Dog depression is a dog mental disease with hard diagnosis and treatment, because dogs obviously can't talk to a psychotherapist and solve the problem by psychological treatment as a human. Although there is no hard data about the inner mental process of the animal during depression, there is consensus among the veterinarians that dog depression is an animal anxiety related disease.
Causes of Dog Depression
- The death or disappearance of a group member (humans or dogs);
- Sudden routine changes, as moving to a different home or owner;
- The loss of his freedom of movement and space;
- Solitude;
- Traumatic experiences in childhood. It's not unusual that exposition dogs with evil owners who frequently beat them, grow up to become depressed in the mid-age, even after being adopted by another person;
- Physiological diseases that reduce metabolic activity, as hyperthyroidism
The Most Common Symptoms of Dog Depression
- Constipation;
- Lack of appetite;
- Apathy;
- Isolation;
- Lack of interest in playing;
- Recurrent behavior of searching and sniffing in the house's corners
Dogs with Dog Depression Propensity
- Company dogs as Shi-Tzus or the Terriers tend to be more afflicted by dog depression;
- The ones with excessive dependence of their owners;
- Dogs with too little autonomy;
- The ones, which live in inappropriate environments, as little apartments or places where they don't have a spot to play, or defecate
Of course that before diagnosing a dog as “depressed”, is important to check if the dog isn't suffering from any physiological disease or eating less than he should; both things can emulate a dog depression look on the animal. Also, the owner must check with the veterinarian if the dog isn't suffering from allergies that are related to something in his usual environment. The discomfort caused by allergies can induce the dog too sleep too much and eating less.
In the next article, I intend to present the recommended forms of treatment to dog depression. I hope this article has helped you and your buddy.
Kuki (my mother in law's dog). A five-year-old cocker-spaniel depressed after losing his mother, Kika
