Can a cat or dog be depressed? Deterioration of mood in autumn does not only affect humans. Our pets are also exposed to similar mood disorders. However, cats are more often affected than dogs. Apathy and discouragement can be signs of the onset of depression. What are the causes? How can it be recognised?
Lack of sunshine
Lack of sunshine affects all living creatures, our quadrupeds are no exception to this. It results in a decrease in energy, lethargy and sluggishness. Changes start to take place in the body, for example, it produces more melatonin, known as the sleep hormone, during autumn and winter. Deficiencies in vitamin D and serotonin, which takes care of emotional balance, also contribute to the deterioration of our pets’ moods. In addition, dogs are very sensitive to our emotions – if we are depressed or slowed down, this mood also affects our furry friends.
Something is wrong
An animal with a depressed mood behaves unusually. It sleeps more than usual, is reluctant to play. The dog that used to greet us so cheerfully comes to the door with barely a wag of its tail and then immediately returns to its lair. The cat, which used to jump for joy at the sight of a ball or fishing rod, now looks indifferently at the toy and hides in the furthest corner of the house. A symptom of depression, like other illnesses, is also a lack of appetite. It also happens that the purring pet starts to defecate outside the litter tray, and the dog happens to perform a physiological act on the floor.
Activity is good for everything!
The best way to distract pets from a gloomy mood is to find the right stimulation for them. Encouraging their favourite games, and buying some engaging toy can be very helpful. It’s worth spending more time with a born hunter such as a cat and running around the flat a bit with a mouse on a string, setting a rattling ball in motion or getting your pet interested in a laser tag. Hunting is the cat’s element, so he should eventually be tempted. A pinch of catnip, to which cats are very sensitive, can break the first resistance of an apathetic pet. Preparations with a cat pheromone component, available in the form of special collars, diffusers or contact inserts, can also improve the mood. You can also prepare a new attractive place for your kitty, a box at a height from which it will observe its surroundings, a rustling tunnel, etc. It is also a good idea to leave a lamp on if you are coming home late. In the case of a dog, despite the cold weather, let’s not give up active walks combined with fetching a toy or jumping over an obstacle. During physical activity, endorphins responsible for feelings of happiness are secreted in the body. You can sign up for some attractive training with your dog – absorbed in learning new tricks, he can forget about being depressed. Above all, give your dog plenty of attention, talk to him during household chores, and give him lots of cuddles and the occasional treat.
Depression is a state of weakness in the body that has completely lost its ability to adapt to environmental changes. In depression, there is a loss of initiative, and a preoccupied state is observed along with a strong tendency towards over-attachment and disorder.
Based on years of research and clinical observation, two stages in the evolution of depression in dogs have been identified:
acute depressive state (reactive depression)
We observe here mainly apathy. The dog is indifferent to environmental stimuli, squeals does not want to eat, drinks very little and sleeps a lot. Characteristic features of this condition are mainly anorexia and hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness).
chronic depressive state
- the dog is significantly less apathetic. This is because his emotional reactions to high-intensity stimuli are rapid. Appetite is variable with stages of anorexia and bulimia, thirst is also variable. In this case, the main disturbance concerns sleep. An increased paradoxical sleep (REM) phase is observed, as well as rapid awakenings within the first hour of sleep. Often there are periods of anxiety in the period preceding sleep. Eventually, cognitive impairment (retrograde development – muzzle examination, failure to stay awake) and loss of anticipatory (predictive) ability occur.
In both cases, pharmacotherapy is necessary, which is not sufficient without appropriate exercise therapy, play therapy. Music therapy is also indicated, e.g. intermittent sessions of several minutes with relaxation music for dogs.
