Do Dogs Suffer From Depression?

[cavvysavvy]

I was wondering if dogs suffered from depression in the same way as humans might?

My little fella seems to be sleeping excessively, and he appears to just mope around the house looking bloody miserable...

If i pick up a toy he may come to life.

I do have a busy schedule with work and uni and probably need to spend more time with him, but as he is indoors he is always around me, and he usually comes to work with me so its not really that often that he is alone as such...

The only life changing scenario that I can think of it the fact that I moved house about 4 months ago from acreage to a suburban setting??? But being a companion dog (cav) he is happier inside following me around anyway, although he did love the open spaces of the country.

Any suggestions are much appreciated

[persephone]

poor little fella.Have you had his health checked? if he has been checked and no physical cause has been found- then he may be reacting to the changed environment ...

[Bubitty]

Hmm not sure about depression but Bubby went through a similar phase.

He seemed fine but there was a lot of sleeping and sitting around. The only thing he really got excited about were his two walks a day. I don't think he was depressed but just that life was fairly mellow and the same.

I changed this by introducing a Bitty into his life and now he has a complete new lease on life over the past two years. He is busy in all his antics with her and much more lively and active.

I am not saying get another dog but maybe introduce some kind of "Action" into his life? Maybe a new sport or activity to pursue?

[poodlefan]

How old is he?

What we read as "depression" can sometimes be symptomatic of pain or illness.

If it were my dog and he'd been out of sorts for a few days, I'd be off to the vet.

[cavvysavvy]

How old is he?

What we read as "depression" can sometimes be symptomatic of pain or illness.

If it were my dog and he'd been out of sorts for a few days, I'd be off to the vet.

I was almost going to take him to the vet today, but thought I would try him with his best mate, and he came to life........ He was normal. He is also still eating so I was not particularly concerned that he was physically ill.

Since coming home he is back to sleeping..... His friend is also a cav and they get along famously, yet he wont get along with any of my partners dogs in the same way. He will acknowledge them but not engage in play.

[ozjen]

My Papillon was like that, not every day, but he would have some really bad days where he was just like your dog and he would also be very clingy and I use to describe it as depression for want of a better description although a ball would nearly always improve his mood abit. He was 7 before I found our he had a heart condition after a few misdiagnoses and that his heart was working overtime to compensate. It took an ECG to get to the bottom of the problem and I was told he would have to be on medication for life or be dead within a year, but a change in diet has helped him enormously and he is not on medication. That was more than 6 years ago now and since the change in diet he has barely had an off day although I know that each day is a blessing and things could change at any time given his age. Only issues he has had in this time are that he was attacked by another dog about 4 years ago requiring surgery to stitch him up and now suffers arthritis in that shoulder especially when its cold or he overdoes the exercise (he would chase a ball till he dropped and likes to keep up with the big dogs at DOL meets).

Cavs are known for heart issues too so it might pay to have your dogs heart doublechecked, not out to worry you but knowing what is going on may make the difference as it has with my boy. Hope it all works out, I love Cavs.

[cavvysavvy]

My Papillon was like that, not every day, but he would have some really bad days where he was just like your dog and he would also be very clingy and I use to describe it as depression for want of a better description although a ball would nearly always improve his mood abit. He was 7 before I found our he had a heart condition after a few misdiagnoses and that his heart was working overtime to compensate. It took an ECG to get to the bottom of the problem and I was told he would have to be on medication for life or be dead within a year, but a change in diet has helped him enormously and he is not on medication. That was more than 6 years ago now and since the change in diet he has barely had an off day although I know that each day is a blessing and things could change at any time given his age. Only issues he has had in this time are that he was attacked by another dog about 4 years ago requiring surgery to stitch him up and now suffers arthritis in that shoulder especially when its cold or he overdoes the exercise (he would chase a ball till he dropped and likes to keep up with the big dogs at DOL meets).

Cavs are known for heart issues too so it might pay to have your dogs heart doublechecked, not out to worry you but knowing what is going on may make the difference as it has with my boy. Hope it all works out, I love Cavs.

I am forever having his heart checked every time that I am at the vet, and so far so good..... But these checks are only done with a stethoscope, not ECG. I just want him happy and healthy

[Erny]

I was almost going to take him to the vet today, but thought I would try him with his best mate, and he came to life........ He was normal. He is also still eating so I was not particularly concerned that he was physically ill. Since coming home he is back to sleeping.....

I echo what PF has suggested. If it were my dog and he was out of sorts, I'd be inclined to run a health check on him. Dogs are stoic creatures and can easily camouflage pain or illness when in the presence of another/other dogs and/or when something exciting is on offer.