We all love our dogs and consider them a part of our family. As we know, they are absolutely capable of expressing their feelings just like humans.
Normally, they’re jolly and lively, running around, barking, and snuggling up to you. However, if they become quiet and withdrawn, then it may be time to re-evaluate their mental condition and see if there’s anything wrong with them.
Can Dogs Become Depressed?
The answer is yes. Dogs, just like humans, can suffer from immense sadness and a feeling of despair. They are very devoted to their owners and love playing or spending time with them, but if they’re depressed, then all their normal playful behavior will stop.
They will become reluctant to go outside, not respond to any calls or cuddling from their parents, and refuse to eat properly. In short, they will stop doing everything that they love. Surprisingly, the signs of depression in dogs are not that different from those in humans.
What Can Make Your Dog Depressed?
There are a variety of reasons why your dog can become depressed. It can happen due to the death of someone in the family, a child going off to college, or the passing away of another dog in the neighborhood that this dog was friends with.
The reasons are usually related to loss of contact with someone that the dog had been deeply attached to. Below are some of the signs that your dog is depressed.
Fatigue
The most telltale sign that your dog is depressed is that they lie down and look fatigued all the time. They seem to lack energy and do not want to play or even run around.
They seem utterly disinterested in any type of play or other physical activity and also seem to be low on energy. Excess inactivity is not a good sign, and it should be immediately taken notice of and dealt with.
A Noticeable Loss Of Appetite
One of the biggest signs of depression is a lack of willingness to eat or drink. Sometimes, they may not want to eat their own food but gobble up human food when offered.
Any noticeable changes in the eating patterns are indicative of depression. So if you notice this, immediately take your dog to the vet, who can tell you how to deal with it.
Withdrawing And Hiding In Unusual Places
Another very common sign of depression in dogs is hiding and withdrawing to confined places within the home. In other words, they may be trying to avoid the world and seek refuge in isolation.
During this phase, you might find them sitting or sleeping in places such as inside a closet or under the bed.
Constantly Licking And Grooming Itself
A majority of the time, it is seen that depressed dogs tend to lick their feet. This is also popularly known as self-grooming.
If your dog has been self-grooming over a long period of time, it may be a sign that they are bored or depressed and trying to divert their mind by focusing too much on grooming. You may not notice it at first, but it will gradually become more pronounced with time.
What Should You Do?
Finally, we reach the concluding part of this blog. Before anything else, you should take your dog to a vet in order to ensure that your pup is in good physical health. As said previously in the intro, there are a number of reasons why a dog can become depressed.
Other than a feeling of loss or abandonment, it can also be a result of illness or undetected pain. A majorly effective way to tackle this is to try and make them adhere to a schedule.
Many dog experts say that having a scheduled set of activities can make your dog feel safe and sound. Also, make sure to give it plenty of time to rest, and a comfortable space to do so. You should also engage in activities that cheer your dog up, like taking him to his favorite park or playing his favorite running music.
Dogs are a valued part of the family, and keeping them healthy and happy has always been part of our responsibility.
