Dogs can understand human emotion, and a lot of times, they feel happy and wag their tail when we are so glad, but they also get sad when we are sad. Many people say that animals, in general, feed off the energy given off by humans.
How do we come to know if our dog is actually sad or just feeding off your low energy? We cannot ask them because they are unable to speak. We can try to understand our dog’s body language and try to get them happy and joyful again. However, you should also be aware if your animal has any sickness because your dog may be gloomy simply because it is sick. Consult a vet to know more.
Symptoms
A change in appetite – Our pets love to eat a lot. If you notice that they suddenly end up leaving a lot of food or simply not eating, then it may be because they are depressed. However, overeating may also be a sign to look out for, as they may overeat if they feel very depressed. Excessive eating may be to make them feel better.
A change in physical activity- If your dog is usually very active running to catch a stick or a ball that you throw, a change in this behavior may be a sign of depression. If your dog feels depressed, it may become quite lethargic.
A change of habits– If your dog does not greet you when you come home or if he does not do what he usually does in the day, he may be in depression.
Excessive sleeping- When life is tough, we prefer to lie in bed and not face the world because we feel that life is so hard. Your dog may feel the same way too, and sleeping a lot may be his way of dealing with it.
Hiding- Your dog may end up staying away from you and your family and hiding away in some corner. This can also be a symptom of your dog being sad.
Licking to cause self-harm– Sometimes, dogs can lick themselves until they start to develop skin infections and sores. Dogs may end up feeling better temporarily because of the licking, but it is a lousy solution for depression.
