Why is my dog depressed?
This is a question that we often get from sitters and owners who work with Rover. Help the community out by answering them in our forum!
2 Answers
What do you mean by depressed?
If your dog is lethargic, there could be a medical issue going on and you should talk to your vet.
If your dog just seems down and out all of a sudden, you might also consider taking them to the vet as a drastic change in mood may have a physical cause.
You can try walks, different smells and other things like playing training games with really enticing treats or squeaky toys to get them to perk up a little bit.
If no major changes have occurred (no death of a family member or other pet) and your dog is not responding to outings, food or toys, you should contact your vet.
Dogs love routine! If it is not a medical issue, think back about the time the behavior started. What changed in you life and your pets life? Did you miss a walk? Did you stay out at work longer? Did you do anything different in the days prior? Make a list and try to go back to how things were before the dog became depressed, sometimes a small change can make a big difference in their lives.
Sometimes out pets can have an off day, making it appear as if they are depressed! Often, certain medications , like Prednisone, can make our pets appear depressed. But it is just a side effect of the medication itself, not actual depression!