Can Dogs Die From Depression?
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Some guardians may find it difficult to belief a dog can experience depression. Their own dogs have boundless energy and an almost infinite capacity for fun. Their moods are often dependent on our own, but any sign of sadness will be gone with a treat or a play session. While their emotional capacity is more limited than our own, dogs can experience depression. Whether a result of a traumatic experience, issues in their environment or even an idiopathic cause, some dogs can experience sadness to a debilitating degree. In this AnimalWised article we analyze the extent sadness can affect a dog by asking can dogs die from depression?
While a dog won't die from depression directly, it can lead to serious illness or other influences which result in death. This is especially the case when prolonged or severe. We learn more about the risks of depression in dogs.
How depression affects dogs
Our understanding of a dog's emotional capacity is limited, partly due to a lack of direct communication between human and canine. This does not mean we cannot know whether dogs can feel emotions. Studies have shown that dogs are able to experience emotions, affected by both genetic and environmental factors[1]. These emotions can be positive or negative, whether joyful, excited, bored or depressed.
While these emotions can be transient and based on a response to a given stimuli in the moment, they can also have long-term effects. These can result in a serious health problem as a result of behaviors associated with depression, as well as the physical affects on their organism.
A depressed dog will show various clinical signs, often beginning with lethargy and apathy. In this state, they will refuse to carry out various activities, including those they previously enjoyed. They may spend many hours lying in their bed, not wanting to go for a walk or ignoring requests for social interaction. In more serious cases, the dog may hide and act strangely, potentially even growing uncomfortable or aggressive if someone tries to get close.
Depression can also suppress the appetite in a dog. A healthy dog has a corresponding health appetite, so a dog refusing to eat is usually a serious sign of a problem. While this may be a physical health problem such as a gastrointestinal disease, it could also be a problem with their mental health. If the food being refused is a favorite of theirs or a treat designed to be appealing to dogs, it is a sign of a serious issue in their well-being.
These effects of depression and poor mental health on a dog result in both behavioral and physical problems. An animal that does not move and does not eat will suffer nutritional problems, resulting in malnutrition and dehydration. Their immune system will be weakened, making them more likely to develop diseases and other health problems.
Can a dog die from depression?
A dog can die from depression, but it is important to understand this will not happen directly. Although a dog can experience emotions, they cannot do so to the extent of a human being[2]. For example, poor mental health in humans can lead to suicide, something which has never been evidenced in dogs.
When a dog shows symptoms of depression, the effects can lead to a deterioration of their health over the long term. The death of an animal suffering from depression usually occurs as a result of severe malnutrition. Nutritional and hydration deficits coupled with significant weight loss cause alter animal's metabolism. Their body begins to try to extract energy from wherever it can, including muscles and other body tissues.
In turn, this process leads to poor functioning of the organs, which begin to fail. They also promote the appearance of metabolic acidosis and electrolyte imbalance. Eventually, the animal dies from irreversible multi-organ failure.
Another way depression can influence the death of a dog is due to their vulnerability to various pathologies. A malnourished and bedridden animal is much more susceptible to suffering from any type of infection. Their weakened immune system is not strong enough to combat pathogenic microorganisms that may attack it.
A depressed animal may not die from a metabolic failure, but an attack of some opportunistic bacteria, virus or parasite might lead to their death. During the behavioral or pharmacological treatment of a depressed animal, it is essential to keep them in as clean an environment as possible and to make sure the dog has kept up to date with their vaccination and deworming schedules.
Why is a dog depressed?
To understand how to prevent a dog dying from depression, it is vital we understand what influences poor mental health in dogs. As we have stated above, these can have both genetic and environmental influences. It is important to remember that no two dogs are the same. One dog may be very sensitive to certain stimuli, while another might have no reaction. This can also be seen in the effects of certain situations on their mental health.
Here are some situations which can influence a dog's depression:
- Disruptive routine: dogs are creatures of habit and need a strict routine to maintain well-being. For example, when a dog is fed irregularly it can lead to food insecurity. This basic need is vital for their survival, so a lack of routine can make them stressed and depressed. A generally disruptive home with no clear boundaries can also influence poor mental health in a dog.
