniques involve the owners and their willingness to let the border collie know that they are loved.
The dogs also need to be given time for themselves.
They need plenty of sleep, enough food, and a warm place to stay, not feeling like they are being abandoned.
Dealing with a border collie suffering from extreme depression can be very tough.
They will act differently and have different needs than other dogs when it comes to food and exercise.
Once you know what is going on, you can begin finding ways for your dog to cope.
Some of these methods involve the owner’s willingness to be there for their dog so that they do not feel alone or abandoned during this challenging time in their life.
The most important thing for you as an owner is to find natural ways in which your dog can cope with his mental illness and give them plenty of love and support throughout all stages of this copying process in order not only their health but also the emotional health of those around them (family members) who they consider their pack.
Border collies are a wonderful breed to have in the family and are there for those you love when needed most, so it’s important to reciprocate.
These dogs also need plenty of exercise, playtime, and physical space, so their anxiety is not exacerbated or made worse by being on top of other family members or any other animal around them, including big and small pets in your home!
Border collies can be destructive, even out of control, when experiencing bad bouts with their mental illness; therefore, it’s best for all concerned if the dog is confined somewhere safe – especially if it’s unsure how your dog will react towards another pet.
Conclusion
If you suspect that your border collie might be suffering from mental health issues, it’s essential to know the signs.
Border Collies can suffer from separation anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder- symptoms vary depending on which problem they’re facing.
Treatment options include medication and behavioural therapy, but sometimes a little bit of extra help is needed if these treatments aren’t working for your pet.
We hope this blog post has helped get you started thinking about what could be going on with your dog!
If any of the above information seems confusing or unclear, please get in touch with one of our team members, who are always happy to answer questions and offer helpful advice regarding canine behaviour and how we can improve the quality of life for dogs in need.
