Can Animals Have Autism?
September 7, 2007 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Recent research studies have noted that “mutant mice with an autism gene display striking learning and memory skills mirroring those seen in human ’savants’”; the September 6th Science Daily further suggests that a mouse model of autism spectrum disorders has been developed:
Mice with this mutation show a similar type of social impairment and cognitive enhancement as the type seen in some people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). ASDs are enigmatic cognitive disorders that impair a patient’s social interactions, but do not necessarily limit their intelligence.
The scientists said the mice they developed may represent an important advance in modeling autism spectrum disorders in mice and offer researchers a new tool for understanding how specific defects in neural development may lead to autism.
The genetically engineered mice, who have been shown to have “enhanced learning and memory skills” due to having a “mutant version of a gene called neuroligin-3″ are being studied at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Neuroligin-3 is involved in the functioning of synapses.
Elsewhere, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, researchers are investigating drosphilia—the fruit fly—to study another protein, neurexin. The researchers deleted the gene for neurexin in the fruit flies and found that they had “trouble moving”; further investigation revealed that the flies were missing half of their synapses:
What was left were deformed, making it impossible for them to send out all the chemical signals that are necessary.
The next step in the research, which is already underway, is going to be to find out what proteins neurexin binds to as well as how they interact with each other and what the exact order of events is that result in the successful organization of the synapses within the nerve cells. They hope that eventually the research will lead to understanding the role of neurexin in functions like learning and memory and thereby finally understanding how defects in this one protein cause disorders such as autism.
As Mike Stanton noted in a post about these research studies,
Drosophila are an important part of the biological research toolkit. Their relatively simple genome and rapid reproductive cycle have made them a favourite of biologists researching the mechanics of evolution. But autistic fruit flies? Autism is a complex social disorder. Fruit flies are not complex social beings.
Mice, too, are not “complex social beings”; how one might diagnose a mouse with autism is not exactly clear. A non-verbal mouse is nothing too unusual. Genetically engineering animals to have some autistic traits (as per DSM critieria) can begin to tell us how some things about the interaction between genes and synaptic functioning in the brain. But autism (the human kind, at any rate) is much more than having certain learning and memory skills, or certain kinds of synaptics connections.
Is autism something particularly distinct to humans?
Curiouser and curiouser! First lion pride mothers, now autistic flies and mice. What’s the fly equivalent of flapping or mouse echolalia?
How might the human ear learn to hear the difference between a squeak and a squeak?
I think it can be seen in one of two ways: (1) Animals are never autistic; or (2) All animals are autistic. They are contradictory, but they both are plausible views. The view that it’s possible to model autism (behavioraly) in animals, on the other hand, borders on the absurd in my opinion.
There are animals that have behavior *reminiscent* of autism, however. Not just some of the member of the species, but all of them, or all in one gender:
http://autismnaturalvariation.blogspot.com/2006/03/autistic-bird.html
I’ve observed some horses that tend to be what I’d consider to be autistic. Behaviorally, they don’t understand horse body language; that can make them a real challenge to train. Some horses also really require predictability and structure in a manner similar to a person with autism.
I’d say some animals do have autism–if you look at their social language abilities (primarily in the non-verbal, body language realm).
I have told my wife for years that all cats are autistic. The fact that you are there is completely irrelevant to them.
Although the fact that you are there is neither irrelevant to cats nor autistic people.
I am still bemused by the fact that a reporter came into my house, I immediately turned directly away from her and stared out the window, and she wrote this up as my showing no reaction to her at all.
If she hadn’t been there I wouldn’t have been afraid enough to turn away from her, nor had anyone to turn away from.
Study a Finnish Spitz, a dog breed commonly known to be intelligent yet epileptic.
Compare to human autism.
What do you see?
A non-verbal mouse? Sorry. this one made me laugh out loud. What a concept!