- Poor socialization: the most important socialization period occurs when they are a puppy. During this time, they learn how to socialize with other dogs, animals, people and environments. Poor socialization means they respond poorly to various stimuli, resulting in fear and insecurity. When prolonged, this cand lead to serious depression.
- Trauma: when a dog experiences physical or emotional abuse, neglect or abandonment, it can result in serious emotional trauma. As with humans, this can lead to mental health problems and depression.
- Inadequate training: some dogs need more education than others, but if a dog is not given the training they need, they can respond in various ways. Since they are poorly stimulated, they can respond in various ways. They can become bored which can lead to inactivity and subsequent depression.
- Owner influence: dogs not only have their own emotional capacity, but they respond to the well-being of their owners[3]. The amount of attention and affection a dog needs will depend on the individual, but if they do not receive sufficient levels, it can lead to depression. If a dog guardian is not meeting their needs in general it can seriously harm their mental well-being.
- Physical health: physical health problems such as diseases and reduced immunity can be a result of depression, but they can also be their cause. Especially if they do not have other evident symptoms, a physical health problem can result in mental health problems, leading to depression.
With these influences in mind, we can prevent sadness and depression in dogs by meeting their needs. We must ensure we establish a routine and keep to it. Consistency is very important for a dog. Practical needs are also very important. For example, we need to understand their dietary requirements and feed them accordingly. We look in more detail at what to do when a dog has depression in the following section.
How to cheer up a sad or depressed dog
Our ability to cheer up a sad dog will depend on their level of depression. If they have ben severely traumatized, it will be more difficult than cheering up a dog that is bored. When a dog's depression has reached the apathetic or lethargic stages, we may need to enlist the help of a qualified canine ethologist or dog trainer.
When a dog has depression, we need to be tactful with how we interact. Not doing so can be counterproductive. For this reason, we should consider the following:
- Never force the animal to move or walk if they do not want to, but encourage the animal little by little.
- Reinforce positive behaviors such as showing a desire to play, way, eat or interact with others. By using positive reinforcement, we can encourage them to carry out mood-elevating behaviors. We need to avoid negative reinforcement at all costs as it can worsen their depression, especially if they suffer from trauma.
- Try to maintain very stable routines. Dogs become stressed when they are unable to control their environment and do not know what will happen next. A calm and predictable environment will help the dog feel more secure.
- Spend time with the dog, even if you are not doing strenuous activities. The dog is a social animal and needs to feel they are not alone. Learn for how long you can leave a dog alone in our related guide.
- Offer them the chance to do things they enjoy every day such as going for a walk, chewing on a bone, chasing a ball, eating tasty food and others. As they improve, they will accept these activities, but you have to make sure to offer them frequently.
- Provide new toys and offer simple environmental enrichment activities they have never tried before. Sometimes novelty is a good motivator.
While it will depend on the dog, training and education are vital for maintaining well-being in a dog. If we cannot meet their physical and emotional needs, we need to ensure they are met in another way. This could be as simple as hiring a dog walker to ensure the dog receives enough exercise. We also need to provide plenty of interaction in the form of play, affection and even simply communing together.
Finally, since physical health affects mental health, we need to ensure we provide routine veterinary checkups. These assessments will help to catch problems early and provide a better diagnosis. We also need to take the dog to a veterinarian if we observe any signs of illness.
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Can Dogs Die From Depression?, we recommend you visit our Prevention category.
1. Tiira, K., Lohi, H. (2015). Early life experiences and exercise associate with canine anxieties. PLOS ONE, 10(11), e0141907.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0141907
2. Kujala, M. V., & Bräuer, J. (2017). Emotions in dogs: Neuroscientific, behavioral, and comparative perspectives. In Á. Miklósi (Ed.), The dog: A natural history (pp. 136-155). Princeton University Press.
3. Albuquerque, N., & Resende, B. (2022). Dogs functionally respond to and use emotional information from human expressions. Evolutionary human sciences, 5, e2.
https://doi.org/10.1017/ehs.2022.57