When we hear the word therapy we normally associate it with humans trying to get through some sort of medical condition that requires unorthodox and sophisticated care. But our pets sometimes will need to go through that same therapy when they experience physical or emotional strains.
This is a true story about a dog named Robin who experienced depression. Robin was a sweet little poodle and a very playful and happy dog. Robin was a neighbor with several other dogs next door. Two of them were mix rottweilers and the other was some sort of mix German shepherd. There was a board fence which divided the two houses which had the three dogs and Robin. The fence was like picket fences but made with thicker boards to prevent the dogs from breaking it down. The dogs could see each other between the spaces in the boards so when robin came out the backyard they would all get wiled up and start barking. Robin would run up and down along the side of the fence barking while the other three dogs did the same. The owner of robin would always be outside when robin was out as she never took any chances with the dogs at the wooden fence. She however would venture inside the home to get drinks or any other activity which would not take long.
This is a true story about a dog named Robin who experienced depression. Robin was a sweet little poodle and a very playful and happy dog. Robin was a neighbor with several other dogs next door. Two of them were mix rottweilers and the other was some sort of mix German shepherd. There was a board fence which divided the two houses which had the three dogs and Robin. The fence was like picket fences but made with thicker boards to prevent the dogs from breaking it down. The dogs could see each other between the spaces in the boards so when robin came out the backyard they would all get wiled up and start barking. Robin would run up and down along the side of the fence barking while the other three dogs did the same. The owner of robin would always be outside when robin was out as she never took any chances with the dogs at the wooden fence. She however would venture inside the home to get drinks or any other activity which would not take long.
It was a Saturday morning when robin's owner went outback to allow robin some run and play time. This one day she went back inside to use the bathroom. She heard the dogs barking and did not think much of it as it was a usual thing for them to do when robin was out. But she heard robin weining and knew something was definitely wrong. Without even finishing her bathroom activity she ran out back and saw robins lower half over one side and the dogs pulling her over by the upper part of robin's body. One dog held on to robins mouth while the other held on to her paw and was viciously dragging her, the third dog was there barking and waiting for robin to be pulled through to finish the massacre. Robin's owner grabbed a broom and chair and so she could maneuver the fence better and started to beat the other dogs until they let robin go. The dogs owners rushed out the same time and were shocked at what the dogs did. They immediately restrained the dogs and since most of robin was on their side of the fence they gently pulled her through and Robin's owner rushed over. Robin's condition was bad. Her right paw was half way torn off, her face had several deep slashes and half her nose was hanging by a thin piece of skin. They took her up and rushed her to the vet where they were advised that surgery had to be done on the dog immediately. The neighbors were actually good friends with Robin's owner and was also very troubled about what happened to robin and eventually paid for all medical expenses. Robin's surgery was very successful and luckily did not have any internal injuries. Soon robin was home under conditions enforced by her vet. It was discovered eventually that a bottom section of the board fence had rotted away, but no one saw if robin had pushed his head under the fence or had been dragged through.
Even though robin was healing nicely, she was not the same as she used to be. Her cheerful character somehow seemed diminished. She was not eating as she used to and had no interest in venturing outside even though the neighbors had built a concrete fence which wouldn't allow the dogs to see each other. Her owner tried to rekindle the fire that robin once had, she bought her new toys, a new duvet, took her to her favorite spot, the beach, but robin would have none of that. Her poor spirit seemed to have been broken and the attack brought more than just a few physical scars, but emotional ones as well. Her owner sought advice from her vet who asked her to bring robin in for a few days for him to monitor her behavior. He gave robin a full check and she was physically fine, the only thing which was missing was robins spirit. Robin ate only mouthfuls of feeds and began to loose weight, her owner was advised to give her vitamins to help her supplement for lost nutrition and to try a different dog food to see how she would react to it.
Anxiety Disorder and Depression
A dog specialist was eventually hired to view and diagnose robin and he observed her for a week and concluded that she was depressed and was actually going through some sort of anxiety disorder. The Specialist listed several things to try to get robin out of her state:
1. Exercise was recommended
Exercise helps to free the mind so it can refocus the mind. This is true for both humans and animals. It not only lifts depression but it boosts the immune system because the lymph system is activated by motion. Robin was taken to her favorite place, the beach and her owner tried to get her to at least trod, but that proved futile.
2. Fun and Treats
This was the first thing robin's owner provided without having to be told so by a Dog therapist. Robin was not interested in anything toy looking or anything fun for that matter. All she did was slightly ate, drank a little, walked around, looked and slept.
3. Depression medication
If all else failed, she was advise to talk to her vet about depression medication for her dog, as the same depression medication taken by humans could be used to guide robin out of her state. Her owner was very skeptical about these medications as she knew that that was risky as these medications were actually made for humans and had various side effects. Her back was however against the wall and they decided to do the medications and see how well robin progressed with constant monitoring. Robin was now on the medication for two days and was watched closely by her owner.
One day robin and her owner was at home and she came up to her owner and began to lick her hands and rubbed her face in her hands and went to sleep. She never woke up again. Her owner was devastated as she felt like she had just lost a son or a daughter. Robin had given up and decided to go where all Dogs Go. To Heaven
Even though robin was healing nicely, she was not the same as she used to be. Her cheerful character somehow seemed diminished. She was not eating as she used to and had no interest in venturing outside even though the neighbors had built a concrete fence which wouldn't allow the dogs to see each other. Her owner tried to rekindle the fire that robin once had, she bought her new toys, a new duvet, took her to her favorite spot, the beach, but robin would have none of that. Her poor spirit seemed to have been broken and the attack brought more than just a few physical scars, but emotional ones as well. Her owner sought advice from her vet who asked her to bring robin in for a few days for him to monitor her behavior. He gave robin a full check and she was physically fine, the only thing which was missing was robins spirit. Robin ate only mouthfuls of feeds and began to loose weight, her owner was advised to give her vitamins to help her supplement for lost nutrition and to try a different dog food to see how she would react to it.
Anxiety Disorder and Depression
A dog specialist was eventually hired to view and diagnose robin and he observed her for a week and concluded that she was depressed and was actually going through some sort of anxiety disorder. The Specialist listed several things to try to get robin out of her state:
1. Exercise was recommended
Exercise helps to free the mind so it can refocus the mind. This is true for both humans and animals. It not only lifts depression but it boosts the immune system because the lymph system is activated by motion. Robin was taken to her favorite place, the beach and her owner tried to get her to at least trod, but that proved futile.
2. Fun and Treats
This was the first thing robin's owner provided without having to be told so by a Dog therapist. Robin was not interested in anything toy looking or anything fun for that matter. All she did was slightly ate, drank a little, walked around, looked and slept.
3. Depression medication
If all else failed, she was advise to talk to her vet about depression medication for her dog, as the same depression medication taken by humans could be used to guide robin out of her state. Her owner was very skeptical about these medications as she knew that that was risky as these medications were actually made for humans and had various side effects. Her back was however against the wall and they decided to do the medications and see how well robin progressed with constant monitoring. Robin was now on the medication for two days and was watched closely by her owner.
One day robin and her owner was at home and she came up to her owner and began to lick her hands and rubbed her face in her hands and went to sleep. She never woke up again. Her owner was devastated as she felt like she had just lost a son or a daughter. Robin had given up and decided to go where all Dogs Go. To Heaven
Many times we do not understand or seem to think that our dogs could be depressed, but they do on many occasions. whether it be because of trauma, separation anxiety or illness. We must observe and then treat our dogs the best way we know how. Anxiety can be cured in some dogs by exercise, anxiety and depression foods and just plane fun and exercise.
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