Just like humans, dogs can be depressed too. This depression usually stems from a change in routine, such as losing a friend, moving house, or having a new member in the house. Depression experienced by dogs will be evident from behavioral changes such as loss of energy, walking back and forth, loss of appetite, and changes in body language such as hidden tails and drooping ears. Dog owners need to be able to recognize the signs of dog depression so they can take steps to deal with it.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Identifying Changes in Behavior
Step 1. Think about whether your dog is pulling away
Most healthy and happy dogs are very social. If your dog doesn't greet you as cheerfully as they usually do when you come home – not as energetic, less energetic and less moving – or loses interest in activities that he used to enjoy, he may be suffering from depression.
- Instead of running to the door to greet guests, the depressed dog backs off and hides in a corner to curl up and sleep.
- You should be worried if your dog is hiding from you. Dogs that hide are usually injured, sick, or depressed.
- In other cases, depressed dogs sometimes follow their owners around but show no desire to interact.
Step 2. Find out if your dog is showing any signs of changing from active to inactive
Happy dogs never seem to run out of energy. If you take him for a walk, he will gladly welcome you. He asks you to throw the ball back and forth at him and your arm feels tired even though he still hasn't stopped asking you to play.
- However, when your dog is depressed, your dog no longer raises his ears when you lead him, and instead of galloping through the park, he looks lethargic around you. When you stop walking to chat with a friend, your dog will just sit or even lie down.
- A change from an active and lazy attitude to being inactive and tired can be a sign of depression.
Step 3. See if your dog likes to walk back and forth
If he likes to walk from room to room and can't find a place to sit still, he may be depressed.
Step 4. See if there is a change in your dog's sleep pattern
All dogs sleep a lot, especially when their owners aren't home. However, you should be concerned if your dog continues to sleep when you get home, or if he continues to curl up instead of coming to the window or door when something is bothering him, such as the postman or another dog passing in front of the house.
Step 5. Watch for changes in your dog's diet
Most dogs eat little and lose weight when they are depressed. In other cases, like humans, some dogs may eat more for comfort. Try to see if your dog:
- Refusing the usual snacks he likes.
- Losing or gaining weight.
Step 6. Think about whether dogs misbehaving or urinating in the house are related to depression
Breaking shoes or chewing on walls, books, furniture, or pillows are often signs of a lack of exercise, which can lead to depression. Depressed dogs may also urinate indoors. Try not to get angry. Take your dog outside more often to make sure he has plenty of time to go outside.
Step 7. Notice if the dog is being aggressive
If your dog starts growling, biting, or acting aggressively when you try to interact with him, this could be a sign of depression.
Part 2 of 3: Observing Your Dog's Body Language
Step 1. Pay attention to your dog's eyes
Dogs squint, making their eyes appear smaller, when they are sick, stressed, or depressed. Depressed dogs can also find it hard to make eye contact with anyone, including you.
Of course, some dogs do have droopy eyes, even when they're happy. It's because of the shape of his eyes, not because of depression. So try to understand the difference between droopy eyes and depressed eyes
Step 2. See if your dog's ears are dropping or being pulled back
Depressed dogs tend to show less responsive ear movement to the sounds around them. For example, your dog's ears don't turn up when he hears the sound of something that usually interests him, such as your calling him, or the sound of his collar and leash being picked up before he's taken for a walk.
Step 3. Pay attention to whether he is busy licking his feet or not
Licking or biting on the paws is a dog's mechanism for calming down, and can be a sign of depression.
Step 4. See if your dog is lowering its head or not
Depressed dogs tend to lower their heads when standing or sitting. When lying down, your dog prefers to rest his chin on the ground and rarely raises his head despite the various activities going on around him.
Step 5. Look at the location of the dog's tail
When in depression, the dog's tail will be hidden between the legs and he does not wag it as usual. When you encourage him to wag his tail, the dog will do it half-heartedly.
Step 6. Pay attention to the dog's overall body position
Depressed dogs tend to stand passively with their heads down and tails down, barely responding to stimulation. Your dog seems tired and lacks interest in what's going on around him.
Step 7. Notice if the hair is falling out unusually
When under stress, dogs tend to lose more hair. If you pet him and your hands are full of fur, or you suddenly have to suck more fur, your dog may be depressed.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing What To Do
Step 1. Make sure your dog is not sick
If your dog is behaving unusually, you should have him checked out at a veterinarian's office. These symptoms may indicate depression or illness. Distinguishing illness and depression in dogs is not easy because both sick and depressed dogs tend to lose their appetite and refuse to exercise.
Step 2. Understand what can trigger this depression
The likelihood of developing depression for no reason in a healthy dog is small. Therefore, it's a good idea to find out if any recent events have affected his mental health. Dogs love routine, so a frequent trigger for a dog's depression is a change in his routine. Changes in routine that can trigger depression are:
- Stress: in the dog world, stress includes anything that keeps it from getting the attention it used to.
- Homeowners who were previously out of work now have to go to work.
- A newborn baby or a new puppy who becomes a new member of the family.
- Sudden loss of a friend (human or dog).
- Moving house.
- Has new owners.
- House renovation.
Step 3. Spend more time with your dog
Try taking more walks, playing games your dog likes (ball throwing, tug of war), or doing dog sports such as agility training, training him to do tricks, or taking him to the park to meet other dogs. When watching TV, try to sit on the floor so that you are on par with the dog, instead of sitting on a chair. Make sure what you do is fun for you and the dog. Spending a good time with her is the best way to help her deal with depression.
Step 4. Invite him to socialize more often
If your dog recently lost a canine companion, you can find a new dog to keep him company. If your dog is home alone for a long time, try leaving him or asking a dog sitter to come over. Don't forget to take her to the park so she can socialize.
Step 5. Reward your dog for positive behavior
The mistake that many owners make when dealing with a depressed dog is that the owner panics when his dog behaves abnormally.
- For example, if you panic when your dog won't eat, you're sending him a message that he's doing something smart by not eating.
- A better way to deal with this situation is to put down the food bowl and ignore your dog until he wants to eat. When he starts eating, shower him with compliments.
- This emphasizes the positive instead of the negative, and can help your dog get out of his depression.
Step 6. Make the dog feel more secure by maintaining a normal routine
Try to make sure the depressed dog continues his normal routine as it helps him feel safe and reassures him that all is well.
Step 7. If depression persists, take your dog to see a veterinarian who specializes in behavioral problems
It could be that your dog has a chemical imbalance in his body and may need medications such as Prozac as well as a behavior modification program to deal with depression.
Tips
- When watching for signs of depression in your dog, pay attention to his body language and habits. Usually submissive dogs aren't used to welcoming strangers, so this behavior isn't really new to them and shouldn't be a cause for concern. However, if your friendly, sociable dog suddenly refuses to stand up, you should suspect that he is depressed.
- A depressed dog when you're home is not a good thing. Lack of attention, lack of walks, leaving him alone in the yard shows that you don't know what's best for him. Dogs are sociable animals that leaving them alone for days, weeks, or their whole life can be considered an act of torture.
