{"id":2861,"date":"2018-08-28T17:25:15","date_gmt":"2018-08-28T21:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=2861"},"modified":"2018-08-28T17:25:15","modified_gmt":"2018-08-28T21:25:15","slug":"is-my-dog-depressed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/is-my-dog-depressed\/","title":{"rendered":"Is My Dog Depressed? Understanding Depression in Canines"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-2860 size-full\" title=\"Photo of dog laying down, up close the dogs eyes are sad or melancholy. \" src=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/OVRS-depression-shutterstock_16144552.jpg\" alt=\"is my dog depressed\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/OVRS-depression-shutterstock_16144552.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/OVRS-depression-shutterstock_16144552-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>From chimpanzees to dolphins, cats to canines, we now know that animals experience complex emotions. Some common emotions you might see in your pet include anxiety, joy, and what we perceive as shame when they do something they shouldn\u2019t have. But, if you have noticed that your pet is suddenly despondent or just seems off, you may wonder about depression.<\/p>\n<p>There are a number of reasons why a pet owner will ask us, \u201cIs my dog depressed?\u201d Let\u2019s take a look at some of the causes of canine depression, and what you can do to help your pet.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Causes of Depression in Dogs<\/h2>\n<p>Before assuming your pet has a case of the blues, consider whether the cause could be one of pain or illness. Signals of depression or ill health might include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lack of appetite<\/li>\n<li>Sleeping too much or too little<\/li>\n<li>Changes in personality<\/li>\n<li>General lethargy<\/li>\n<li>Avoidance<\/li>\n<li>Excessive licking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Any one of these signs should be checked out. If your pet receives a clean bill of health, what are some of the other instigators of depression? Here are a few of the more common reasons.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Loss of another pet or human family member<\/li>\n<li>Change in routine or residence<\/li>\n<li>Boredom<\/li>\n<li>Inability to express breed-related behaviors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Grief<\/strong> \u2013 Grief is an emotion that has been seen in whales, elephants, crows, and our domestic pets. If there has been a recent loss in your family, whether of a pet or human loved one, your dog may be picking up on the loss. Dogs also grieve the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/when-is-it-time-to-say-goodbye-to-your-pet\/\">loss of fellow pets<\/a> with whom they were bonded.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Change<\/strong> \u2013 Change is hard for everyone, especially for our pets. Any sort of change can cause mild depression in animals, from the addition of a new family member to home renovation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Boredom<\/strong> \u2013 Boredom is a serious problem for our pets because many of us spend long working hours away. Without behavioral enrichment, such as toys, puzzle games, walks, and social interactions, pets can become bored and depressed (often times resulting in destructive behaviors).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Work<\/strong> \u2013 Certain breeds have been conditioned to perform certain services, such as herding and hunting. If they cannot fulfill their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/dogs-enjoy-work-2\/\">instinctual behaviors<\/a>, they can become subject to depression, anxiety, and ill health.<\/p>\n<p>For most dogs, the key to maintaining excellent mental health is through good training and socialization from an early age, mental stimulation, affection, and time for exercise and snuggles.<\/p>\n<h2>Preventing Mood Disorders in Pets<\/h2>\n<p>While not all factors of depression in dogs can be eliminated, there are ways to get your fur friend feeling better. Exercise is an integral need for all animals. Stick to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/dog-walk\/\">daily walking<\/a> schedule or some other form of exercise appropriate for your pooch. Along with exercise, your pet needs your time and attention. In many cases, depression can be linked to lack of attention and activity.<\/p>\n<p>Keep meal times, diet, and daily routine as consistent as possible. This is especially true when there have been major changes, such as a move or the addition of a new baby.<\/p>\n<p>In most cases, where there is a specific cause, your pet will return to their old self with time. Some issues may not be resolved through time, attention, and exercise, though, so it\u2019s important to work with your veterinarian. Certain medications may be useful, as well as a behavioral consult with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/specialty-services\/veterinary-behavior.html\">OVRS\u2019s veterinary behaviorist<\/a>, Dr. DePorter.<\/p>\n<h2>Is My Dog Depressed?<\/h2>\n<p>Whenever you are in doubt about physical or mood changes in your pet, the best approach is to consult your veterinarian. Depression in dogs will often run its course with time, but there are situations in which professional help is advised.<\/p>\n<p>For more information about depression in dogs, or any other behavioral concerns, please <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/contact-us\/\">contact us<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From chimpanzees to dolphins, cats to canines, we now know that animals experience complex emotions. Some common emotions you might see in your pet include anxiety, joy, and what we perceive as shame when they do something they shouldn\u2019t have. But, if you have noticed that your pet is suddenly despondent or just seems off, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,13,29],"tags":[960,959,961,810,962],"class_list":["post-2861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-for-dogs","category-pet-health-wellness","category-you-your-pet","tag-depressed-dog","tag-dog-depression","tag-is-my-dog-depressed","tag-pet-enrichment","tag-sad-dog"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Is My Dog Depressed? Understanding Depression in Canines<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/is-my-dog-depressed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is My Dog Depressed? Understanding Depression in Canines\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From chimpanzees to dolphins, cats to canines, we now know that animals experience complex emotions. Some common emotions you might see in your pet include anxiety, joy, and what we perceive as shame when they do something they shouldn\u2019t have. But, if you have noticed that your pet is suddenly despondent or just seems off, [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/is-my-dog-depressed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Oakland Veterinary Referral Services\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ovrservices\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-08-28T21:25:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/OVRS-depression-shutterstock_16144552.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"OVRS Staff\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"OVRS Staff\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/is-my-dog-depressed\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/is-my-dog-depressed\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"OVRS Staff\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/624f934086950c0c4fde65d49fc64823\"},\"headline\":\"Is My Dog Depressed? 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