{"id":191795,"date":"2024-09-06T09:06:59","date_gmt":"2024-09-06T06:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fendaf.ee\/uncategorized-et-en\/depressioon-ja-koerad\/"},"modified":"2026-11-02T23:26:04","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T21:26:04","slug":"depression-in-dogs-signs-and-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fendaf.ee\/en\/health\/depression-in-dogs-signs-and-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"Depression in dogs: sadness, behaviour changes and causes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can dogs be depressed? The question may sound like projecting human feelings onto a pet, yet people who know their dogs can easily notice when a normally happy companion stops playing, no longer greets them at the door or sleeps much more. Sometimes the reason is clear: a family member has died, another dog is gone, or everyday life has suddenly become lonely. Sometimes there is no obvious explanation.<\/p>\n

We cannot interview a dog as we can a person. We don’t know whether dogs experience the same thoughts and hopelessness associated with human depression. Veterinary behavioural medicine does describe depression-like states, lower activity and loss of interest. These are real observations, but not a diagnosis based on the same criteria as human clinical depression.<\/p>\n

What might suggest something is wrong emotionally?<\/h2>\n

For some dogs, the first sign is that a favourite toy no longer interests them. Others avoid walks, eat less, withdraw from the family or become unusually clingy. Signs can also go in the other direction: restlessness, destructive behaviour, vocalising or difficulty staying home alone. Any one change tells us little about the underlying cause.<\/p>\n

Whole Dog Journal editor Kate O’Connor has described dogs that withdraw gradually and others that react abruptly. This is a useful reminder that a sad dog does not necessarily lie quietly in a corner. We also cannot assume every irritable or unresponsive dog simply needs more attention. Sometimes pain or fear must be addressed first.<\/p>\n

The first question is not \u201cis this depression?\u201d, but \u201cwhat changed?\u201d<\/h2>\n

When a previously cheerful dog suddenly refuses food or exercise, possible medical problems must be considered. Joint pain, dental disease, gastrointestinal disorders, infection, hormonal changes and cognitive decline in older dogs may all alter behaviour. A veterinarian can assess whether an examination, pain evaluation or tests are needed. Seek prompt help if the dog refuses food, is lethargic, vomits, has difficulty breathing, limps or seems painful.<\/p>\n

Faddu gives me a good everyday example. Off lead in the forest, he likes investigating everything, including berry pickers and mushroom gatherers. When called, he looks at me but may glance around again. If I joke \u201cI’m leaving\u201d and take a couple of steps back, he often follows. That’s not depression, just a reminder that a cue doesn’t motivate him equally in every situation. Not every moment of \u201cnot listening\u201d is an emotional disorder.<\/p>\n

Loss, loneliness, boredom and a changed sense of security<\/h2>\n

Dogs may react strongly to losing a close person or animal companion. One searches for the friend, another becomes quiet or briefly loses appetite. VCA Animal Hospitals recommends maintaining familiar routines, offering calm closeness and letting the dog choose enjoyable activities. We needn’t force entertainment or demand that a dog recover at our pace.<\/p>\n

Moving home, a change in work hours, long periods alone or constant construction work may also affect a dog. Its needs extend beyond food and two short toilet breaks. Dogs need opportunities to sniff, move, rest, play, socialise and sometimes be alone. A prolonged lack of these options can influence both behaviour and welfare.<\/p>\n

Can gut health be linked to mood?<\/h2>\n

Integrative veterinary medicine pays attention to communication between the gut and brain. This is a real field of research: microbiota, immune signalling, the nervous system and stress hormones interact. But saying that a dog with dysbiosis produces too little serotonin and therefore becomes depressed would be an oversimplification. Serotonin produced in the gut doesn’t automatically travel to the brain and control mood in the same way.<\/p>\n

Dietary quality, digestive discomfort and chronic disease can nevertheless affect how a dog feels. When behaviour changes coincide with gastrointestinal symptoms, examining digestive health makes more sense than buying another probiotic at random. Our separate FendaF article Healthy dog gut: what does your dog actually need?<\/a> explores this topic further.<\/p>\n

What would I change at home first?<\/h2>\n

I would start with a predictable, reassuring routine. Meals, rest and walks can follow familiar patterns while still allowing the dog to choose between play and quiet time. Some dogs enjoy a new sniffing trail or scent search; others prefer a slow walk and gentle contact.<\/p>\n

