Paws For Thought: What To Do If Your Dog Seems Depressed

Last Updated on October 17, 2022 by Dogs Vets

What To Do If Your Dog Seems Depressed

If you have a dog, you probably already know that they can show emotions just like people. That means that when your little puppy is stressed, it can become sad and introverted. If this goes on for too long, it can lead to depression.

To make them happy and calm again, you might want to talk to a vet to find out what’s going on and rule out any physical problems.

You can also try changing some habits and making other changes to their life to get them back to normal.

Read on to find out more. 

See A Vet

Some signs of depression and anxiety can be caused by physical problems that need immediate care from a vet.

If your dog doesn’t seem happy, the first thing you should do is make an appointment with your vet. Dogs with depression often get better with a little extra love and attention from their owners.

However, if things don’t seem to be getting better, your vet can give them antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs to help calm their nerves.

A New Diet

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that have been shown to aid in cognitive and immune system health. There is also evidence that their anti-inflammatory effects improve one’s disposition.

In order to provide your dog with these essential fatty acids, which they cannot synthesise on their own, you should feed them an all-natural dog food that contains or is supplemented with a high-quality fish oil or equivalent.

Aside from calming supplements, probiotics have also been shown to have a positive effect on pets’ dispositions.

There are billions of bacteria in one’s gut, some of which are responsible for maintaining “happy” endorphins like serotonin.

Go For A Morning Walk

If you can walk your dog in the morning when the sun is out, it should help them feel better all day.

If you don’t usually do this, set your alarm for 30 minutes earlier in the morning. The health of your dog is more important than a few extra minutes of sleep.

Spend Time Together

Invest more time in your relationship with your dog. As was just stated, you should really be using this time to go for a walk outside, even if it is just at the same time and location as usual.

Try New Things

Take your dog somewhere new. This doesn’t, of course, just mean that you should take them for a ride in the car.

If you can both handle it, you should also take them for a long walk in a new place. This isn’t always easy to do with a depressed dog, but giving your dog something to do, a lot of exercise, and a long nap afterward might help.

Increase Their Socialisation

As a social animal, dogs benefit from being around other dogs.

Pet depression can be avoided or alleviated by providing your dog with regular opportunities for socialisation, such as trips to the dog park or play dates with neighbourhood pups. Or perhaps this is the right time to start training classes with them; they’ll get to socialise and spend time with you, both of which can help them with their depression.

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