Pretty Miss Emma Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 So, as some of you know Emma is in the wars so spending a lot of time in hospital at the moment. But it's Kenzie I"m observing for now. Do dogs get "depressed"? Yes, an anthropomorphic question - I don't have better terminology to use at the moment!! Mainly today, Kenzie has been asking to spend time out in the backyard on her own, she just goes to a spot on the grass and curls up. This is a dog who if I shut the door and she's outside will happily run to each window to find the closest one to me and knock on it to let me know I left her outside! So for her to be choosing to go out on her own and then just curl up is a bit odd. Emma spent a few days in hospital late last week and was readmitted again this morning. I'm wondering if this is Kenzie's coping mechanism for her not being here. Have you noticed your other dogs do strange things/get "depressed" when their doggy housemates have to be absent for some reason? And do you have any suggestions for trying to keep them a bit happier?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Kenzie may well be reacting to Emma's illness/absence, ...or (heaven forbid) she may be feeling a bit ill herself. poor girl . :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 On Saturday Erik had to spend the day at the vets getting his eye cleaned and thoroughly examined (corneal ulcer). The whole time he was gone Kivi wouldn't eat, barely drank, didn't get up... He just lay on the ground and looked morose. We tried to cheer him up with some training and he literally spat the treats out. Gave him a dried cows ear, which usually sends him bouncing around the house throwing it in the air like a fool, but he wouldn't touch it and turned his head away when we pushed it towards him. We took him along when we went to pick up Erik and he perked up at the vets before he'd even seen Erik. We were trying to figure out if he knew Erik was there or if he was just stimulated by being in a different environment. Erik got some very tender and loving nuzzles when he was reunited with us, and Kivi just lay down contentedly next to him. Once Erik was back home with us he magically went back to normal. Depression is not just an emotional state, but also a physiological state. There is evidence to suggest animals experience the physiological signs associated with depression in humans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 (edited) Yep. When Charlie was going through the worst of his illness, it was obvious he was depressed. Refusing to leave the crate, losing confidence in himself and rather just lay around and not try to do anything different. We took him for a walk in strollers, took him to picnics in his crates and everything but you can tell that he was still down. It wasn't until we got Emmy when he totally snapped out of it. It's as though she doesn't let him be depressed. Both of them a lot more quieter if the other one is away and always perks up when they are reunited again. Edited April 19, 2011 by CW EW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashsmum Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 When Flash died, Harry was "depressed" for quite a while afterwards. He only got a little excited when going for a walk, and even that was more sedate than usual, he slept in our bedroom a lot, he didn't eat as heartily as usual, and just lay around a lot of the time. He seemed to be missing Flash and fretted (is that a word??) when he was left on his own. He's never really had seperation anxiety, but developed it then. Once Whitney came to live with us, it seemed to lift him out of it, even though we didn't get her until we felt that he was already getting more like his old self, but she certainly made a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatsofatsoman Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Boonie always seems a little down - for a day or two after a visiting pup (who has stayed for a few days) ends up leaving. It's either depression or exhaustion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan3 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Some of the models for human depression were developed using dogs as test subjects. They sure do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 Some of the models for human depression were developed using dogs as test subjects. This is interesting - I think you have given me another way to procrastinate, I might have to do some Googling of that!!! Having been a 1 dog household before the ratbag munchkin came along, and her having spent all her time with Emma (or at most only 1 night apart), I'm not used to seeing this behaviour. I think she must know that Em is really unwell, because the other times when she's been away for only a night she's been ok about it. Also when we left Em at the vet yesterday she kept scratching at the door she had gone through to head to the ward, another thing that Kenzie has never done even when Emma had to have sleepovers with the eye vet. I do think dogs know more about what's going on than we give them credit for sometimes, but it's been interesting watching these behaviour changes (thank goodness she's not doing things to make me too concerned - she still thinks dinner time is great!