Dog? Emotionally sick?

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