Animals can experience depression, just like people do. It is not as easy to diagnose, but if your dog exhibits any unusual behaviour, depression may be the cause. Depression among canines is not uncommon and you may actually witness shifts in moods or changes in behavior. If this does happen you should contact your vetinarian to find out if your dog is suffering from depression, or there is another reason for his changes in behavior. If these changes or moods seem to last a long time, you will want to know the underlying causes so that your pet can be treated properly.Whether it is depression or something else, you want to be sure.

One of the most common causes of depression in dogs is separation anxiety. This can happen when the owner has been away from the animal for an extended period of time, and the pet has trouble adjusting to the absence of its master. While it can happen with other types of pets, the evidence has indicated that it's most common among "man's best friend".

How do you know if your dog is depressed?
Obvious symptoms include destructive behavior, but that may be a result of other causes as well. If the behaviors are unusual, be more aware that they may be an exhibition of depression: loud, continuous barking or howling, frequent toileting, by an animal that has been house trained, agitated pacing; and excessive drooling or licking. If your pet has not engaged in these behaviors in the past, this may be a signal that your pet is suffering from depression.

Pet depression, just like human depression can be treated with medication. A Vet will only prescribe depression meds after having tried other options, just as with humans. The Vets would probably try some behavior modifications before resorting to medication. And the trained vetinarian would want to know beforehand if there are other problems that might be causing this behavior by examining the animal's total health profile. It may not be depression, but rather something else. The last thing the Vet wants to do is to prescribe medication when it is not necessary. Medication for animals should always be a last resort, just as it is for humans, because of the ultimate effects.

Even if one actually exists, it will take a while to make a diagnosis of depression. You, your dog and the vet will have to form a partnership of three to determine this diagnosis. All must work as a team to find a right solution to the problem. If a vet immediately prescribes medication because of your complaint of a sudden behavior change without a thorough study, beware! A good vet will not think your concerns are silly or unfounded and will not make a quick diagnosis.

If you know that you'll need to be separated from your pet for awhile, try to put some plans into effect for helping the animal to cope with your absence. Having the dog stay with someone familiar and with whom he feels comfortable, as well as leaving an item of your clothing that contains your scent will help to ease the animal through the transition. Before your departure, contact your vet for further suggestions and to address any questions or concerns that you may have.