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Your sad dog could be suffering from depression<\/em><\/p>\n As a society, we realize that our pets can get a lot of the same diseases as us. Our dogs can be diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, colitis, heart problems or any other number of problems. Yet somehow it seems silly to think that our dogs can become depressed just like a person can. But just because you don\u2019t see your dog lounging around in his bathrobe, staring off into space doesn\u2019t mean that he or she isn\u2019t going through some sort of emotional instability. You may notice that your dog is depressed if he\u2019s exhibiting some of the following behaviors:<\/p>\n \u2022 Seems mopey or lethargic<\/p>\n \u2022 Not eating or drinking<\/p>\n Dog depression can often take the form of some sort of anxiety. This includes separation anxiety, when your dog seems extraordinarily upset at being apart from you or being left by him\/herself. Symptoms can often include:<\/p>\n \u2022 Pacing<\/p>\n \u2022 Yawning<\/p>\n \u2022 Drooling<\/p>\n \u2022 Destructive chewing<\/p>\n \u2022 Urinating or defecating in areas that they aren\u2019t supposed to<\/p>\n \u2022 Excessive barking or whining<\/p>\n In addition, dogs that might be suffering from a serotonin imbalance (the chemical in your brain that regulates moods), might also exhibit signs of aggression. Some of the symptoms of an overly aggressive dog include:<\/p>\n \u2022 Excessive barking<\/p>\n \u2022 Attacks on other animals<\/p>\n \u2022 Overprotection of food and possessions(including snapping or growling)<\/p>\n \u2022 Snapping when being petted, lifted or groomed<\/p>\n \u2022 Fearfulness of new situations or strangers<\/p>\n \u2022 Overprotection of possessions<\/p>\n \u2022 Repeated escapes from home<\/p>\n While there can be many reasons that your dog is exhibiting these behaviors including grief, a change in environment, chemical imbalances and weather changes, often the behavior changes aren\u2019t recognized by owners as a symptom of a larger problem, and they just try and correct the behavior itself.<\/p>\n If you notice that your dog is acting strange or seems overly aggressive, explain your concerns to your vet. They may put you on a monitoring program to watch for other symptoms and they might have suggestions on how to combat the problem. Since we have become more aware of the fact that depression can affect dogs, there have been developments with the methods of treating it.<\/p>\n Treating your Dog\u2019s Depression<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n There are three ways that you can help lift your dog out of their mood: Training, Medication, Naturopathic Remedies, and of course any combination of the three.<\/p>\n Training<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n Often engaging your dog in some sort of new activity can help stimulate them and improve their thinking. Try joining a class that will teach your dog some behavioral basics and the benefits of this will be two-fold; they will learn which behaviors are unacceptable, thus getting a better-behaved dog and they will also be grateful for the mental stimulation. Dogs like to learn things and they also like to spend time with their owners, so taking training classes will please your dog.<\/p>\n Medication<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n As explained earlier, dogs can have serotonin imbalances which could explain their depression. Like a human, this is a medical condition that sometimes needs medication in order for the afflicted to feel better. In the past couple of years, the equivalent of Prozac <\/a>has become available for dogs. This drug can have a calming influence on your dog, and you may notice a big change in the demeanor of your dog after they\u2019ve been on the medication for awhile.<\/p>\n