How to recognize the signs of depression in dogs

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Depression is a complex mental health condition that affects not only humans but also our beloved canine companions. Dogs are known for their loyal and joyful nature, but just like us, they can experience periods of sadness and disinterest. Recognizing the signs of depression is crucial as it allows us to intervene and provide the care and support our furry friends need. This guide aims to shed light on the topic of identifying depression in dogs, exploring the key behavioral, physical, and emotional indicators that can help discern between normal mood swings and deeper feelings of sadness. By being attuned to these signs, we can better understand our dogs’ well-being, address their needs, and seek appropriate professional help when necessary.

Just like humans, dogs are prone to depression. Depression is often caused by a change in lifestyle habits, such as the loss of a companion, moving house, or the addition of a new family member. Dogs with depression can change both in behavior (lack of vitality, pacing, loss of appetite) and body language (wagging tail and drooping ears). You need to recognize the signs of depression to apply methods to help your dog recover mentally.

Table of Contents

Steps

Identify changes in behavior

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Pay attention to your dog’s signs of being withdrawn. Normally, healthy dogs live very sociable and happy lives. If your dog is not excited to welcome you home (slowly, doesn’t wag his tail, moves less) or is no longer interested in his usual favorite activities, he may be suffering from depression.

• Instead of running to the door to pick up a visitor, a depressed dog may sneak away or find a corner to curl up and sleep.
• You should pay special attention if your dog avoids you. Dogs shy away from injury, illness, or depression. ^[1]
• On the other hand, dogs with depression may follow their owners everywhere but absolutely do not want to communicate with their owners. ^[2]

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Notice if the active dog becomes lazy. Normally happy dogs are always full of energy. You go a distance, the dog can go 4 times that distance and then come back and so on. The dog may urge you to throw the ball continuously and by the time your hand is tired, he is not tired yet.

• However, when depressed, dogs no longer prick up their ears to listen to your commands. Instead of excitedly going for a walk in the park, your dog will keep his head down and walk slowly in your footsteps. When you stop to talk to someone, the dog may sit or even lie down.
• If depressed, dogs can go from being active and full of energy to being inactive and becoming lethargic. ^[3]

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Pay attention if the dog walks back and forth. Wandering from room to room but still can’t find a place to lie down could be a sign that your dog is depressed. ^[4]

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Observe changes in sleep. Dogs often sleep a lot, especially when their owners are not at home. However, you should be concerned if the dog continues to sleep when you get home or prefers to curl up instead of approaching something that attracts dogs outside the door like a postman or a strange dog. ^[5]

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Note the change in your dog’s diet. Dogs with depression may eat less and lose weight. ^[6] On the other hand, like humans, dogs with depression may also eat more than usual to feel good. You should pay attention if your dog: ^[7]

• Refusing to eat favorite foods.
• Weight gain or weight loss.

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Determine if your dog’s destructive behavior or accidents in the home are caused by depression. Dogs tearing at shoes, chewing on walls, books, furniture, or pillows are often signs of inactivity and can lead to depression. Dogs with depression may also be prone to accidents in the home. You should not get angry with the dog but should take the dog out more so that the dog has time to go to the toilet. ^[8]

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Pay attention if the dog becomes aggressive. If your dog starts to raise his fangs, growl, or become aggressive when you try to make contact, he may be depressed. ^[9]

Observe your dog’s body language

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Observe the dog’s eyes. Dogs often shrink their eyes by squinting when in pain, stress, or depression. ^[10] Depressed dogs may also be reluctant to make eye contact with anyone, even their owners.

• However, some dogs are born with “sad” eyes, not depression, so you should use your senses to diagnose depression in your dog.

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Watch for signs of drooping or erect ears.^[11] Depressed dogs are often insensitive to ambient sounds. For example, dogs will not prick up their ears when they hear attractive sounds such as calls for their names or collars and become sluggish when walking.

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Watch for signs of paw licking. Dogs with depression may lick or gnaw their paws for comfort. ^[12]

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Notice how the dog raises its head. Depressed dogs tend to lower their heads when standing or sitting. When lying down, dogs often prefer to rest their chin on the floor or rarely raise their head in response to their surroundings.