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raineth Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 My dog Digby has a bit of ongoing depression. Its not contant, but it is a state he does often revert back to. However its less and less the longer we have him. He was not well treated before he came into rescue. Obviously I'll never know for sure, but from various symptoms and neck scarring I think he was kept most of his life on a chain. He was very scared of men and he still won't go near anyone, except me, if they have a stick-like object in their hand I don't think he was ever played with as a puppy. I actually think that in general he is a very confused dog. He has a tendency to develop superstitions and then these superstitions have a tendency to become a bit OCDish. I make him sounds like a train crash I guess, but he's a really fabuolous dog in many ways and actually very easy to live with. His confidence has come ahead in leaps and bounds with socialisation as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 My dog Digby has a bit of ongoing depression. Its not contant, but it is a state he does often revert back to. However its less and less the longer we have him.He was not well treated before he came into rescue. Obviously I'll never know for sure, but from various symptoms and neck scarring I think he was kept most of his life on a chain. He was very scared of men and he still won't go near anyone, except me, if they have a stick-like object in their hand I don't think he was ever played with as a puppy. I actually think that in general he is a very confused dog. He has a tendency to develop superstitions and then these superstitions have a tendency to become a bit OCDish. I make him sounds like a train crash I guess, but he's a really fabuolous dog in many ways and actually very easy to live with. His confidence has come ahead in leaps and bounds with socialisation as well Dogs like this are hard work, but I think they can also be so wonderful because they are just so rewarding as they progress and develop confidence!!!! Good on you for taking his issues in your stride, my ratbag sitting having a bit of a mope sounds like a drama queen compared to Digby!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreckitWhippet Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Yep my Whippet does and it's known as " SessPression" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheridan Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Grumpy goes into a funk if he's told off after having grump at Mini or me. He just flattens himself and sometimes doesn't come out of it for hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubiton Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 yes they do - when I was young one of our dogs died and the other just stayed depressed for months afterwards (and one day she just perked up again - even though she was an afghan that usually just slept on a bean bag you could tell the day she picked up again). Mind you not long after we lost him we got a 3 month old puppy that decided her ears were playthings. Yet when the afghan died the now adult golden retriever just kept looking for her to come home (she went to the vet and didnt come back whereas the other dog died at home and was buried there) for a few weeks before he just gave up - not depressed just 'where is she' and tryingf to check the front door for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel964 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Yeah they do. and they especially miss each other. When one of mine is at the vet or groomer, the other has to actually witness it being dropped off and then they are ok. Otherwise they get quite stressed. I have to say, if one of two dogs goes to the rainbow bridge, the sooner you get another companion for your remaining dog the better IMO. I have seen dogs lift right out of depression and get a whole new lease on life when a new dog joins the family. Does Kenzie like chews - they big rolled up things? I'd buy her lots of tasty things to chew.....nothing else I can think of. At least things she likes to chew that last a while will give her something to do, rather than feeling she is missing Emma. Hugs to Kenzie (and Emma of course). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan3 Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 Some of the models for human depression were developed using dogs as test subjects. This is interesting - I think you have given me another way to procrastinate, I might have to do some Googling of that!!! One of the most significant experiments was Seligman's "learned helplessness" experiment. Unavoidable aversion leads to depression-like symptoms. In fact, the perception that aversion is unavoidable can have the same effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leelaa17 Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 You know whats funny... when jenna went to get desexed it was like max didnt even notice. Lol i thought he would be really down but he was fine - acted the same as always - but when jen got back, he squeezed himself thru the doggy door - which is for the little dogs - and ran up to her. Apparently he missed her after all. He just didnt show it. Lol And then when my old dogs brother died after 15 long years it was like rashka didnt even notice. But ...... he has dementia so that might have somethibg to do with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RL1 Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 My dog is depressed and has been since my female Rottweiler passed away on the 14th March. He's not himself, quiet and down right depressed most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyBlue Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 My dog is depressed and has been since my female Rottweiler passed away on the 14th March. He's not himself, quiet and down right depressed most of the time. I am really sorry to hear about your loss. I lost my old boy in January. Although Milly searched for him for a few days I think her depressed mood was more a reflection on my mood. When I get out with her and do some fun activities she perks up. Best advice I can give is to get out and do something with your dog and try to get him excited about life again. I felt guilty trying to be happy at such a sad time but it made it easier for both of us to keep moving forward. A good romp with a group of doggy friends at the beach does wonders for the soul - your boy will probably enjoy it too. Good luck - soon the good days will outweigh the bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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