How to handle your dog's depression.?

Question

dog depression, how to handle it and how to tell it is already a depression.

Answer 1

I think the best idea is to take a combination approach. First relax and don't worry. Dogs need mental and physical stimulation just like humans do. Depression can be easily treated. Your dog could also just be bored.

1. In order to rule out any physical problems, check with a vet, it could be physical and a vet could find something physical that is leading to the depression. They do make puppy prozac, but try some of the other steps before feeding him pills.

2. Exercsie walk/run with your dog several times a day, does your dog play well with other dogs? If your dog is friendly with other dogs find a local fenced in dog park, let your dog be social with other dogs and take him as often as you can, daily, weekly? He will appreciate the social and physical entertainment. If your budget allows it and your dog is friendly consider doggie day care at a clean, reliable center that has refernces. It is a wonderful experience for dogs maybe even one or two days a week. Your dog will come home completely exhausted and happy.

3. Play with it and give it a lot of attention and praise. Does it like to chew on rawhide or toys? Play catch or swim? Try to make sure your dog gets no less than 30 minutes to an hour of exercise a day. Start a daily walk/run routine. Exercise together... you both will benefit. Dogs enjoy learning and yes you can teach an old dog new tricks. Have you tried 10 minute daily training sessions with your dogs. Get some training books from the library or online and teach him a new trick or two. It will be fun for the both of you.

4. Make sure you are feeding your dog a proper diet - and fresh water daily - follow feeding guidelines on bag. Is your dog overweight? NO HUMAN FOOD - keep your dogs diet consistent - feed same time, same amount, every day. Dogs don't need or like variety and then you won't end up with a picky dog.

5. If the dog has recently gone through a seperation or loss, dogs are pack animals include your dog in your life as much as you can, bond with it, make it feel included. If your dog has lost an animal companion think about getting another companion for your dog if that is a realistic option for you and you feel you can handle the extra responsibility and cost.

Try one through 3 first. It is easy and cheap. If that doesn't work then consider pharmaceudical tratment. They do make doggie prozac, but exercise and attention along with a vet check up should do the trick.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Tom Cruise would call you crazy.

And then he'd jump on your couch...

Dog, like humans, get stressed and depressed. Dogs thrive on routine, and when something changes, it takes them a while to cope.

Think about some changes that may have stressed out your dog recently. Kids go back to School? Did you just move? Did you switch work schedules? Many things could lead to a dog acting 'depressed.'

The best thing you can do is spend a little extra time showing your pup some love and affection. Treats help too. If the problem persists for more than a month, check with your vet. Sometimes lack of energy and drive could be a medical condition, like an infection, cancer, or something less serious.

Hope this info helps. Good luck!

Answer 3

Do Dogs Get Depression?
From Krista Mifflin,
Your Guide to Dogs.
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Like humans, dogs do occasionally suffer from bouts of depression. They get mopey, lethargic, stop eating, and drink only minimal amounts of water, stop wanting to play, and even lose drastic amounts of weight.

What can cause this in pets?

Grief, change of scenery, or sometimes it is a chemical imbalance, needing medication to correct it. Even the weather can adversely affect a normally happy dog. Or your health.

As a pet owner, how do you fight an invisible, inner enemy? The first step is recognizing the problem. You've ruled out all the possible physical causes with help from your veterinarian, now it is time to start looking at the mental causes.

Has your pet recently lost a friend? Perhaps a neighbourhood dog he played with is gone, be it on vacation, or gone over the Rainbow Bridge, but gone nonetheless? Or perhaps his child grew up and moved out?
Losing a playmate, especially an in-home playmate is often a reason for canine depression.

there is a lot more information on this www site: http://dogs.about.com/cs/disableddogs/a/depression.htm

Answer 4

With love and attention... play with her more, and make sure she is getting an appropriate amount of exercise. Exercise is key I think... do you know why she is depressed? Isis got extremely depressed after she had her first litter... actually when the last puppy went to his new home. She didn't eat for 6 days, drank less than a quart of water during those 6 days, refused treats, and wouldn't do anything but lay in the puppies' cage except when I told her to come or heel. She ended up being tube fed for a few days, and her breeder told me the best thing to do is take her out for triple the amount of walks she normally had and try to convince her to play... she was getting 6 walks a day once she started eating again and recovered about 2-3 weeks after it all began. The walking/runing really did it I think... I now know it has a lot to do with the endocrine system and stress hormones... exercise helps to adjust the hormones in the blood stream to more normal levels...

Take her for extra walks and runs if possilbe.

Answer 5

I feel for you my dog used to be depressed, i suggest taking it out for walks in the park, find your dog a mate. give it attention and keep it healthy nothing is more sad then seeing your dog depressed.

Answer 6

yes dogs do get depressed....had two dogs and my son took one camping .....the one left with us went off his food and would not do anything, like go for walks or fetch....we heard the other dog stayed under the van the whole camping trip.....just give the dog extra of your time and with a little luck he'll snap out of it

Answer 7

I think my doggy is depressed sometimes as well , I can just tell because sometimes she's just sitting there doing nothing and has tears in her eyes. I just deal with it by playing with her and giving her many hugs and kisses.Luckily her depression fades away.

Answer 8

My pug was very depressed after having pups. She moped around with her tail uncurled and didn't want to do anything! It just took time and lots of love and attention to bring her out of it.

Answer 9

dogs only get depressed if they are left by owner or if ill.

Answer 10

I've never heard of doggy depression. Are there doggy psychiatrists? If so I would take it there.