Do dogs get sad when they are sick
How to Know if Your Dog is Depressed
Unlike humans, dogs cant verbalize what they are feeling. But even though dogs experience different emotions than we do, experts recognize that dogs can experience mental health problems similar to depression. But how do you know if your dog may be depressed?
How to Spot Signs of Depression in Dogs
Dog depression symptoms will vary, depending on the individual dog and how serious the problem is. There are some key things to look out for, however. Keep an eye out for changes in body language during their interactions with people and other pets, decreased appetite, and lethargic behavior.
Dr. Leslie Sinn runs Behavior Solutions and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) and a certified professional dog trainer. The main thing would be a change in normal demeanor, she says. What I hear from most of my clients is that their dog is not that willing to engage in activities that previously they seemed to really enjoy.
She gives the example of a dog who normally loves to play fetch. If a dog who usually loves fetch is now playing for one or two rounds and then loses interest, its clear their attitude has changed. You then might be wondering Is my dog depressed?
Dr. Sinn also lists other signs, including clingy, needy behavior, and, perhaps, a need to be closer to the owner in general. Some dogs, however, can go the other way, and they can become overly withdrawn.
Ruling Out Pain or an Underlying Medical Condition
The symptoms of dog depression are often commonly similar to those displayed by a dog suffering from an underlying medical condition or chronic pain. Sometimes, these issues can even be triggers for depression.
Dr. Sinn always encourages owners to have their dogs medically evaluated to rule out any medical problems. In general, if a dog is slowing down or is reluctant to engage, especially in the absence of some life-changing event, then I would bet huge amounts of money that it is medical or pain-related, she says.
Common Causes of Depression in Dogs
If you suspect your pet is suffering from dog depression, ask yourself what has changed in their life and environment. There are a variety of triggers for depression. Sometimes its an obvious thing, but it can also be more subtle changes or a combination of issues that have built up over time.
Depression, in animals anyway, is something that we tend to associate with a specific event, says Dr. Sinn. It could be the loss of an owner, the loss of a buddy that they have grown up with, or a huge lifestyle change a big move, or the addition or subtraction of key members of their social group. It tends to be context-specific.
She explains that people should look at their dogs basic environmental and social circumstances to understand what may have brought about the changes in their behavior.
Common triggers for dog depression may include:
Dr. Sinn explains that some of the most severe cases of dog depression shes seen have come from dogs coming out of just horrific rescue circumstances hoarding situations, meat farm dogs, that kind of thing.
Dr. Kelly Ballantyne is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and the leader of Insight Animal Behavior Services. She says that serious behavioral issues can often result from a combination of genetics, early life experiences, physical and social environments, and ongoing learning processes. We regularly meet with experienced dog owners who provide appropriate amounts of exercise, enrichment, play, and training, and still have dogs that suffer from fear, anxiety, and depression.
You could have a very, very anxious dog that has a lot of behavioral suppression, adds Dr. Sinn. It really kind of freezes or shuts down and that whole process can lead to depression. The dog doesnt want to eat, doesnt want to move, doesnt want to do much of anything. It doesnt want to engage and, consequently, removes itself from social interaction. In these severe cases, treating the problem may not be straightforward.
How to Treat Depression in Dogs
As Dr. Sinn points out, dogs are amazingly resilient. If there is a significant event associated with their depression, often some simple environmental and social changes can make a huge difference. She suggests things like spending some extra time with them, taking them on extra fun walks, playing a little tug, or having a little grooming session. Usually, with a little time, extra attention, and enjoyable enrichment, your dog will move through their depression without any major difficulty.
For some dogs, their depression is a more permanent issue that can be more serious in the long term. This dog will need extra support. Dr. Sinn is keen to reiterate that these dogs have often had a particularly traumatic past, and it is not a surprise that they need extra help.
Often behavioral guidance from a professional is recommended, and, in some instances, you may want to discuss pharmacological support with your vet. We dont medicate out of convenience for the owner, says Dr. Sinn. But if the poor dog is unable to function the majority of the time, then something needs to be done to address the quality of life and welfare of that individual.
Dr. Ballantyne explains that medications are very helpful in cases where a dogs underlying emotional state is interfering with their ability to learn new behaviors or negatively affecting their quality of life. This is especially true when there are many different types of triggers for the dogs fear or anxiety, or when the triggers are unavoidable. She gives the example of a depressed dog who is terrified of storms and lives in an area where storms are frequent for months throughout the year.
I think its important to acknowledge that pharmaceutical options arent the only treatment for dogs suffering from mental illness, but rather just a part of the treatment plan, points out Dr. Ballantyne. She notes that the most effective treatment plans may include a combination of pharmaceuticals, managing your dogs environment, and behavior modification.
