Canine Depression

Canine depression can affect any dog be they an inside or outside animal, big or small, young or old. I'm going to cover the reasons why our furry pals get depressed, the symptoms for each reason, and a variety of treatments, most of which you can do from your own home. For the most part this article is based on observation, logical thinking, and a lifetime of twenty-three years of raising dogs. I do not have a veterinary degree; if your dog is suffering from severe depression you should contact a veterinarian immediately.

Canines can become depressed for many reasons but the most common is fairly simple, being separated for their owner. Any dog owner has seen it, you grab your keys and coat and the last thing you see as you turn around to close the door before heading to work is the biggest saddest pair of eyes you have ever seen. This form of depression can't really be helped and can affect each dog very differently. For most it's temporary, usually lasting just a few minutes after you have left and the dog will go about their own business until you get back home. A smaller number will actually punish their owner for leaving them for an extended amount of time, an example of this would be digging all the garbage out of the bathroom trash can and ripping all the paper into little bits. In that case the longer you leave them alone the more severe the mess will become. The easiest way to help your pet cope with this form of depression is to spend as much time with them as possible. If your dog is the type to make vindictive messes you can break them of the habit by taking a long weekend and leave them alone. Starting with just a couple hours and returning, if they haven't made a mess give them a treat and some affection. Next leave them alone for longer usually about an hour more until they can stay home all day eagerly waiting for you come home and reward them for their good behavior. If they do happen to make a mess, show it to them and firmly give the "NO" command and do not give them a treat. Stay home for a few hours and try again until they get it right. On a side note, never hit your animal, dogs have a short term memory and can not understand why they are being punished if it has been a while, beating your pet will only lead to more aggressive behavior and a distrust of its owner.

Depression can also be caused by the environment, for example I have the misfortune of living in a house where the back yard is about the size of the master bedroom. Now that will be fine for smaller breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers and Pugs, but I have a White German Shepherd that is nearly a year old. This is far too small for such a high energy dog. Being confined to a space that is too small will often manifest itself as excess digging, chewing, and barking. This sense of restlessness can become quite costly, so far my dog has chewed all the heads off the micro sprinkler system as well as dug up the tubing, ripped the satellite cable off the outside of the house, wore a path around the small patch of grass in the middle of my yard, chewed an expensive Japanese maple tree to the ground, and dug giant holes in the soft garden soil. They will do just about anything to get rid of their pent up energy. There is only one way to stop this sort of behavior, they have to get the energy out. I recommend taking your dog on a thirty minute walk at least twice a day and jog or run if you can, it will be good exercise for you as well as your faithful pet. Do not forget to keep yourself and your pet hydrated, if there are no streams or rivers where you are walking, be sure to carry an extra bottle of water unless you don't mind sharing.

Your pet can also get depressed by their diet. I know to us it seems depressing enough to eat the same brown colored bits every day, but their depression can actually be caused by lack of nutrients in their diet. Dog food is a lot like technology, typically you get what you pay for and if you buy on the cheaper side there is a higher likelihood of your dog suffering from chronic diarrhea as well as depression, I'm not saying the most expensive is the best. The best way to find out what food is right for your dog is to research, ask your veterinarian and check into consumer reports, my family has trusted Iams dog food for as long as I can remember. Also make sure your dog is eating the correct sub category of food from the company of your choice, it is usually broken down by breed size and age.

Another form of depression can grow as your dog ages. Just like elderly humans as they get older their body as well as their body chemistry can change. They start to develop arthritis or lose enzymes in their digestive system, pretty much anything that can happen to an elderly person can happen to a dog. But how can you tell if they are just slowing down or if they're depressed? The signs of depression for older dogs usually include loss of appetite, long periods of immobility even if you leave the room or call them, and whining. To treat depression in this case you have to take a more preventative stance, make sure they eating dog food designed for older dogs and they should be given a daily vitamin. It is still recommended that in this scenario the dog be seen by a veterinarian in case the treatment may need to be narrowed to help with specific issues your canine might be having.

Dogs truly are amazing animals that love to make us happy; it never hurts to do your best to return the favor. Hopefully after reading this article you and your canine friends can live longer happier lives. Just remember that by licking your face and wagging their tail they are trying to say how much they love you.