|
CANINE DEPRESSION
|
|
Do Dogs Get Depression
Treatments for Dog Depression
Do Dogs Get Depression?
Krista
Mifflin,
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.
We may not notice it very often, but pets do grieve, and in some cases,
especially concerning a violent death or even just a disappearance, dogs
can grieve to a dangerous point, and it can be very hard to bring them out
of it.
Slow deterioration and loss of initiative is a glaring clue that something
is bothering your dog. If this is happening to your dog, you need to get
right on it and start to make life fun again. Ask your vet about Anti-depressants
available as well. Depression may not seem like it, but left too long
and it could very well turn into a life-threatening physical condition.
Be sure to have all physical aspects of your dog's health checked out
by a veterinarian first. While prescribing Prozac may perk your pet up a
bit, it won't help one bit if it's Canine Coronavirus or Distemper that
has your pooch in a slump. Those blood tests your vet mentioned could be
crucial in determining the problem.
Once you and your vet have determined that depression is the cause,
there are a few options. One is medicated therapy. That would be Prozac
for dogs, or other veterinarian recommended anti-depressants. An increase
in your activity level, or at least your dog's will also likely be called
for. In cases of grief, play mates with other dogs or Doggy Day care would
definitely be worth looking into. If you are ready, you may even consider
getting another dog.
back to top
**************************
Treatments
for Dog Depression
By John Gibb
Yes, even dogs can become
depressed. It is not uncommon to see a dog start acting differently when
certain things happen. For example if someone who cares for them goes away,
you may find your dog sitting at the door at the time the person always
comes home staring at the door. When the person returns the dog is likely
to return to normal behavior.
Symptoms of Dog Depression
Your dog may seem mopey. S/he may be lethargic or slow moving. They
may stop eating and may not drink enough water. The symptoms for dog Depression
are strikingly similar to those seen in humans. Depression in dogs could
be very dangerous especially if they stop eating or drinking enough water.
Causes of Dog Depression
Grief may be a trigger for pet Depression. If they have had a playmate
for sometime and the other dog dies, your dog may try to act as if the other
pet is there. They may be sad and mope around.
A change of environment where a dog is moved to a new home or put in
a kennel may also cause your dog to feel depressed and stop eating or drinking.
Returning home or getting used to the new home will likely see your dog's
Depression start to lift.
Chemical imbalances typically in the brain may be to blame as well.
Like humans there are chemicals in the brain that help to control mood.
Treatment can be very effective for your dog.
Weather changes have long been known to influence Depression in animals.
Have you heard that animals can always tell the weather? They know its going
to storm before humans do.
Treatments for Dog Depression
Medication is often used including Prozac for dogs. Your vet might recommend
that your dog be given canine anti-depressant. This is often an effective
treatment for dogs.
Try to increase the level of your dog's activity. Take them to a new
place for their walk. Exercise helps torelease certain brain chemicals to
make your pet feel better.
If your pet has lost a playmate you could try to expose him to other
dogs. You could also try Doggy Day Care. If you are read y consider purchasing
another dog. This could help give some relief to your pet's depression
Conclusion
Dogs can experience Depression as can humans. There are medications
for pets as well as other non-medical options. Your vet can help you decide
which avenue of treatments for Dog depression might be appropriate for your
pet.
We have found a pure natural depression supplement that can also help
with anxiety and overall general well being.
To learn more about the product we use with excellent health results,
especially when it comes to improving anxiety and depression, be sure to
check out - http://www.depression-product-selection.com
back to top
The above information is simply informational.
It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist
you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian
for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
