{"id":15345,"date":"2022-12-29T07:34:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-29T14:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/?p=15345"},"modified":"2022-12-29T06:59:54","modified_gmt":"2022-12-29T13:59:54","slug":"can-dogs-have-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/health-wellness\/can-dogs-have-depression","title":{"rendered":"Can Dogs Have Depression? What to Know About Your Pup’s Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you have a sad dog who seems to have a loss of interest in life or very low energy for a prolonged period of time, it might cause you to pause and wonder: <\/span>can dogs have depression<\/span><\/i>?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you love your pet like a family member, you are able to notice changes to your dog\u2019s mood just like you would for a person in your family. They have good days and sometimes they have bad days. Sometimes they can be hyper and excited, and sometimes they are very mellow. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many dog owners have already asked this question, and experts have done research on the topic. According to renowned <\/span>dog psychologist Stanley Coren<\/span><\/a>, dogs (as well as other animals) can experience depression, anxiety, and many other mental and emotional states, just as people do. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Dogs Have Depression? This Behaviorist Says Yes.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Dogs cannot express their feelings in the same way that humans are able to. It is becoming apparent, however, that animals are more emotionally intelligent than some would give them credit for.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dog depression has been studied since the 1980s when dog behaviorist Nicholas Dodman<\/a> began experimenting with giving antidepressants to dogs who were displaying some typical symptoms of depression that we see in humans. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the symptoms Dodman saw included loss of appetite, lethargy, not enjoying the things that they normally would, and other abnormal behavior. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dodman was curious if these dog\u2019s lives and moods could be improved with the same hormonal supplements that help people with depression, the assumption being that both come from the same root cause<\/a>: the chemical balance (or imbalance) in the brain.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to these studies, today we know that canine depression can be treated with drugs such as Prozac. Just like with depression in humans. This tells us that the chemistry inside of a dog\u2019s brain and the emotions that are linked to them are indeed the same as the human brain. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing and accepting that dogs can have depression and other mental abnormalities is the first step towards helping your dog get back to its happiest, healthiest self. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the Causes and Symptoms of Depression in Dogs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Dog depression is caused by a variety of things, both internal and external. The arrow can point both directions as far as causality; external changes can create the internal shift in chemistry. Sometimes the internal shift can happen first, manifesting in the external changes later.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internally, it is a chemical imbalance of the hormones. This may explain why some dogs develop depression with no clear trigger externally that led to the problem. Obvious external causes are things like a major life change, like a new home, a new baby, or a new pet being introduced to the family. It could also be the loss of a companion. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depression can also be triggered by things that only last certain periods of time, such as seasonal affective disorder or separation anxiety<\/a> after a change to your regular work or life schedule. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With such emotionally intelligent animals, it is hardly surprising that the causes of depression in dogs are similar to those triggers that can cause depression in humans. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs of Depression in Dogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to being aware of some of the things that can cause depression in dogs, knowing what dog depression symptoms to look out for can help you to identify problems early and implement solutions quickly. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With or without an obvious external cause, signs of depression in your dog can include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n