Dog Depression Symptoms

If you notice your canine companion exhibiting dog depression symptoms, it's possible that your pet is experiencing anxiety or temporary depression due to a recent event. However, it's also possible that the symptoms you are observing could be a sign that something else is going on with your pet, such as a physical illness or chemical imbalance. When you notice your dog exhibiting signs of depression, consider whether or not something has occurred recently that could impact her mood. If not, or if the symptoms last for an extended period of time, it's advisable to take her to the veterinarian.

What Are Dog Depression Symptoms?

The signs of depression in canines are actually similar to those experienced by human beings. Canines have down days and bad moods just like people. When your dog seems particularly lethargic, or seems to be moping around the house or yard, it's possible that she is feeling depressed.

Other symptoms of canine depression can include:

• Loss of appetite
• Drastic weight loss
• Reduction in water consumption
• Excessive sleepiness
• No desire to play
• Loss of interest in activities and toys
• Slow movement
• Atypical shedding
• Aggressive behavior
• Restless and anxious behavior

What Can Trigger Depression in Dogs?

Environmental Changes

As with people, events going on around your pet can result in depression and anxiety. Any type of environmental change that impacts your canine companion can trigger depression and anxiety. For example, dogs can experience depression and grief when another pet or human member of the household is ill or dies. This is also true when a family member moves away or changes schedules. When summer ends and your dog is suddenly alone most of the day after having children around all summer, symptoms of depression triggered by separation anxiety and loneliness can occur.

Weather and Seasonal Changes

Changes in seasons can have an impact on pet moods as do periods of extended bad weather. For example, the moods of dogs that live in areas where hurricanes occur can be impacted by the change in atmospheric pressure. Additionally, just as the onset of winter can lead to seasonal affective disorder in some people, it can also have the same impact on dogs.

Clinical Depression

Canines can also suffer from chemical imbalances that lead to chronic depression. Treatment for chronic dog depression is no different than that for similar problems in humans. If your dog is diagnosed as being clinically depressed, your veterinarian can prescribe antidepressant medication to regulate the symptoms. Prozac, Phenobarbital and Valium, for example, are available for dogs by prescription.

Medical Conditions

Don't lose sight of the fact that your dog can't tell you when he or she is feeling sick. Many times, canines exhibit symptoms of depression when there is something physically wrong with them. Changes in dog behavior often indicate the existence of a medical problem. This is why it's so important to seek veterinary care if dog depression symptoms don't seem to be triggered by a specific event or if they persist for a period of time. Your vet can run blood tests to determine if there's a physical reason that your dog is exhibiting signs of depression.

Helping Your Dog Cope with Depression

As soon as you notice your dog is experiencing unexplained or prolonged dog depression symptoms, contact your veterinarian. It's important to verify if your dog is sick or has a chemical imbalance that should be treated with medication. Once you've made sure that your pet has received proper veterinary care, begin looking at environmental factors that might be impacting your pet's mood.

For example, if loneliness seems to have triggered the depression, ask yourself what you can do to help your pet feel less lonely. If your dog has recently become an only pet, you may want to consider adding another canine to your household. If that is not feasible, consider what you can do to reduce the feelings of loneliness your pet may be experiencing. You may want to join another neighbor who has a dog for evening walks, providing yourself and your pet with companionship and exercise. You might even want to consider sending your pet to a doggie day care a few days each week or hiring a professional dog walker to take him or her out while other family members are at work or school.

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