Dog Behaviour – Sad or Perhaps Ill?
Dogs can display behaviour that is almost reminiscent of humans. They can give a heart-melting look with their eyes to obtain something, and this usually happens quite deliberately. But dogs can also show behaviour like depressed people, seeming dejected and withdrawing. For me, that is then no longer amusing, but extremely worrying.
Some dogs stop eating or seek comfort in food
A trigger for this behaviour can be the loss of a canine companion or a beloved person. Some dogs withdraw when they are left alone for a long time or have experienced an unfair punishment. I find that particularly distressing. The boundaries between dejection and anxiety often merge into one another. These clever animals also react to changes in their humans, when a person is sad, under stress or can no longer find enough time for their four-legged friend. A change such as increased tiredness or little joy in play can easily be overlooked in the dog.
- Changes in appetite and eating behaviour
- Withdrawal and reduced participation in family life
- An increased need for sleep and listlessness
- Reactions to stress and the owners' emotional strain
Unfortunately these symptoms also occur with illnesses
This can be an infection, fever, poisoning, pain from arthrosis, liver, heart or kidney diseases or hormonal disorders. In these cases you must absolutely consult a vet. Once physical causes have been ruled out, you should consider what is robbing the dog of its joy in life. Here the facts mentioned above can help with the assessment.
In cases of grief, I recommend distracting the animal and providing new stimuli with lovely walks with the whole family, sport or similar activities. Although dogs usually understand human comfort differently from how we mean it, fortunately a phase of grief in a dog often lasts only a few days. Should the animal seem depressed for longer than a week, it would need to be examined medically once again. In exceptional cases there are even mood-lifting medications in combination with behavioural therapy to help the animal out of its psychological low.
This article serves as general information and to raise awareness of your dog's emotional health.
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The content of the articles is for general information purposes only and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a veterinarian. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be construed as such.
