Jonas Machado Cunico and colleagues (2025) conducted a review in Caderno Pedagógico analyzing scientific literature published between 2013 and 2024 on psychiatric disorders in companion animals. The study emphasizes how the strengthening of the human–animal bond, combined with urban living, has increased the prevalence and recognition of mental health issues in pets.
The review identified social isolation, lack of environmental stimulation, early-life trauma, and weak emotional bonds as major contributors to behavioral and physiological disturbances in dogs and cats. Neurobiological dysfunctions, especially within the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, were highlighted as central mechanisms underlying disorders like anxiety, depression, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and post–traumatic stress disorder.
Treatment strategies included the use of psychopharmacological interventions alongside environmental enrichment designed to provide physical, sensory, cognitive, and social stimulation. The authors stress that veterinary professionals must adapt by receiving specialized training in animal mental health and by integrating behavioral assessments into routine care.
Ultimately, the review concludes that recognizing and addressing animal mental health is essential for ethical, modern veterinary practice, and that further research is needed to develop effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools that promote both physical and emotional well-being in companion animals.
Source: Cunico, J. M., Alves, L. A. G., Andrade, E. R., Surui, P. O.-H., Carmo Silva, F., Souza, B. M., Souza, D. S., Leão, G. C. H., Oliveira, B. V., Zadra, V. F., Rosa, V. B. B., & Santos, I. F. C. (2025). Mental disorders in dogs and cats – a literature review. Journal: Caderno Pedagógico. Publication Date: 2025-05-27. Authors: Jonas Machado Cunico, L. A. G. Alves, E. R. Andrade, P. O.-H. Surui, F. Carmo Silva, B. M. Souza, D. S. Souza, G. C. H. Leão, B. V. Oliveira, V. F. Zadra, V. B. B. Rosa, I. F. C. Santos.
