18/02/2022
DOGS WITH DEPRESSION
Change happens all the time and while it usually upsets us humans very little, for dogs new things can be very distressing., maybe for example you’ve recently moved house or had a baby, or perhaps everyone is grieving the loss of a loved one.
Out of the blue, your usually rambunctious dog is sad and withdrawn. and no matter how hard you try, there is no way of bringing him around.
Could it be depressed, experts say yes, dogs can be easily upset by changes in their environment and this can last a matter of days, or in extreme cases even a number of weeks.
If your dog becomes depressed it may be lethargic, disinterested, and even stop eating and drinking altogether and unless this is nipped in the bud quickly, your lovely pooch may suffer a slow decline.
However, before you self-diagnose your dog’s depression, it is worth getting him examined first by your vet to rule out any other things like an underlying medical condition.
If the vet finds no physical abnormalities then he/she might consider depression as a cause of the problem.
📷A diagnosis of depression might come as a complete surprise to you, or it may make perfect sense if there has been an obvious change in your household like a new baby, building work, or a death in the family,.
The depression is most likely to be a consequence of this as sometimes a change to the normal routine or a transference of attention from one thing (your dog) to another thing (your new home/baby/partner) can manifest as depression, as well as this the weather can also be another factor which can influence your pet's mood and behaviours, just as it can ours.
SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is another condition that affects many of us to some extent during the darker winter months and as we move from summer to autumn and winter, your dog's mood is also likely to change.
Like with humans, some dogs are more susceptible to seasonal depression than others due to reduced sunlight hours and more rain and that in turn means that exercise routines may change and they are being walked far less than before.
Dogs that are depressed because of SAD are likely to exhibit withdrawal, lethargy, and also a craving for food.
Observe your canine throughout the day, paying particular attention to its basic habits such as playing and eating, and if it usually has a particular disposition towards people and other house pets and was once friendly and playful then suddenly grows detached and disinterested, depression may be the cause.
Likewise, if it suddenly eats less than it did before it is very possible that it is experiencing some sort of physical or mental distress.
Sometimes a visible cause can be found under close inspection like a physical injury or a tooth problem which can prompt lethargy and depression if it has not been appropriately treated.
Similarly, diseases such as Lyme Disease can cause depressive tendencies, whilst an infectious condition could also be at play, as well as this symptoms of hormonal imbalances like hyperthyroidism are very similar to those of depression.
📷The most obvious advice is to keep your dog active and engaged in 'happy' exercises at home, however sometimes, particularly if it is well in the throws of depression, improving its mood yourself is a more difficult task, so if your vet suspects severe depression he/she may prescribe medication to help boost the mood and get it back on track.
A behavioural therapist like myself may also be recommended as well to re-condition your dog and have it overcome it anxieties.
While showering your dog with affection is tempting and very often our immediate response to a companion's show of melancholy, this can actually be detrimental to its recovery.
Rewarding depressed behaviours with excessive displays of love and attention may encourage the dog to continue behaving this way.
That is not to say you should ignore your dog, but you should try to act as normally as possible to reassure it that one area of change doesn't have to necessarily mean complete change.
