Can a dog be depressed? - Page 2

Renofan-  I've been told that frequent licking and chewing of the paws is an anxiety problem the dog is dealing with.  I'm not sure how true it is but it sure would make sense in your situation.  I would imagine a dog can be depressed just like a human; chemicals are set off in our brains that can make people depressed....why wouldn't this be possible also for animals??  A change in their environment would make them anxious, confussed and possibly feeling low if they are used to a certain routine perhaps with your dog Falon and Reno they were the 2 that spent the most time together.  I know when my mother in laws dog passed away, she was the mother of the other 2 dogs she also owned, they took a good while to adjust to their mother not being around.  Any type of change could put them into a "depressed" sort of state of mind.  I'm not sure if a vet would necessarily call it "depression" but I'd imagine it would make sense for us to assume that is exactly what it is.

Hopefully they will adjust in time.  Sorry for your loss.

First of all let me say that I am SOOOOO sorry for your loss. I know how it is to loose a dog. I lost my first GSD,Tonka, on 12-14-04 and I still miss him dearly. I have one of his sons, AIko, and my boyfriend has another one of his sons, TJ. So at least we have something to remember him by.  When Tonka died his older son Aiko was very depressed. he just moped around the place looking for his dad. He would whine and go to Tonka"s dog house and look in at and then whine in the doorway. Aiko even brought one of his toys to the doorway of Tonka's dog house and set it there....that was SOOOO sad to see. The look on AIkos face was pathetic....he would look at me and then walk to his dads house and look back at me like....where is my dad and friend. He evenually got over it.   Here is a picture of Tonka in 2002.

JVL:  Your Tonka was beautiful.  How sad to watch his pup mourn for him.  I do have two other dogs, but Falon and Reno did spend the most time together.  I tended to take them out of the house on outings in pairs as it was diffiuclt to handle 4 at a time.  I will try the bitter apple and see if that stops the licking of the paws and also check with my vet to make sure there is no underlying medical problem.   Again, thank you everyone.

Cheryl

I must have weird dogs. They could give a shit when one passes, as they look at the others as competition for attention, time to work ect, ect.

I do not believe that a dog can be depressed like a human, as you can see that they do not seem to care if due to tragic incedents they lose a limb, or something equally horrible.

However, I think that it has to do with the dog being bonded more to the dog than the humans, and this is pack behavior. I would not use depressed, but I can see where someone would. It just doesn't work for me as there are other incedences where they should be "depressed" and are not.

Like I said, my dogs could give a shit. I have always seen them actually be more active and run around more when the other dog is gone, sold whatever.

I think so. We all know dogs can become stressed and if that stress is prolonged, I believe it can turn to depression. The adult female I Imported was "depressed" on and off, for over almost a year. It was in cycles and we started calling her our Bi polar bitch. Oh, she's having a good 2 weeks and then she would spiral again. Finally it stopped and she started acting like a real dog. Barking, eating, putting on weight, playing with toys and the other dogs. I have never seen another dog this way before.

My dog would lay on her bed for hours on end, only getting up to potty and at the same time get a drink or a small meal, then right back to bed. No interaction, interest in anything, smells, us, treats, other dogs. Had never seen anything like it. It took me a very long time to bond with her because of it. I think we had her for 8 months before we heard her bark. She sounded horse and we kinda giggled at her voice, I'm guessing from lack of using it??? She built herself up rather high before we lost her to Renal Failure. She started acting like a real dog, barking, playing, gained many pounds and even bullying our other female, who surprisingly took it from her for months.

Of course just about everybody knows of dogs attached to owners, who wont eat or act "normal" when left behind. My grandfathers dogs  have done that. They have a houseboat and leave home frequently in  the warmer months, leaving their dog behind with my uncle to care for him. They always only have one dog at a time and I believe the dogs get lonely or take it personal, when  they leave for a few days. They have always over fed/spoil their dogs and I actually would tell them, "if you can't take some weight off of that dog, you need to go somewhere for awhile." The dogs would look fit and trim when they got home, from not eating as much and pacing back and forth. This I considered "stress." I have witness this in 2 of their dogs, since I have been old enough to notice these things. Their dogs have been long lived and they just recently lost their last dog at 15yr of age. Lab/Dalmatian mix. Grandpa took it pretty hard, went into a shut down of his own for about a week, threw out all of the dog stuff, bowls, food, beds, leashes and said he was the last one for them.