If a dog has lost interest in food, I wouldn’t try to \u201ctrain hunger back\u201d by leaving it without food for long. Persistent poor appetite may signal illness. I also wouldn’t withhold comfort for fear of \u201crewarding sadness\u201d. Safe closeness doesn’t automatically reinforce a negative emotion. Severe anxiety or post-traumatic behaviour may require reward-based behaviour therapy and sometimes medication. That isn’t a failure on the owner’s part.<\/p>\n

What else do integrative veterinarians use?<\/h2>\n

Dr Karen Becker and other integrative veterinarians discuss scent, environmental enrichment, massage and herbal preparations. Gentle activities the dog enjoys are often a good starting point. Herbs require greater precision: their natural origin does not establish a safe dose or exclude interactions.<\/p>\n

Plants often mentioned include chamomile, lavender, peppermint, ashwagandha and St John’s wort. There is no single rule to \u201cuse until mood improves\u201d. Essential oils may irritate sensitive animals, while St John’s wort can interact with medication and be toxic in large amounts. The Merck Veterinary Manual also describes serotonin syndrome from certain interactions. I would not add such preparations on my own when a dog is taking anxiety medication or other drugs. Supportive care must not delay diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Chamomile.<\/strong> A veterinary herbal medicine review describes chamomile tea added to food for mild anxiety at 1 ml per kg body weight, once or twice daily<\/strong>. That would be 10 ml per dose for a 10 kg dog. The Swiss Vetpharm herbal database lists a separate general canine range of 1\u20133 g dried chamomile flowers per day<\/strong>. These refer to different preparations and must not be added together. Tea strength is not clearly standardised in these recommendations, and neither is a proven treatment dose for clinical depression. Serve tea cooled and unsweetened; consider allergies, disease and medication.<\/p>\n

Ashwagandha.<\/strong> A small randomised study published in 2022 gave dogs with signs of stress and anxiety a specific ashwagandha root extract (KSM-66) at 15 mg\/kg once daily for four weeks<\/strong>. The study amount would be 150 mg daily for a 10 kg dog or 300 mg for a 20 kg dog. There were 24 dogs, 12 receiving the extract. Some stress measures improved, but this was not a depression treatment study and does not establish a universal dose. The precise preparation matters: root powder, a standardised extract and an unidentified mixture are not interchangeable.<\/p>\n

St John’s wort and mixed formulas.<\/strong> Veterinary herbal literature also describes a combined preparation for separation anxiety containing passionflower 20%, St John’s wort 20%, ashwagandha 40% and chamomile 20%, with a dose of 1 ml of the total mixture per 5 kg body weight<\/strong>. This is the amount of that specific combined preparation, not a standalone dose for St John’s wort or a recipe to improvise. The concentrations cannot be inferred from percentages alone, and St John’s wort has numerous drug interactions, including a risk of serotonin syndrome with certain antidepressants. I would leave use of such a mixture to a veterinarian.<\/p>\n

Lavender and peppermint.<\/strong> Their scents have been studied in dogs, but such observations cannot establish a universal oral or essential-oil dose for improving mood. In one shelter study, lavender scent was associated with calmer behaviour, while peppermint tended to increase activity. I therefore wouldn’t call them equally calming or recommend giving concentrated essential oil orally or applying it directly to skin. Integrative veterinarian Dr Janet Roark considers moderate use of essential oils in a water-based diffuser possible in a home with dogs. She recommends a well-ventilated room, a small total quantity (up to 4\u20136 drops in her guidance) and an open door so the dog can choose to leave. I have used a diffuser around my own dogs, and the freedom to move into another room is the most important consideration for me. Not every scent suits every dog, so watch the animal and switch off the diffuser if it seems uncomfortable. Plant material, tea, extracts and essential oils involve very different exposures.<\/p>\n

FendaF’s seven-day observation plan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each day, note your dog’s appetite, sleep, interest in movement and play, and social behaviour. Think about changes at home in recent weeks. Offer one enjoyable low-pressure activity each day while keeping familiar routines. If the dog regains interest, continue. If changes persist, worsen or come with pain, poor appetite or other signs of illness, speak to a veterinarian before the seven days are over.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In summary<\/h2>\n

I believe a change in a dog’s emotional state deserves attention, but I wouldn’t rush to explain it with one word. \u201cDepression\u201d doesn’t tell us whether the dog is in pain, missing a companion, frightened or simply living days with too little stimulation. Asking what changed, and genuinely looking for the answer, is more valuable than buying another toy.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/h3>\n