Your dog can get excited, curious, upset, or scared… so what other emotions can you expect of your dog? Can they, for example, experience mental illness such as in the case of depression? It’s true – your dog is just as susceptible to depression as any other dog, just as you are susceptible to depression as much as any other human. Depression can impact your dog in the same way as it can impact you, and being on the watch for signs of depression – as well as taking steps to prevent it from taking hold – is a very doable duty you can take on to help ensure your dog’s health and happiness.

Is Dog Depression Real?

Dogs are smarter than we often given them credit for. Yes, we know that they can learn tricks, learn to be largely obedient, and learn good habits, but can they really go through the experiences and process the information necessary to experience depression? Medical science says yes: whether it’s a matter of a change of scenery, an event that leads to grief, or simply a chemical imbalance on your dog’s part, your dog is capable of developing a serious case of depression.

There are a variety of social causes for depression on your dog’s part. Perhaps your dog recently lost a friend, whether they were a neighborhood dog who moved or died or a human being whom no longer lives with you or in the neighborhood. Either way, dogs are incredibly social creatures, and they form strong relationships with the living beings they spend a lot of time with. When they lose those connections, they lose a part of themselves, leading to depression.

How to Tell & Who to Talk To

Some easy ways to tell if your dog is experiencing depression is to note if your dog has lost their initiative or energy. If they need to be prodded to do much of anything – i.e., if they are behaving lethargically – then it is quite possible that they are feeling depressed. If this behavior persists, then you may want to take your dog to a veterinarian to have him/her diagnosed and potentially treated and even prescribed medication.

Yes, that’s right, prescribed medication. Dogs can be put on anti-depressants just as easily as they can be put on painkillers or other medicines; we want them to be healthy and happy after all, and sometimes what you need is a chemical solution. It may be that your dog’s depression has a physical problem at its root, and a veterinarian is the right person to find that out for you. Don’t worry; your dog will be just fine once a professional has seen to him or her!