Yes, dogs just like us humans can undergo stress and depression. They have emotions and feelings just like us and those emotions are showed to us daily by just the simple things they do such as wagging their tail when it’s feeding time or they are excited to see you. Or just jumping on you to give your face a few emotional licks after probably sniffing another dog’s butt. But these are emotions and feelings that dogs have reacts to their environment, If the environment in which the dog lives is depressing, eventually your dog will become depressed. Let’s take a look at some reasons why your dog may become depressed and logical solutions to each.
Dog Depression Symptoms
- When your dog gets depressed, it will easily show. Your dogs appetite may decrease significantly.
- Your Dog Mobility Will Lessen - It may not be running and jumping like it used to.
- Your Dog has become less vocal. - A depressed dog may not be too enthused about barking at the invisible man in the room or anything else for that matter.
- The Dog Ignores its Toys. Not Interested in Playing.
- May start sleeping much more.
Reasons Why Dogs Get Depressed
1. Sickness / Injury
Your dog may be depressed if it is suffering from some kind of long term illness. The dog will realize that it may not be able to do what it is normally able to do easily and may swallow itself in doom and gloom leading to it becoming depressed. This illness could be the animal recovering from a surgery or has some ailment which limits feeding or mobility.
2. Bad Treatment
Any animal mistreated will eventually become depressed. There are many bad dog owners who continue to mistreat the animal by abusing the animal. These owners tie the dog outside in harsh conditions such as snow, rain and heat for days. They may beat the animal or simply starve the animal to death.
3. Dog Jealousy
One thing about having a single pet is that they believe that they are the reason you exist and they are the center of your entire life. They build their love and life around you and expect you to do the same. Then out of nowhere you bring home another dog or cat for that matter and all of a sudden your attention and time is spent mostly homing your new pet. The old pet can see this as being neglected and will fall into a depressive state where it may believe it is not loved anymore.
4. Lacks Attention
Just having dog and poring food and water in its bowl is not enough. Especially is that animal is an indoor animal and all the dog interacts with is the carpet and his doggy bed. Dog owners must ensure that they interact with their dogs regularly. Talk to the dog, pet the dog and tell it good things. Your dog can be depressed if it seeks your attention and you rarely or never give it.
5. Experienced Trauma
I have seen dogs that have experienced trauma sulk their way into depression and sometimes death. A dog can experience beating by owner or any other individual. A dog can experience trauma if it probably was hit by a motor vehicle. It can also experience trauma if it was mauled by other dogs or some wild animal such as coyotes or large cats.
6. Lost Loved One
Dogs are attached and very sentimental. They know when they have lost their owner and will probably sulk for a very long time. They dog may begin to lack appetite and if the animal knows where and has access to where the owner is buried, may end up sleeping on the grave every now and then until it’s depressive mode is subsided.
Your dog may be depressed if it is suffering from some kind of long term illness. The dog will realize that it may not be able to do what it is normally able to do easily and may swallow itself in doom and gloom leading to it becoming depressed. This illness could be the animal recovering from a surgery or has some ailment which limits feeding or mobility.
2. Bad Treatment
Any animal mistreated will eventually become depressed. There are many bad dog owners who continue to mistreat the animal by abusing the animal. These owners tie the dog outside in harsh conditions such as snow, rain and heat for days. They may beat the animal or simply starve the animal to death.
3. Dog Jealousy
One thing about having a single pet is that they believe that they are the reason you exist and they are the center of your entire life. They build their love and life around you and expect you to do the same. Then out of nowhere you bring home another dog or cat for that matter and all of a sudden your attention and time is spent mostly homing your new pet. The old pet can see this as being neglected and will fall into a depressive state where it may believe it is not loved anymore.
4. Lacks Attention
Just having dog and poring food and water in its bowl is not enough. Especially is that animal is an indoor animal and all the dog interacts with is the carpet and his doggy bed. Dog owners must ensure that they interact with their dogs regularly. Talk to the dog, pet the dog and tell it good things. Your dog can be depressed if it seeks your attention and you rarely or never give it.
5. Experienced Trauma
I have seen dogs that have experienced trauma sulk their way into depression and sometimes death. A dog can experience beating by owner or any other individual. A dog can experience trauma if it probably was hit by a motor vehicle. It can also experience trauma if it was mauled by other dogs or some wild animal such as coyotes or large cats.
6. Lost Loved One
Dogs are attached and very sentimental. They know when they have lost their owner and will probably sulk for a very long time. They dog may begin to lack appetite and if the animal knows where and has access to where the owner is buried, may end up sleeping on the grave every now and then until it’s depressive mode is subsided.
How To Get Dog Out of Depression
First thing is that you have to determine what has caused your dog to be depressed. If you believe that the animal is ailing from some sort of injury or sickness, take the animal to your local vet for an assessment. If the depression is stemmed from injury or disease, your vet will advise you accordingly. Get the dog as comfortable as possible. This comfort can mean that you provide a better bedding, medication or devices to make the animal living comfy.
If the dog is depressed because it begins to feel unloved and neglected, you as the dog owner must ensure that you remedy this by investing loving time in your dog. Play with your dog, pet the dog and tell it nice things. Indoor dogs don't get a lot of nature interaction, Ensure that you spend time with the dog outdoors by walking the animal or probably visiting a dog park or the beach. Ensure that you provide entertainment for the dog while you are at work such as dog toys.
If the dog is depressed because it begins to feel unloved and neglected, you as the dog owner must ensure that you remedy this by investing loving time in your dog. Play with your dog, pet the dog and tell it nice things. Indoor dogs don't get a lot of nature interaction, Ensure that you spend time with the dog outdoors by walking the animal or probably visiting a dog park or the beach. Ensure that you provide entertainment for the dog while you are at work such as dog toys.
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