6 Signs Your Dog is Depressed

By Sid Kirchheimer | PetMD



A once perky pooch may now be listless and withdrawn. Or a dog who previously had the tolerance and patience of Job might have turned aggressive, snapping at the kids or destroying furniture.

Could these be signs of depression?

"It's hard to know for sure because we can't ask what they're feeling, and have no tests to specifically gauge depression in dogs," says Bonnie Beaver, DVM, of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and a professor at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "That's why it's important to see a vet whenever your dog experiences any sudden change in behavior - to rule out a possible medical condition ranging from GI upset to cancer. But certainly, there are situations where depression seems to be the only explanation."

Leading the list, perhaps to no surprise, is loss of a family member. "We definitely can say we see depression in dogs when there's a death of a person or another pet in that household, or someone moves out," notes John Ciribassi, DVM, of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and co-editor of the book Decoding Your Dog.

More...

 

In my opinion an unhappy dog is the saddest thing in the whole world. I'm heartbroken when I think of dogs who are depressed. I blame their owners. After all, our four legged friends really don't need much to be cheerful. It's so easy to make them jump from joy. All they want is to be loved, be fed and entertained

 

Yeah, one really wonder how or why some dogs get depressed. I guess most depressed dogs are those who barely see their owners o get the attention they so much need from them. Petting your pet can really make a huge difference!