When my hunny & I got married, I joked that one of my step-cats had “pawtism.” My two boys are on the spectrum; and, though, I do not theologically believe in karma, I can’t help but think about all my jokes about pautism, the short bus, etc….(Sigh). God, you’re not mad at me, are you? No? Good. Thanks! (BTW, I am being facetious…my little guys are Blessings # 2 & #3 in my life; right after my hunny – #1 and #2a – my daughter, and #2’s twin sister!)
Certainly cats have autism. I have a savannah and within a month I told my husband, I though he was autistic. While some cats may not be autistic, hybrids such as my savannah which has approximately 12% wild serval in him is surely autistic. I would venture to stay that wild aminals could be classified as having autism while domestic may or may not. Not having autism is probably the unusual verses the norm.
I think my dog may be autistic. That is how i found this sight, googling autism in animals. She does not bark, but makes a whining whimpering sound when she wants something. She has uncontrolled, jerking movements sometimes, awfully stubborn, repetitive actions, and sometimes just looks at you like “I don’t understand”. If anyone has any info on autistic animals or dogs specifically, it would be a help.
I do believe it is possible for canines to be autistic. I teach several autistic young people in the music field and have observed the patterns. I also raise a “designer breed” of dogs known as Jugs- 1/2 Pug 1/2 Jack Russell. Though each one have their own distinctive personalities, one of my males does not like to socialize with the other five dogs, freaks out if you make eye contact, and goes into convulsive states if one picks him up to pamper or cuddle him. He is perfectly content though to lay at your side and does like to be petted, but as soon as eye contact is made, or an effort to get closer, he goes into his paranoid state. He also exhibits a set pattern of “almost ritualistic actions” when he is fed. He will spin himself and roll over three times, then run to his dish. Despite he is different, like his human counter parts, he is still a beautiful creatue and displays love in his own way.
Fascinating—-a friend has a Jack Russell, very high strung so to speak (the dog that is).
What I would to know what these mad reseachers feed or iject into the mice to get to get the results of that mouse to get Autism. IF you what it takes to give an animal Autism then wouldn”t you think it would be wise to keep these things away from babies either before birth of after. Was it the thimerosl after birth or did they feed the mother some before birth. SO LETS HEAR IT. IT is nice to hear what they can do and but it would be nice to how they are ging fix it!
I know one of my cats is autistic, compared to my other cats. I had him from 3 weeks old, as a feral abandoned baby. He’s now over a year. He grew up biting my other cats as a way to play, but didn’t get a clue when the game was no longer fun (i.e. he outweighed them). He has made enemies of my older two cats. He has practically no meow, unless panicked, then it comes out weird and strained. He has a perpetually wild eyed look, and jumps up in my arms if I get upset, and starts purring until I calm down. His play with other cats seems very one-sided. He get easily irritated by being touched by anyone, even though he was raised as a bottle fed baby. He seems autistic only compared to my other cats. He’s definitely “different.” He’s my baby.
I too found this site because I have long suspected my cat to have ASD. He does not like to be held and will whine if you pick him up. I have never before heard a cat whine. He has definite repetitive behaviors. He does like to be petted but really more liked combed. He does not like you to look him in the eye or get to close to his head. His social behavior is improving as he gets older but he is still very introspective. He always looks worried and constantly studies things. It took him a really long time to learn his name. And he has an amazing memory. I worked with an autistic child from birth until 6 and I would never have thought about a pet having autism until this one cat.
I strongley belive that it is not only possible but fact. I have a small bichon frese and have had him scince a pup. He is a lovley little dog and is very loving but displays alot of autistic characteristics, he has some very strange habbits (taking food from his bowl to another part of the house, that beeing the same chosen spot), dosnt learn when running a walking into stationary objects and seems not to feel any pain when doing so, like the garden gate (when you would have asumed that it would hurt him). He is also very highly strung, if someone outside makes the littlest nosie he will be up and barking for hours (similar to an autistic person when they freak out) and nothing will deter him. Although none of this is concrete evidence to prove he is an autistic dog I have grown up with dogs all my life and like a human that has autism he has a very differant personality to all other dogs, so differant that I am covinced. Please let me know your thoughts.
