Dogs can become depressed just like people can.
If you have experienced the death of a spouse, child,
other dog or pet that your dog was close to, he/she can
become very affected by this.
A recent move or addition to the home such as a baby ]
or a new pet can cause a dog to feel down and confused.
But just as there is hope for people with depression, the
same applies to dogs.
The following article was written by Bonnie Beaver,
and Animal Behavior expert at Texas A & M University's
College of Veterinary Medicine. March 25, 2004 - If your pooch needs a Prozac, he may
be in good company.
It's not uncommon for pets to suffer behavioral problems,
and even get down in the dumps, says Dr. Bonnie Beaver, an
animal behavior expert at Texas A&M University's College of
Veterinary Medicine.
Dogs especially can get depressed just like people.
Several new drugs on the market have shown to be
effective treatments in certain pet behavior disorders, says
Beaver. She notes that any animal can suffer from behavioral
problems, but dogs are most likely to show clear signs that
something is amiss.
"One of the biggest problems pets face, especially dogs,
is separation anxiety. That means the owner is away from the
animal for a long period of time and the dog becomes very
distressed," explains Beaver.
"It tends to happen a lot more than we had thought.
The signs may not be apparent at first, but after other things
have been ruled out, separation anxiety is often the underlying problem."
Veterinarians have begun treating the condition with
prescribed pills, just as in humans. In fact, Beaver says,
the new drugs are derivatives of medicines given to people
that have been adapted for animals. One form of the new
drugs has been used to treat Parkinson's disease in humans.
What are the signs that Spot is stressed?
"There are several," notes Beaver.
"One is destruction, when a pet tears up things it
normally doesn't harm. Another is frequent house soiling,
and others could be excessive vocalization, such as loud
barking, so loud that the neighbors complain. Another sign is
excessive drooling or licking or even pacing back and forth.
"Often," she adds, "these are problems that can mean
something else, not separation anxiety. So it can be difficult
at times to diagnose."
Beaver says certain drugs can be prescribed for such
behavior, along with behavior modification techniques.
"Using drug therapy as a last resort is not a good thing to
do," she adds.
"It takes an entire behavior program, from history to
diagnosis and treatment. The problem could be a medical
situation that has nothing to do with behavior. Often, it takes
a combination of approaches to find a solution.
"The pet owner and the veterinarian must work as a team
to solve the problem," she continues. "Drug therapy works in
certain cases, but just popping a pill down the dog's throat
rarely provides a cure."