Is Your Dog Depressed ?
Since a dog is a man’s best friend most people opt for dogs as pets. Keeping a pet is almost similar to raising a child. It is not as easy as it seems.
Lots of people decide to keep a pet rather than have a child. But what you must realize is that it is not as easy as you think.
Dogs need tender loving care. Dogs too need company. If you are going to be at work all day, it is pointless to get a dog. Dogs have their moods, they get sick, they need love and most of all it is imperative that you learn to understand your dogs behaviour and temperament. Dogs also get depressed. This needs correct treatment and care. There are signs that will tell if your dog is depressed.
Some of the tell tale signs of depression would be that your dog would not only have a loss of appetite but also be losing weight. You will find that his water consumption is very less and he is not playing like he used to. Depressed dogs start to behave aggressively with people coming home. If your dog shows these signs he is troubled.
He must be taken to a vet. The dog would be given medication to control his condition. Check to see if you have changed your dog’s usual routine. They don’t like change. Just because he is depressed do not allow him to do things that he was not allowed to do earlier. This will bring on more aggressive behaviour.
Give your dog lots of hugs and kisses and take him outdoors for exercise. If all positive reinforcement and medication fails you need to rule out the possibility of an injury or illness. Lots of dog owners ignore the dog’s behaviour and blame it on a bad mood. But persistent mood changes are a sign of something being wrong. Do not ignore any strange and unusual behaviour.
A depressed dog can take up to two months to become normal again. Since they are more vulnerable at this time keep them away from loud noises like thunder, fire crackers and loud traffic noises. A terribly depressed dog will to shed hair at any season. Take care of your pet and treat him well.
