One of my two dogs passed away a few weeks ago. Since then, my other dog has been quieter and less active than usual. Could he be depressed, or should I be worried about a medical illness?
Two weeks ago, when walking through a park in Kràkow, Poland, I found a statue of a dog named Dżok, created by Polish artist Bronisław Chromy. The plaque on the statue read: “Dżok, the dog. The most faithful canine friend ever, epitomising a dog’s boundless devotion to his master. Throughout the entire year – 1990-1991 – Dżok was seen waiting in vain at the Rondo Grunwaldzkie roundabout to be fetched back by his master, who had passed away at the very site.”
Intrigued by the statue, I did a search for Dżok’s backstory online. The story describes the sudden death of Dżok’s owner from a heart attack. Passersby took care of the dog, providing food and water, until a retired schoolteacher, Maria Müller, adopted him. Maria died seven years later, and Dżok’s body was found next to a rail track where he had been hit by a tram. In 2001, a German shepherd dog named Kety unveiled the statue with its teeth.
Although dogs can’t tell us how they feel, over the last 30 years I’ve heard countless stories from owners — not unlike Dżok’s — who have convinced me that dogs experience grief and depression similarly to the way that people do. Certain behaviors in your pet can suggest that they might be dealing with this emotion.
Here’s what to look out for, and when to seek veterinary care.
How do I know if my dog is depressed?
The signs of depression in dogs are quite similar to the symptoms in humans. Your dog might be depressed if they:
- Refuse to move.
- Lie around more than usual.
- Seem less responsive to your voice or commands.
- Wag their tail less.
- Are less enthusiastic about eating.
- Cling to you or other family members.
- Pace or seems anxious.
- Whimper, whine or howl more than normal.
However, it’s important to know that all of these signs could also point to an underlying medical illness that requires treatment, such as canine dementia or other brain conditions,chronic pain from conditions like arthritis, or even disease of the heart, respiratory tract or other critical body organs. Again, we can’t ask a dog to talk about its feelings to help us determine what’s going on. If your dog seems less interactive, or you’re worried about its behavior, it’s best to have them evaluated by a veterinarian.
At the appointment, let your veterinarian know how long the signs have been present and whether there have been any recent disruptions to routine such as moving to a new house, the loss of a family member or the loss of another pet.
It’s especially important to see a vet if there are other warning signs of illness like changes in appetite; vomiting or diarrhea; trouble breathing or coughing; weight loss; lameness (a limp or abnormal gait); skin or ear problems; or abnormal behaviors such as walking in circles, pacing, twitching, staring at walls or apparent blindness.
Your veterinarian might ask questions about when your dog’s signs began and how they progressed over time. If possible, keep a daily pet health diary — including any signs of vomiting, diarrhea or change in appetite, medications given, body weight, activities, type and amount of food consumed and exposure to other animals. And take videos of your pet’s concerning behaviors so that you can show your vet. They will also do a thorough examination of your pet to look for clues of illness.
Depending on the history and examination findings, your vet might also collect blood and urine from your dog, and send the samples to a laboratory for basic health testing, which includes assessment of kidney and liver function.
How can I help my dog?
If your vet doesn’t find any signs of a medical condition, you might try giving your dog more stimulation, such as exercise, outings, new toys or treats. If your dog’s depression was triggered by the loss of another pet, consider adopting another dog.
After my last dog died, my black Labrador, Bodhi, was completely miserable for weeks — lying around, whining more than usual and being clingy. We decided to adopt another Labrador puppy. After a few weeks of adjustment, Bodhi was back to his normal happy self. Of course, some dogs might experience more anxiety if a new pet is adopted; it really depends on both the personality of your dog and the adopted dog.
Ultimately, you know your pet best. Sometimes, the best medicine is the tincture of time.
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