Dog? Emotionally sick?

Well, I have a Min Pin that is almost 4 years old and a pomerainion part corgi (Opps! SP!) that is 9 years old. The Min Pin’s name is Bruno and the and the pomerainion part corgi’s name is Sammy. Bruno’s little buddy (Nacho a chiwawa) died about a month ago. Bruno has not forgot about him and we all believe he is emotionally sick. He will not play as much, will not run as much, will not eat his own food, and he trys to stay from all the dogs at the dog park. The only thing that he still does the same is fight with Sammy. I can not get another dog because I have too many pets already. ( 4 fish, 3 mice, 2 hermit crabs, 2 dogs and a cat.) What do I do?

Answer #1

It may surprise you to learn that dogs, like humans, can experience the signs and symptoms of depression. Canine depression tends to be less common than in humans, but the consequences may be the same. A lethargic, lifeless dog who seems to have lost his zeal for life. What can you do to help your dog if he becomes depressed? First, you have to know the cause of your dogs mental sadness.

Dog depression can manifest itself in a variety of ways. He may become disinterested in things he loved to do prior to the depression. For example, a dog who loves to play ball who suddenly loses interest in this activity and wants to lay around the house. A depressed dog may show less interest in eating and may show changes in his sleeping habit such as excessive sleeping or being unable to sleep. As in humans, he may lose interest in his daily activities such as daily walks or excursions to the park. In extreme cases, he may show periods of restlessness and aggression.

What do you do if you think your dog is suffering from dog depression? The first thing would be to rule out underlying medical problems that can mask as canine depression such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, kidney disorders and other chronic illnesses. Once a medical etiology is ruled out, you should try to determine what has changed in your dog’s life. Has a member of your family recently gone off to college? Has there been a human or canine death in your family that your dog could be mourning over? Has your dog’s routine been changed recently? All of these can lead to insecurity in your dog and manifest as depressive symptoms. While you may not be able to control all of these factors, if you can identify the cause you may be able to address your dog’s depression more directly.

Some other measures you can take to help alleviate your dog’s symptoms of depression are to increase his activity level. You might try taking him on some long walks as well as establish some play time where you and your dog can play ball or play with his favorite toys. Sometimes helping your dog to socialize more can make a difference. Do you have a dog park in your area where you and your dog could spend some time? If not, you may want to consider taking your dog to visit a neighbor who has a compatible dog and allow them to interact for short sessions.

If taking the above measures fails to alleviate your dog’s symptoms, talk to your veterinarian about the possibility of trying a trial of antidepressants. The antidepressants offered to dog are actually similar to the ones prescribed for humans including Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. Remember, it may take up to 2 weeks for your dog to show significant improvement on antidepressants. In the meantime, give him lots of love and tummy rubs!

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/240700/is_your_dog_depressed.html?page=2&cat=53

Answer #2

Dogs do miss their buddies when they pass…the good news, it doesn’t last as long as it does with people…and it doesn’t call for anti-depressants…Min Pins are smart little dogs, so just give him time to adjust.

p

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