A few days ago, as Stola bounced from one impulsive behavior to another\u2013ripping the couch, chasing the cat, jumping on everyone, nipping, repeat 100 times\u2013I muttered to John, \u201cIs there any chance they make stimulants for dogs?\u201d<\/p>\n
And then I wondered: Can dogs even have ADHD? <\/strong><\/p>\n So, of course, I dug into the question and in this article, I\u2019ll break down some key definitions, look at considerations, and discuss the inherent problems with the existing research. But, before we dig in, two notes: <\/p>\n Before we get into the nitty-gritty about ADHD, it\u2019s important to remember that ADHD is simply one neurotype, and there are many, many neurotypes. So, three things we need to understand before we dig into our dogs\u2019 neurotypes:<\/p>\n Why am I including autism in this discussion? Many signs of ADHD and ASD overlap. Many co-occur. In humans, sometimes it\u2019s tough to pull the threads to determine which condition (or both) a person has. I imagine the same would be true with our dogs, even though their frontal lobes are smaller relative to their brain size compared to humans. So, I think it\u2019s important to not only ask about ADHD but also ASD.<\/p>\n Your neurotype\u2013and your dog\u2019s neurotype<\/strong>\u2013is unique to you. Even if you\u2019re a neurotypical person, you still have learning differences or sensory differences from other neurotypical people. <\/p>\n Maybe the bigger question should be: Are dogs neurodivergent? So\u2026<\/p>\n Neurodiversity has been considered part of the human condition, rarely (never?) considered for our animal friends. But do you think all dogs have the same brain? <\/p>\n Of course not. <\/p>\n In fact, I\u2019d argue that it\u2019s pretty audacious to even imply that all dogs\u2019 brains work the same. It stands to reason, then, that no two dogs have the same neurotype.<\/p>\n In our human landscape, neuro-affirming policies and accommodations are becoming more accessible. Think: noise-cancelling headphones, medication, fidgets, different types of chairs, quiet spaces in public areas, occupational therapy, and so on. I wish these accommodations were more widely accepted or understood, but we are making forward progress. <\/p>\n (Quick aside to anyone who thinks none of this applies to them: I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever met a single person who doesn\u2019t have texture preferences with food. Or type of socks. Or overhead versus table lamp. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever known anyone who doesn\u2019t have a strength for learning via listening over reading or vice versa. There are so many facets and so many sensory systems that most of us never learned about<\/a> that I sincerely doubt anyone can honestly come into the comments and say, \u201cNOT ME.\u201d)<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve loved multiple dogs, you know intuitively that none of them think the same or process their environment the same. Even if you adopt your dogs at the same time, even if they\u2019re from the same litter, they will have different brains with unique operations. While we can\u2019t give them assessments, we can observe their behavior and their interactions with the environment and draw conclusions. <\/p>\n The conclusion that I\u2019ve drawn is that, yes, there is neurodiversity within the canine kingdom. <\/p>\n To me that seems obvious, but I have spent the last almost decade learning about this stuff through the human members of my family, so I do not take it for granted that this isn\u2019t obvious to everyone. All brains are good brains, and all brains are different. <\/strong><\/p>\n These big questions always have to come back to the research. <\/p>\n What does the data show about dogs and neurodiversity? <\/strong><\/p>\n One study showed<\/a> that dogs who have anxiety have measurable differences in their brains compared to non-anxious dogs. <\/p>\n Another study showed a potential genetic connection to autism in beagles: \u201cFor example, some beagle dogs have a mutation in a gene called Shank3, which is\u00a0linked with autism in humans<\/a>\u00a0and often characterised by difficulties in social interactions. Beagles with the Shank3 mutation also\u00a0exhibit low desire<\/a>\u00a0to interact with people. It turns out that they have reduced cell to cell signalling in regions of the brain linked with attention.\u201d source<\/a><\/p>\n There are dozens of other studies that show analogous behaviors, genetic markers, and more\u2013but no comprehensive or conclusive study to create a diagnostic path for ADHD, autism, or similar. And, it\u2019s important to remember that our pet dogs might have life experiences like abuse or neglect that contribute to behaviors that could also be attributed to a non-typical neurotype. Just like humans. <\/p>\n Recently studies on the neuroscience of dogs do show that, yes, there is neurodiversity among our pups (I mean, to no one\u2019s shock, really\u2026), but we\u2019re far from diagnosing our pups with ADHD or autism. It\u2019s worth a quick note that, while veterinary behaviorists can diagnose true clinical hyperactivity (called hyperkinesis), it\u2019s incredibly rare.<\/p>\n Regardless.<\/p>\n No two brains are the same. We know this. Rather than focusing on a diagnosis, the bigger, more important question should be: How can we be neuro-affirming for our dogs? (This applies to humans, too. The world needs to affirm more diversity. This could be an entirely other post\u2026) Where to start:<\/p>\n Not really, not if we can figure out our own pet dog\u2019s sensory needs, anxiety profile, exercise requirements, and more\u2013all to help our dogs be happier and healthier overall. Whether Stola actually needs a doggy stimulant or just a better sensory outlet, what matters is figuring out what our pets need and finding ways to deliver on that. For our kids and our human friends and family, we find ways to provide the things they need, whether it\u2019s fidgets or low lighting or less food dye or sensory breaks or exercise. We owe our dogs the same, in my opinion!<\/p>\n If you have a dog who struggles to stay regulated, here are a few of my favorite sensory and engagement tools and resources that help keep a busy brain (like Stola\u2019s!) focused:<\/p>\n So, what do you think? Have you considered this before, perhaps if you have a dog who seems to be wired a little differently? Or, if you\u2019ve never thought about neurodiversity with your dog, has this sparked any thoughts, ideas, or questions? Please share in the comments\u2013I\u2019d love to learn from you!<\/p>\n If you enjoyed this post, you\u2019ll LOVE my book For the Love of Dog<\/em>, available on\u00a0Amazon<\/a>,\u00a0Bookshop.org<\/a>, or anywhere you prefer to buy books!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
So, let\u2019s dig into the big question: Do dogs get ADHD?<\/h2>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nFirst, some definitions:<\/h2>\n
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Can dogs be neurodivergent?<\/h2>\n
What do the studies show?<\/h2>\n
So, can dogs have ADHD?<\/h2>\n
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Does it matter if dogs are autistic or if dogs have ADHD? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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