I have 3 cats all of whom I love dearly. However, my youngest cat, a 2 year old calico, is very socially inept. She does not like to be around people at all and will not look at you. I have to literally trap her in order to be able to hold her and give her affection – which she absolutely hates. My other cats are very well-adjusted and social. All 3 were rescues and I have had all of them since they were at least 3 months old. They grew up in the same environment and had the same amount of love and affection. As a special education teacher and after working with several students who are on the spectrum, I truly believe that my baby is autistic or at least exhibits autistic tendencies. My vet told us that she would outgrow her “fear” in time, but she has yet to do so and I really don’t think that she ever really will. After having several cats I am a firm believer that cats can have many of the same problems that people have – including autism and learning disabilities.
@nicoahyany,
we don’t have any pets and I do think a cat might be good though my son is fascinated somewhat by dogs when we see them on the street—–thank you—
I was suspected that my son’s chihauhua was autistic but after reading some of the posts on this website, I am totally convinced! She will not come to any one in the family but my son, but if you sit on the sofa she will come and sit with you and wag her tail but as soon as you try to return pick her up she freaks and starts to try cry and jump out of your hands. She barks and growls at my husbands feet but is happy to go to him when he is laying on the bed. She will be walking and turn around in circles about five times. When someone lays down next to her she rubs her body against our heads over and over like a cat. She is ritulalistic about eating. She takes a piece of food and runs under the table or into another room where one of is at and eats it. sometimes she turning around in circles when she is on her way to get the food. She must burn all the calories she eats during her meals running back and forth! She always seems to be on the alert. looking back and forth from room to room. I have also worked with autistic adults and when I saw her behaviors I began to think she was autistic but had not heard anyone talk about autistic dogs until now. I have had several chihuahuas and other breeds but have never seen these types of behaviors. I am glad my son is so accepting of her behavior and loves her for her uniqueness.
@Leta, fascinating—-sounds like she has the right home and family—-
“Is autism something particularly distinct to humans?”
Strictly speaking, yes. For a number of reasons.
I have a horse i am currently training who i am convinced is autistic! Hi’s boddy language with other horses is all wrong, but most noticably he is a nice natured animal that is not afraid of most things but you can watch him and his eyes get a soft, doughy look about them and he is no longer “there” then the slightest thing will ‘wake him up’ and with no warning he explodes in a full blown temper tantrum. I have found you need to keep touching and talking to him when your handling him to keep his brain focused and he’s fine. Has anyone done any reserch on this?
I have been wondering about this for some time. There is a specific kind of thoroughbred (racetrack people call them “ratty” horses) that appears to display autism spectrum disorder. They are supersensitive to touch and sound, seem to lack the ability to recognize social cues from other horses and often weave, pace and crib. Such horses, though intelligent and often talented, seem to be unable to regain their composure once it is lost.
It could be a useful thing to research, especially given that the pedigree of every single thoroughbred horse can be reliably traced back for four centuries. If it’s a genetic trait in horses, surely it can be pinpointed and possibly even predicted? Also, many horses with such traits are successfully trained for racing, showjumping, dressage, etc. Couldn’t those techniques be modified for people, too?
My malti-poo dog exhibits a number of un-doglike behaviors, reminiscent of autism. She avoids people – if talked to or even looked at she will leave the room. When she is sitting on the couch, she will permit you to pet her, but she does not respond at all to it – doesn’t cock her head or lean in to your hand, as other pets do. She doesnt seem to recognize affection. I thought this was because she was rescued from a backyard breeder, til I met other dogs with similar histories, who do know & want affection & attention. She whines & runs away when asked “go for a walk?!” And the only thing that seems to motivate her is food. She will come when called ONLY when tempted with a morsel, which she will take from your hand, then quickly retreat. Does not socialize with other dogs. Just ignores them or avoids them.Have had her 3 years. Would love to hear suggestions that may help her become more sociable.