Dogs are playful animals. Their joyful nature makes everyone around them happy. Playing with them for some time can alleviate your depression. But is your dog acting so unusual that it makes you wonder, “Why is my dog sad all of a sudden?”
Depression
in dogs is not a rare phenomenon. They are highly emotional creatures and get
depressed for different reasons. It can be due to the loss of a favorite one,
illness, a new addition to the family, moving to a new place, or clinical
depression.
You should educate yourself about dog
depression so that you can help them. This article will explore the common
issues that cause dog depression and guide you on how to help them.
Major Reasons Why Your
Dog Is Acting Sad
Dogs are intelligent animals. They can
understand a lot of things happening around them. Being highly emotional, some
of these incidents depress them. Here are some of the common reasons for their
sadness:
1. Loss of Someone
One of the major reasons for them being sad is
losing someone they love. It can be the owner, a member of the family, its
parents or offspring, or other pets in the family. Such losses upset them, and
they may often just sit around without eating much.
2. Illness
Another common cause can be their physical
illness. You can understand that they cannot carry on their usual activities
when they are ill or injured. They will just lay on the floor. Sometimes, they
may stare off into space or just sleep.
It is sad that these adorable canines cannot
express their illness. You should be mindful of them. If you notice that your
dog is not in its usual playful mood, you should check for other illness
symptoms.
3. Moving to a New
Home
It is not that dogs hate changes. Sometimes,
they can get excited about being in a new place. And sometimes they may miss
their familiar old place. It often makes them anxious and unsettled.
Dogs have a good memory. They may often miss
their familiar playground or the old house where they lived. You should spend
more time with them after changing your place. New places often confuse them
since they cannot roam around with confidence.
4. Addition to the
Family
Dogs are also dramatic creatures. They will sometimes
look sad because of the addition of a new member. It can be a newborn baby or a
new pet. They can even sometimes look mean to the new member. However, you know
what happens in the end. The dog quickly becomes the best friend of the new
member.
Dogs are loyal as well as devoted to their
owners. They seek full attention. And they do not want to share their attention
with others. Therefore, the addition of a new member often saddens them.
5. Not Having
Companions
Dogs are, by nature, playful. They love to hop
around. They are like little human babies. Even when they grow up, they are no
less than babies. If they find no one to play with or do not get enough
attention from you, they become sad. It also affects their overall well-being.
6. Getting Abused
If you do not treat your dogs well, it hurts
them. They always expect affection from you. Or, it can be some other dogs that
bully them. Constant exposure to bullying can often make them sad and
depressed. They might not want to go out in fear of the other dogs in your
society.
7. Clinical Depression
Does this sound weird? But it is the truth.
Dogs can experience clinical depression just like you and other humans. Dogs
can experience this condition from medical conditions, certain traumas,
loneliness, or the loss of a companion. If their sadness reaches this stage,
you need to be extra caring to them.
What to Do During
Depression in Dogs?
This is clearly not an enjoyable sight to see
your dog being sad. You love them being happy as it makes you happy, too. If
you notice they are sad, you can do the following things to cheer them up:
● Spend more quality time with your dog. Offer
them affection and attention.
● Ensure regular exercise to keep them
physically active and mentally stimulated. It will also assure them that you
care for them.
● Provide a consistent routine and environment
to reduce anxiety. If you have moved to a new place, walk around with your dog.
Let him get familiar with the changes. They feel more comfortable when you are
around.
● Offering interactive toys can reduce their
loneliness. Take them to playdates with other dogs as well. It will help them
socialize with other dogs and pets.
● Consider professional training or therapy if
they are in a deeper stage of depression.
● After the addition of a new member, do not
reduce your attention to them. Reassure the dogs that they are still as loved
as before.
● Be patient and understanding. Do not be rude to
them, especially when they are sad.
● If other dogs are bullying them, try to bond
with them. You can go with the dog if the other dogs are pet animals. If they
are street dogs, keep your dogs away from them.
● You can introduce another pet to the family. This
will reduce their loneliness. It can be another dog, cat, or some other pet.