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War is hell — and not just for humans anymore. Military dogs are now being diagnosed with the same combat-related stress disorders as the soldiers they serve alongside.

Experts at Lackland AFB (Texas) estimate that at least 10 percent of the hundreds of dogs sent to Iraq and Afghanistan have developed canine PTSD.  That designation was made by dog trainers and other specialists at the base, who received reports of dogs’ demeanors changing during deployments or who noticed symptoms of mental trauma when the animals returned home.

Karo and his handler, Staff Sgt. Michael Stevens, run through an explosive device detection drill in Afghanistan. Military dogs are often used to sniff out bombs because of their strong sense of smell.

“This is something that does not get better without intervention,” Walter Burghardt Jr., Lackland’s chief of behavorial medicine and military working-dog studies, told the Los Angeles Times. “They’re essentially broken and can’t work.”

It’s likely that any intense, stressful period could cause the debilitating condition in any animal. Now, the military is investigating ways to treat and re-train these working dogs — effective but expensive weaponry that also serves as a loyal companion.

Dutiful in the face of danger

Dogs have been fighting alongside U.S. troops since the Civil War, though they weren’t officially inducted into the U.S. Army until 1942. As of early 2010, there were approximately 2,800 deployed dogs — the world’s largest canine unit — with approximately 650 of those dogs still on active duty in Aghanistan. These dogs include Dutch and German shepherds, Belgian Malinois and Labrador retrievers.

Military dogs are frequently trained in bomb detection, utilizing their keen sense of smell to sniff out buried explosives and then alerting troops to the danger. Their powerful sniffers are also deployed to track down enemy fighters and clear buildings. During these combat patrols, military dogs are exposed to explosions, gunfire and otherwise violent sights and sounds – just like their human counterparts. As many as 20 physically wounded dogs are sent from combat zones to the Military Dog Center in Vogelweh, Germany, each year.

Want to learn more about military dogs, their training and their history of service? Check out this great photo essay from Foreign Policy magazine.

Changing demeanors and combat effectiveness

Veterinarians have long diagnosed behavioral problems in dogs and other animals; the diagnosis of canine PTSD is much newer. Symptoms vary from case to case (as in humans), but in general they include: hyper-vigilance, increased aggression and/or sudden timidness, refusal to perform and other signs of mental scarring.

Ignoring the bond many soldiers share with these four-legged warriors, it’s in the military’s best interest to treat current cases and prevent future ones. In May 2011, it was estimated that it can cost up to $40,000 and take several months to train a single dog.

“If the dog is trained to find improvised explosives and it looks like it’s working, but isn’t, it’s not just the dog that’s at risk,” Burghardt said in an interview with the New York Times. “This is a human health issue as well.”

Re-training or retirement

For some military dogs, treatment is possible. According to the Los Angeles Times’ article, the primary plan is to re-train afflicted animals by easing them into the things they fear (ie. dark spaces, loud noises or crowds) and rewarding them with treats and positive reinforcement with each success. Anti-anxiety medications, sometimes identical to the ones given to human patients, are also used.

For other affected animals, honorable discharge is a better option. The first monument to honor past and present military dogs will open Jan. 2 at Lackland — the base where most military dog training and veterinary treatment is done.

More on dogs and PTSD

Dogs don’t just help soldiers overseas. Service dogs frequently are used to help soldiers overcome their own combat-related injuries. The Paws for Wounded Warriors program provides service dogs to those suffering from PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. The animals are trained to sense veterans’ anxiety and provide comforting companionship. They are also trained to check out unfamiliar spaces and provide a buffer in overwhelming situations.

Man’s best friend is also helping military families. Check out these 12 ways pets can help military families physically and emotionally.

Photo courtesy of The U.S. Army.

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