Is Your Dog Depressed?

By Cara

Thursday, April 22, 2010, 14:47

Like humans, dogs too suffer from bouts of depression. They get lethargic and sleepy, do not eat properly or refuses to go out for walks. In severe cased, they drastically lose weight.

Cause

Dogs are accustomed to the environment they live in. Any change in their environment like change of place or even change of owner makes a dog depressed. Changes in weather or season can also make the dogs depressed. Dogs can sense the death of a family member and can be equally affected, like any other family member.

Pet dogs love the attention that they get. If there is a new born in the family and all the attention shifts to the new baby, your dog can feel blue and unwanted.

Symptoms

If depressed, your dog will exhibit many symptoms. These symptoms are similar to any human being. Your pet will lose interest in every activity happening around him. He will drag its feet while walking and not want to play or run. It will be extremely lethargic and look unmotivated to even go out for a walk. It will be sleeping round the clock.

If your dog is in the habit of barking and asking for food when you are eating, if depressed it will stop doing that. Depressed dogs would also give up eating.

If you notice a drastic weight lose in your dog, make sure you take him to the vet. Weight loss is a sure symptom of depression.

Treatment

If you notice any of the above symptoms, rush your dog to the veterinary doctor, for your beloved doggie may be suffering from depression. In consultation with your vet, draft a possible course of treatment for him.

If your dog is depressed because of any change, be it a change of location or a loss in the family, make sure you give extra attention to your dog.

While the vet does his part of medical treatment, you too, as an owner, have to make efforts to make him feel important and cheer him up.

With all the love and attention, your dog is sure to become as playful as he as always been.