Leaving the house everyday is often a difficult task, normally I’m not prepared for whatever I’m on my way to attend and am just on the edge of being late as well. Although, the hardest part about leaving is when my dog, Abbey, sticks her nose through the door while I’m shutting it. Her heart broken eyes make it that much harder to leave the comfort of my home, I often get caught up wondering what she does when I’m gone or how much she really misses me. I’ve realized over time that this sense of guilt is not just limited to me, though. Twitter, Netflix, and various other platforms often portray jokes about this, there was even a movie created called “The Life of Pets” which ponders the age old question of how pets occupy their free time. It’s just one of the many interpretations of the feelings pets might have towards our actions and daily events.

Although “Life of Pets” is a fairly upbeat and fun sort of entertainment, it doesn’t make me feel any more informed – or less guilty – about the condition in which us students/workers leave our dogs. So, I decided to dive into a bit more harsh of a question – Can our dogs get depression?

Sadly, the answer is yes. But, don’t feel too bad just yet, if your dog does have depression, you are most likely not be the cause of it. After uncovering this desolate truth, I decided to build a guide on how to recognize and treat the mental health of our canines. First, the causes for dog depression:

 

• Physical pain:

 

If your dog is undergoing any sort of physical illness, it may cause them to feel helpless or miserable as they are unable to communicate their issues in any other way than demonstrating signs similar to that of depression.

 

• Changes in their environment:

 

This mainly relates to their physical environment (such as moving to a new home or town), but it can also mean that they have some fear of what is going on around them and are unfamiliar, causing them to exhibit signs of depression.

 

• Grief:

 

This is a very common cause of dog depression; when a dog loses an owner or a dog that it used to play with/ live with, it can cause them to retreat from normal activities. Just like us, it takes time for them to return to normal after losing another who they had a lot of affection for.

 

• You (but not in the way your thinking)

 

Leaving your house to go to school or practice will most likely not cause your dog to become depressed. But, if you become depressed yourself or are frequently upset, your dog can pick up on it and develop a sort of sympathy sickness and exhibit symptoms of sadness similar to yours.

No one knows for sure whether or not dogs can have clinical depression or not, but in order to keep your dog happy and healthy observing changes in their behavior can indicate whether or not they are in a sort of emotional slump. Some things to look out for include:

 

• Change in sleeping habits:

 

This might mean your dog is frequently asleep when you are home, or they sleep for much longer periods of time.

 

• Excessive licking or chewing:

 

Anxious activities like these can can indicate that your dog needs to soothe themself and is feeling sad or upset.

 

• Lack of energy:

 

If your dog is no longer interested in playing, walking, or activities they used to enjoy, this can show a development of depression.

 

• Changes in normal activities:

 

This could be anything from your dog no longer greeting you by the door or them refusing to eat as much as they used to. Any drastic behavioral changes you notice can be indicators.

 

• Aggression or disorientation:

 

If your dog’s behavior drastically changes and they become aggressive or act as if they are lost within their own home that can indicate they are going through an observable period of depression.

 

• Weather:

 

Just like humans, long periods of unfavorable weather can affect the mood of your dog. 

Of course, there can be other unexplored causes, but the most important thing is to recognize the symptoms first. If you observe any symptoms, the next step would be to find the root cause, but if that isn’t quite possible there are some general treatments that can be attempted. Making sure to play with your dog and give them attention is a priority; many sites also promote you to keep your normal schedule though and not overwhelm them with attention as it may alert them to a problem and cause them to become anxious. Other than that, if you can’t pinpoint a single cause, you can try a mix of various solutions. Most commonly used solutions include introducing your dog to others, bringing them out in the sunshine, and (in more serious cases) going to the vet to obtain antidepressants such as Prozac.

Throughout my research, my most important takeaway was that as long you remain aware of your dog’s changes in behavior and make sure to try your best to keep them happy and healthy, they will be able to do the rest themselves. So next time you come back from a practice or meeting and your dog greets you happily, don’t feel guilty for leaving and instead join in and show your own excitement so they feel even more appreciated. 🙂