by Kimberly Blaker
Yes, Dogs Do Get Depressed – And It Can Be Treated As most dog owners will attest, dogs do feel a range of emotions. Dogs may not experience sadness quite the same as humans because dogs lack selfconsciousness, but they can experience anxiety and depression, says Dr. Carlo Siracusa at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, according to the article, “Do Dogs Feel Sadness?” by Kate Hughes. The development of dogs' emotions is equivalent to that of a two or two-and-ahalf-year-old child, say researchers. So the sadness they experience is less complex than that in human adults. For example, human adults can feel sad or depressed as a result of ruminating about their failures, imperfections or something they did or
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didn't do. Since dogs, like very young children, lack self-consciousness, they don't experience this type of sadness. Still, dogs can experience sadness or get depressed for a variety of other reasons. Causes of depression in dogs Because dogs are social animals, a lack of attention or being left alone for long periods can affect a dog's mental health. When dogs are confined to a crate or bathroom for extended hours, it can lead to depression. Allow your dog to spend as much time with family as possible. Similarly, a lack of exercise can also cause depression. This can be particularly problematic for pets that are crated or lowcountry dog 10
