CAIRO: Like humans, animals experience fear, grief, anger and other emotions. But if humans resort to psychiatric help to resolve their grievances, where does that leave animals?
The idea might have occurred to some, especially pet owners. Others still might wonder what goes on deep inside an animal’s mind.
While attending to her dying cat Penny, Janice wondered how her pet was considering the notion of death. Do animals really think of the afterlife?
“It is really difficult to pin down animals’ beliefs since they are not articulate creatures, said Dr Mohamed Nabawi of the Egyptian Society of Animal Friends, Giza.
“But as we are told in the Holy Quran, all creations in the universe including animals are reciting the name of the Almighty, so to the best of our knowledge animals are believers; even more believing than man who’s sometimes influenced by the devil, he added.
Nabawi noted: “However, it’s impossible to get to know how they perceive the ramifications of life and existence. But they are definitely capable of human feelings and emotions experienced in certain situations such as separation from loved ones, grief resulting from the death of kids and mates, jealousy when a rival comes along.etc. It is important to note that each type of animal is different when it comes to reactions to the outside world.
Nabawi pointed out that of all animals, camels, horses, dogs and elephants are the most capable of internalizing and exhibiting their own emotions. So much so that some of their illnesses could be caused by pent-up feelings.
“Animal psychology is an established science, but its application is rare in this region and vets hardly consider it unless they have exhausted all methods to treat an animal, Nabawi said.
“But this also goes for other animal-related specialties. A vet is supposed to look into and cure all animal illnesses, but in some rare cases a specialist is needed.
“I remember when a lion at Cairo Zoo was in danger of losing one of its eyes, many vets failed to save it. We eventually had to call an experienced non-veterinary ophthalmologist who came to operate on an animal for the first time in his life. But he was a seasoned specialist and this was why he succeeded. But in normal circumstances we’ll need a specialized animal eye doctor, bone specialist.etc, all according to case, he commented.
Nabawi said that in the absence of a real animal psychiatrist, the vet has to sometimes be aware of the psychological element when approaching an animal.
The animal owner could play an important role in guiding the vet to any psychological clues that could lead to a cure.
But a new owner in particular should be concerned about the animal’s psychological background, Badawi underlined.
“I remember a horse had fallen seriously ill, much to the concern of his owner. The horse refused to eat, drink or move. Many vets had examined it, thinking its illness was physical.
“When a British vet heard about the case, he insisted on knowing the circumstances that surrounded his illness. When told its mate had died of late, he said that the horse wouldn’t be cured until a new mate replaced the deceased one. Slowly it began to get over the trauma and was cured. This is exactly what happens to man.
Nabawi explained that each animal has a dominant emotion.
Camels internalize anger and are out avenging themselves at any time. When overcome by grief, horses lose their appetite for food and drink. Punishment may be required with unruly horses. Dogs become wild when exposed to fear or when they sense that someone is afraid of them. Cats are ruled by their psychological conditions only up to a limited degree.
“Familiarity with each animal’s psychological makeup could provide the key to how it would affect its health, he remarked.
Supporting his words with real cases, Nabawi explained: “One camel owner who treated his animal badly decided to sell it just before it takes revenge. A year later the camel saw its former cruel owner at one of the markets. Then the old memories of that owner’s maltreatment and cruelty gushed into the animal’s mind and he ran to bite him. Note how camels never forget their tormentor.
He added: “The other example is of two horses that belonged to one of my relatives. He was a lonely retired man who almost lived side by side with the horses. He fed them, cleaned them and attended to all their needs. You wouldn’t really believe it. When he died, the animals were in tears, real tears.
When his funeral started the horses wept, expressing their desire to walk to the graveyard. His family complied with their wish and took them to the cemetery. There they cried like any of the mourners. A few weeks later the couple died of grief!
