Q&A for How to Tell if Your Dog Is Depressed

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My dog will not wag his tail when I come home from work, won't eat and snaps at me if I stroke him. Is this depression?

Community Answer

Possibly. I would call your local vet or dog trainer for advice about this. Try a different brand of dog food and entice him to eat it.

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Question

My dog gets mad or growls when I pet her. Is this a sign of depression?

Community Answer

It actually sounds like she might be in pain. Perhaps you're touching her somewhere it hurts or she's afraid you'll touch a spot that is sensitive. I recommend taking your dog to the vet to get checked out.

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Question

Is it possible for a dog to die from depression?

Catherine

Community Answer

No, however I would take it to the vet if I were you. If you already have then just go along with what the vet says.

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Question

My dog had puppies recently, but one died. The whole day, my dog seemed depressed. She didn't eat and did not wag her tail like usual. Is she sad?

Community Answer

Yes. Many animals have emotions, and while caring for her pup, she must have bonded.

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Question

Before my dog died, she began to eat less and play less, and she trudged along behind us on walks. Could she have died of depression as well as old age?

Community Answer

No, most dogs naturally slow down when aging and getting close to death. Your dog may have been depressed, but this likely didn't hasten its death.

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Question

My dog is only 3 and he licks his paws, does this mean he is depressed, or is he just cleaning himself?

Fire Blast

Community Answer

If that's all he is doing, then there is nothing to be concerned about. Consider watching him carefully. Does he lick his paw, then brush it against his face/head? This generally means he's cleaning. If you don't see any other symptoms of depression in your dog, there's probably nothing to worry about.

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Question

My rescue dog has been with us for three years. She loves to be petted, but only on her terms. If I approach her with loving words, she runs away. Is this learned behavior from being in a mill?

Community Answer

It is a possibility. Let her come to you. Sit quietly and calmly, and reward her when she comes to you.

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Question

My dog is lazy and does not want to eat, what do I do?

Community Answer

I don't think he is depressed for these reasons. Your dog could just be bored, make sure you're walking it regularly and spending time with it. Also, it might not be feeling well so it might be a good idea to take it to the vet.

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Question

My dog was poisoned by eating soil about three days ago. She had to stay at the vet overnight. After bringing her home, she slept all day. We brought over another dog and she was much more active but again continued to sleep. Could that vet stay have made her depressed?

Community Answer

Her digestive system may be out-of-whack after eating soil, causing her to feel sick or tired. Just feed and water her and consult your vet if she doesn't improve.

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Question

My dog is doing most of these so how can I make him feel more comfortable?

DIYoreo's

Community Answer

Give him some snacks and spend quality bonding time with him. You can also take him for a run.

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Question

What should I do if my dog is depressed?

Community Answer

Method 3 has instructions on that. Try to figure out why your dog is depressed. If you haven't been spending much time with your dog, spend more time with him. If you haven't been giving your dog much affection, or enough exercise, correct that. If your dog might be missing a previous owner or companion or home, give him time to adjust to his new situation and spend a lot of time together to give him comfort. If you're feeding him cheap, low-quality food, try switching to something better-quality. If there is no apparent reason for your dog to be depressed, take him to the vet to make sure he is not sick.

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Question

My dog sleeps in the laundry room. We bought him a bed, but since I'm rarely at my grandma's (where he is) I never get the chance to spend time with him. He always lays down. Is he depressed?

Community Answer

Consider keeping your dog at your house. Make time for it; the time you spend on your phone or watching TV should be play time with your dog. Even if you don't play for a long time it's okay. Give him a toy and a treat, tell him how good he is, etc.

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Question

Why does my dog constantly stare at the wall?

Community Answer

Dogs have very good hearing, so your dog could be hearing in-between or outside the walls.

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Question

Can dogs commit suicide?

Community Answer

Yes, however, not intentionally. It's possible that they could eat or drink poison, or be killed by an injury caused by themselves on accident.

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Question

If I have been away on holiday for four weeks and haven't seen my puppy, could that make her depressed?

Community Answer

It might, but dogs are pretty resilient, she will probably get over it quickly when she sees you again. It's a good idea to have a good dog sitter when you go away so she can get some human contact.

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Question

What should I do if my dog has been gaining weight and being lazy after the death of my other dog?

Community Answer

You should call a vet, because your dog may be depressed.

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Question

My puggle puppy is inactive and doesn't like to play games anymore. He is less excited when we get home from school and he sleeps a lot. Does this mean that he is depressed?

Community Answer

It could be depression, or it could be an illness. I'd suggest you take your puppy to the vet and discuss these changes with him/her.

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Question

My dog has been crying a lot lately, is not eating properly or wanting to play, and is aggressive towards our other puppy. He also crawls instead of walking. What should I do?

Community Answer

Take him to the vet, so you can find out if he is okay.

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Question

Is there anything wrong with being depressed?

Community Answer

Yes, just like with humans, depression can cause a whole host of other medical problems. This is especially true for puppies/young dogs, as it can cause developmental disabilities. You should take your dog to the vet if you suspect it might be depressed.

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Question

My dog died. Am I going through depression?

Community Answer

You could be. Situational depression is a very real thing that can be triggered by traumatic or emotional events, like the death of a pet. Check out wikiHow's article on dealing with depression for some tips on how to manage your feelings.

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Question

Do dogs cry? If so, does it look/sound different than humans?

Community Answer

They don't "cry" the same way people do, they usually just howl or whimper if they're upset.

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Question

My dog was sick for a year and eats a lot of grass everyday but doesn't want to eat anything else. What do I do?

Berkan Dennis Oram

Community Answer

You should take your dog to the vet and see what is happening, and limit the amount of time the dog is going outside so that it won't eat grass as often.

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Question

My dog seems depressed and is not eating. We live near a dog park but I've decided it's not the place for him, as he gets over-stimulated and I lose control of him. How can I help him put weight on and eat more?

Ivan Varela

Community Answer

The lack of this "over-stimulation" is causing your dog to be depressed. If you can't handle him, find someone else to take your dog to the park.

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Question

If I brought another dog to live with my other dogs, would they get more angry or depressed?

Community Answer

It's impossible to say. Every dog will respond differently to you adding an additional dog to the household.

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Question

My dog keeps licking his paws. Is this a sign of depression?

Community Answer

No. Dogs lick their paws quite often. If your dog is doing it excessively though, it could indicate some kind of injury to his paw.

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Question

Is it possible for dogs to commit suicide?

Community Answer

No. Animals have very strong survival instincts.

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