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Watch how the dog raises its tail. When a dog is depressed, the dog’s tail may be lowered, tucked in between the legs ^[13] and no longer wag as easily as before. When you encourage your dog to wag his tail, he will only move his tail aimlessly and half-heartedly. ^[14]

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Notice the dog’s overall posture. Depressed dogs tend to walk passively, lower their heads, droop their tails, and are lazy to react to your actions. You will find the dog becomes sluggish and no longer interested in what is happening around.

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Watch for signs of hair loss. Stressed dogs often lose a lot of hair. ^[15] If hair gets on your hands when you pet your dog or it splatters on the floor, your dog is most likely depressed.

Know what to do next

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Make sure the dog is not sick. You should take your dog to the vet if it behaves unusually. Signs of depression and illness are often difficult to distinguish because they share common symptoms such as loss of appetite and inactivity. ^[16]

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Understand the causes of depression. Healthy dogs will not become depressed for no reason. Therefore, you should consider whether your dog’s depression is related to the recent event. Dogs are often dominated by routine, so depression is often caused by a change in daily life. ^[17] The changes in habits that often cause depression in dogs are:

• Stress: Anything that prevents a dog from receiving the usual amount of attention causes stress.
• The owner who works at home suddenly goes out to work.
• There is a new member (baby or puppy) in the house.
• The sudden departure of a companion (human or dog).
• Moving house.
• Back to the old house.
• Upgrading and renovating the house structure.

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Spend more time with the dog. You should increase walking with the dog and play games that the dog enjoys (throw sticks, tug of war). You can also try sports that increase flexibility, teach your dog to act, or take him to a dog park. When watching TV, you should sit on the floor with your dog instead of sitting in a chair. Whatever you do, you should make sure both the person and the dog are happy. Spending time with dogs is the most effective way to help dogs overcome depression.

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Help your dog integrate. If your dog has recently lost his closest canine friend, you may want to consider introducing him to a new friend. If your dog is left alone for hours at a time, you can get a dog groomer a few days a week or have someone walk you. You should also plan to take your dog to the park so that the dog can be more social. ^[18]

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Reward the dog if it behaves properly. Owners often panic when dogs behave abnormally and this is a mistake many people often make.

• For example, acting frantic when the dog refuses to eat is that you are inadvertently misleading the dog to not eat as a smart move.
• The best way to handle this situation is to put down the food bowl and leave the dog alone until the dog decides to eat. After your dog has eaten a bite, you can encourage him to continue by praising him.
• You should encourage positive rather than negative behavior to help your dog overcome depression.

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Give your dog a sense of security by maintaining a normal routine. You should try to get your dog to function as normal as usual so that he feels safe and okay with everything around him.

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You should take your dog to see an animal behaviorist if the dog’s depression does not go away. Dogs may have a chemical imbalance and need medication such as Prozac, as well as a behavior modification program to overcome depression.

Advice

• When looking for signs of depression in your dog, you should keep in mind your dog’s body language and normal habits. You don’t need to worry if the dog is good but often refuses to get up and bark at strangers. However, if your sociable and fun-loving dog suddenly becomes too lazy to get up, your dog may be suffering from depression.
• Dogs being depressed while you are at home is not a good sign. Lack of interest, being lazy to walk your dog, or leaving your dog alone in the yard are signs that you don’t really know what’s best for your dog. Dogs are inherently herd animals, so leaving them unattended for daily, weekly, monthly, even lifetime is considered dog abuse.

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Just like humans, dogs are prone to depression. Depression is often caused by a change in lifestyle habits, such as the loss of a companion, moving house, or the addition of a new family member. Dogs with depression can change both in behavior (lack of vitality, pacing, loss of appetite) and body language (wagging tail and drooping ears). You need to recognize the signs of depression to apply methods to help your dog recover mentally.

In conclusion, it is important for dog owners and pet lovers to be vigilant in recognizing the signs of depression in dogs. By paying attention to their behavior, appetite, energy levels, and social interactions, we can identify when our furry friends may be suffering from this condition. Depression in dogs can manifest through various symptoms such as lethargy, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite, excessive licking or chewing, and withdrawal from social interaction. To help alleviate their depression, owners should provide a loving and structured environment, plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation, a balanced diet, and most importantly, seek professional help if needed. By understanding and proactively addressing the signs of depression, we can provide the necessary support and care to ensure our dogs’ emotional well-being and overall happiness.

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