I just told him the other day one of my dogs is terminal, I could see the tears forming in his eyes. Of course I had cried plenty in the days prior, so I held up and kinda supported him, in hearing my news. Unfortunately, my dog will never see the age of 15 or anything close. The pain is unbearable sometimes and I think, how and why do we put ourselves in this predicament? How can we love these dogs so much, knowing we will have to say goodbye one day? Always too soon.

 So sorry to hear about your loss and your dog also taking it hard. I'm sure they miss each other, like they miss us when we leave. In time I'm sure things will return to normal. Best of luck and give your dog lots of extra love until he/she pulls out of it. That will probably do you both good.

I have had dogs that stressed out when I was gone, but I do not like this kind of dog, I think that a dog should be able to handle this small inconvienence. I also this these dogs have separation anxiety do some degree. This is a weakness of nerve, and should be eliminated.

I have a friend with a GSD like that, and when he goes out of town the dog always has a fit and shits and pisses in the house. No pacing, just the shit and piss. What a junker.

Jeff maybe your dogs stress out when you're gone because they know you may come back.

I agree Jeff and I think spoiling doesn't help. I think this is more common in house/pet dogs. Non of my current dogs care if I leave either, as long as I supply an abundance of food and water, they are still happy as ever when I leave town. I never had a pet sitter or anything like that my whole life. Maybe have someone come over and make sure they didn't dump their water or something. Usually my poor mom.  

I can't have anyone walk or play with my dogs when I am not home because they wont listen to anyone else and more often than not run off. My mom hates my dogs because of this. Even my X husband, well he wasn't even my X at the time, one of my dogs ran off while he had him out and I was in Vegas for a week. He worked every other day as a firefighter and had to go back on shift, while the dog was still missing. I get a call, my dog was scooped up by the dog pound but taken to our vet because he was limping and the AC officer saw his vet tags. I'm calling on my cell, 411 for numbers back home and tracking my dog down. Thought he was hit by a car or in a fight. Turns out he was fine, probably ran himself 1/2 to death. I had a friend pick him up and take him home and I paid the vet bill via credit card over the phone.

Fun times. Nobody cares for my dogs when I leave. I just can't leave for days at a time now. Life as I knew it is over. 1 or 2, 3 day weekends a year is about all I get. Come on Labor Day! I need a vacation, if thats what I can "call" it. This is worse than having kids.

Jeff,

I wholeheartedly disagree with your take on this subject. A dog wouldn't be depressed over "losing a limb" because they don't "think" about it the same way we do.  They just do what they have to do and however they are able.  When my dog was paralyzed he was indeed depressed, he didn't eat for over a week and I had to have him put down.  The look in his eyes was pitiful, he was telling me he couldn't live like that and if that's not depression I don't know what is.  Big difference between being able to overcome a handicap and NOT being able to.  As long as the dog can still get around he's got food and water provided and will do what he can.  But if a handicap is so great that it cannot be overcome, that's when depression sets in.  Also, it sounds (and I may be wrong) like you have more of a kennel situation and your dogs have become used to others coming and going, they're used to those types of changes, the changes themselves have become part of their routine.  I think we're talking more about a "family" kind of situation where they are used to a static routine, house pets really.  I have one dog who shakes uncontrollably if my husband and I raise our voices at each other (of course, he should have gotten used to it by now, LOL).  I think it depends on what they're used to and it also depends on the individual dog, some are more sensitive than others, just like us.  Anyway, that's what I've experienced and I think I can read dogs pretty well, have never in my life been without at least one.

Cindi

4pack - I also have a difficult time going away for long periods.  Luckily my brother and sister in law live near by for quick trips, but for trips longer than a few days - they have to be boarded.  The expense is killing me, so I end up rarely taking a vacation -  because I cannot see spending $700 per week to board them.  It is bad enough I have to pay that when I go away for business. 

I am also very sorry about your dogs recent diagnosis.  It is a horrible thing to go through and I hear you about why we put ourselves thru this as we feel the pain of their loss so deeply.  I just think what a very lucky dog he was to be rescued by you and given such a wonderful  life.  I try to remember Reno's early years and try not to focus on the end.  I hope you will be able to do that as well soon. 

As for Falon's temperment - maybe she is a little more anxious and maybe not the perfect temperment, however she is sweet, and provides me and my family with much joy.  She is a cuddle dog and shares a special bond with my niece - Dallas that has ADHD.  She sits with her when Dallas struggles to read, she watches TV with her,  takes walks with her and is very gentle and forgiving.  She evens sits on the floor and plays cards with her.  Dallas taught her to tap her paw on the cards when she says "hit me".   She used to be my clown dog.  Hopefully we will start to see that side of her again soon. 

Cheryl