Why Does My Dog Look So Sad?
Your relationship with your dog is incredibly special. Your pet brings you joy, comfort and companionship and somehow always knows when you're feeling sad or sick. As a loving dog parent, you want to bring that same intuition, safety and comfort to your beloved pet. That's why it's so heart-wrenching when your dog looks up at you, wide-eyed, with their head between their paws.
Why do dogs look sad?
Many people find themselves debating whether it's a perception, evolution, or whether a dog is actually sad. Desperate to bring joy into your dog's life, you may grow concerned that there are health issues at stake, or that this is an emotional response to a change in your home.
More importantly, you might be wondering if their sad look could it be a health issue or is it just an emotional response? Read on to dig into some answers.
Why Do Dogs Look Sad?
Researchers have sought to understand what causes dogs to make the sad puppy eyes they're known for. A study published by Scientific Reports found that dogs alter their facial expressions in response to human attention. Researchers observed 24 family dogs of various ages and breeds and their reactions to four different scenarios: human attention with food, human attention without food, no human attention with food and no human attention without food. While food didn't impact the dogs' expressions, the researchers found that the dogs were more expressive when a human faced them. In these situations, dogs were more likely to raise the inner eyebrow, making them look sad and more childlike.
Additional research published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences dug deeper into what causes dogs' different facial expressions. The authors of the study hypothesized that over their 33,000-year evolution from wolves to the lovable pets they are today, dogs developed strong eyebrow muscles that allow them to make sad puppy eyes. This, the study's authors claim, was in response to humans' preference for the trait.
So if you're wondering why your dog looks sad it may bring you some comfort to learn that the sad, longing look in your dog's eyes may not be sadness at all. It may simply be that they're trying to connect with you or get your attention.
How Can I Tell If My Dog Is Depressed?
All this said, dog depression is a real thing. Signs of depression in dogs are similar to signs of depression in humans. Depressed dogs may exhibit:
- A decreased appetite
- Excessive licking, especially of the paws
- Disinterest or loss of interest in walks, playtime and/or other formerly loved pastimes
- Poor sleep or disturbance in sleep patterns
- Excessive clinginess to you or another family member
- Sudden destructive behaviors
- Accidents inside the home
Signs like these may indicate that your dog is in pain, experiencing a health issue or experiencing deep sadness. If you notice any of these signs for a prolonged period of time, contact your veterinarian. They can help you determine whether your dog is experiencing physical pain or illness and help find solutions to get you dog back to their happy selves.
Believe it or not, dogs do feel emotional pain, including grief, says the American Kennel Club. They can even pick up on people's sadness, which means their sadness may be a reflection of your emotions or those of another family member. Pay close attention to this. If your pet is picking up on your sadness, it's possible that some self-care could be in order. To ensure you're taking the best possible care of your pet, you must also take care of yourself.
Dogs can also feel depressed for other reasons, such as the loss of another household pet or a family member or a major change in their home or living situation. If you've recently taken on a new responsibility and have less time to play with them, it's possible they could be feeling ignored. They may even be coping with feelings of jealousy if, for example, a new human or pet has entered the family. Or they may simply be bored.
Why Does My Dog Look So Sad?
Your dog's big puppy eyes might sometimes prompt you to ask why they look so sad, but researchers seem to believe that the classic sad dog look has more to do with evolution, communication and connection than with a dog's emotional health.
Depression in dogs, on the other hand, tends to be more subtle. Stay attuned to any prolonged changes in behavior and consider potential reasons your dog may not be feeling as happy as usual.
One of the most important factors in your dog's emotional health is the bond between the two of you. Find things you and your pet love to do and make time for them each day. By allowing ample time for play, exercise and petting sessions, you can ensure you're doing everything possible to keep your dog happy. For more insight into dog depression, consult your veterinarian or a dog behavioral expert learn more about what a veterinary behaviorist is.
Contributor Bio
Erin Ollila
Erin Ollila is a pet enthusiast who believes in the power of words and how a message can informand even transformits intended audience. She graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Reach out to her on Instagram @ErinOllila or learn more about her at http://erinollila.com.
Do Dogs Know When They Are Dying?
Dogs understand a lot. They can recognize human words, gestures, and emotions, and learn to work as service dogs or emotional support animals. But do dogs know when they are dying?
Through my work as a general practitioner, and as a pet parent myself, I have observed many moments leading up to a dogs death. Even though Ive participated in these experiences, theres no way to know for certain whats going through a dogs mind in their final moments.
We do know, however, that they are at least aware that death is near by sensing the changes that are happening in their bodies.
Can Dogs Sense Death?
Its been shown that dogs have uncanny abilities to detect medical issues, such as cancer, oncoming episodes of medical crisis (such as seizures), or anxiety. There is anecdotal evidence that dogs can also sense death, but how they process and perceive this information is still being debated and researched.
Dogs have a strong sense of smell that allows them to pick up on changes that can happen to a body. Research has shown that dogs can literally smell things like stress in humans. Changes associated with death occur months before the event takes place. These changes can affect subtle differences in the smell of a person or another animal, an indicator that death is near.
When it comes to the possibility of their own death, they are at least aware that they are not feeling well or are sick. They can also sense our levels of stress and know that something is wrong. However, canine companions are not as self-assessing as humans about death. They dont assign meaning and complex emotions to it; its just a fact that it happens.
How Do Dogs Act When They Are Near Death?
There are four stages of death, and dogs typically show different symptoms and behaviors in each. Euthanasia is an active, intentional process that you can have a vet perform at various stages of disease or at any point during the process of dying.
You will want to have the conversation about when to euthanize as soon as your pets quality of life is declining, so you can make the decision when needed. This will usually come before your pet reaches stage 3 or 4 of the dying process, which will relieve discomfort and pain that come with those stages.
Stage 1
The first stage of death typically occurs about three months prior to death. During this time, you may notice some or any of these signs:
Weakness
Being pickier about eating
Paying less attention to grooming
Vomiting, diarrhea, or nausea
Less energy
Random vocalizations
Changes in their sleeping schedule
Wanting to be alone more
Drinking more or less than usual
Changes to their daily routine
Stage 2
The second stage of death may start around three weeks prior to death. You may see some of these signs:
It may be during this phase that youll need to decide whether to euthanize. It may be that your pets quality of life has significantly declined due to incontinence and significant changes in appetite. Or you might see a positive change in their quality of lifesuch as being more active, eating more, and seeking affection from loved onesand decide to hold off for a bit longer.
It is OK to want to enjoy this time before your dog continues to progress in dying. Just keep in mind that your canine companion is not getting better and that the dying process will continue.
Stage 3
The third stage of death may begin about three days prior to death. This is the time to check in again with your vet about whether its time to euthanize. During this time, your pet may have:
Congestion that sounds more like rattling
Cold limbs
An increase in mucus production from the eyes, nose, or mouth
Trouble swallowing
An increased risk of falling
Your dog will not be as aware of what is going on in their body and will be preparing themselves for death. It is not uncommon for your dog to visit their food bowls but not eat.
Stage 4
The fourth stage is the act of dying itself, which can start about 3-4 hours prior to death. During this stage, your dog:
Will not be able to track any movement or sounds with their eyes
May have twitching in their body
May have irregular breathing
May have pale gums
You dont want to wait until this stage to euthanize, because there is not enough time to get your dog to the hospital or for an at-home team to get to you. If this happens, see if a mobile service or your regular vet can give you support over the phone. You can also chat with a licensed veterinary professional online (or do a video call) to talk you through Chewys Connect With a Vet.
Making the Decision to Euthanize
While the ability to end suffering is a gift that we can give to our canine companions, the decision can be difficult. Pet parents do not want to see their dog suffer, and they also do not want to end their dogs life because of one bad day, when there may be many good days beyond that point.
Its helpful to have a plan in place and use Quality of Life resources developed by vets for this exact purpose. Use these Quality of Life guidelines and worksheets and work with your vet to determine if there really are more bad days than good:
You know your dog best, and your vet can give you an objective viewpoint on your pets pain level and options. While a Quality of Life scale is not an exact science, it can help give you the confidence needed to make the most difficult decision to let go.
How to Comfort a Dying Dog
I have seen dogs whose families did not want to be around during the final moments. I have also seen dogs with many family members present during the final moment.
There are a variety of reasons for choosing to leave or stay for the euthanasia process.
Being present can be helpful for your canine companion, and it can also be therapeutic for you by giving a sense of closure. During euthanasia, it is not uncommon for a canine companion to look at and seek out their pet family during their final moments.
If euthanasia can be scheduled, it can be comforting to your dog to be surrounded by familiar things like a favorite stuffed animal or blankie. At-home euthanasia with a veterinarian can also be more comforting if its possible.
Euthanasia can be scary for pet parents. No one wants to see their canine companions in pain.
Some pet parents do not want to see their pets final moments as a medical procedure, and that is OK too.
The ability and decision to euthanize when your pet is in pain and cannot be cured is an act of love, and its not a solitary experience. Members of the veterinary team are active participants as well. The age-old medical goal of do no harm is present in everything that a veterinary team does for pets.
Talking to the veterinary team about what the procedure may look like, the options available (at-home or in-office euthanasia), and post-euthanasia arrangements can help alleviate some of the negative feelings and thoughts about the euthanasia process.
Featured image: iStock.com/mladenbalinovac
