Can Dogs Get Depressed? Signs of Low Mood and How to Help
Dogs can experience low mood and withdrawal, even if it does not look exactly like human depression. Here is how to spot the signs and gently help your dog feel like themselves again.
Most owners can tell when their dog is not quite themselves — the spark goes out of them, the tail stops wagging quite so readily, and the dog who used to meet you at the door stays curled on their bed. Dogs do not experience depression in the complex way people do, but they absolutely feel low, withdrawn and flat, often in response to a change in their world. Recognising it early is the first step to helping.
What "depression" looks like in dogs
Because dogs cannot tell us how they feel, we have to read behaviour. Common signs of a low mood include:
- Withdrawal — less interest in play, walks, toys or the people they usually love
- Changes in appetite — eating noticeably less, or sometimes more
- Sleeping more than usual or seeming lethargic
- Less enthusiasm for things that normally light them up
- Hiding away or wanting to be alone
- Changes in toileting or other habits
The tricky part is that almost every one of these signs can also be a symptom of a physical illness. A dog who is in pain, unwell or developing a medical condition can look exactly like a "depressed" dog. That is why the single most important step, if your dog seems persistently low, is a check-up with your vet to rule out a health cause first.
Common triggers for low mood
Once illness has been ruled out, low mood in dogs often traces back to a change or a loss:
- The loss of a companion — a person or another pet leaving or passing away
- A change in routine — a new job, a house move, a new baby, or less time together
- Boredom and under-stimulation — not enough exercise, company or mental enrichment
- Picking up on your stress — dogs are remarkably attuned to our emotions
- Seasonal change — shorter, darker days can mean less activity and fewer walks
How to help your dog feel better
The good news is that low mood in dogs often lifts with a bit of attention to the basics:
- Keep a predictable routine. Familiar mealtimes, walks and bedtimes are reassuring.
- Increase enrichment and exercise. Sniffy walks, play, training games and puzzle feeders give the day shape and purpose.
- Spend quality time together. Gentle, positive attention — not forced — reminds your dog they are not alone.
- Reward the bright moments. When your dog shows a flicker of their old self, encourage it.
- Give a grieving dog time. After a loss, dogs adjust at their own pace; patience matters.
When to involve your vet
If the low mood lasts more than a couple of weeks, comes on suddenly, or is paired with any physical signs — changes in eating, drinking, toileting, mobility or weight — please see your vet rather than waiting it out. They can check for an underlying condition and, where appropriate, refer you to a behaviourist. Never give human antidepressants or any human medicine to a dog; many are dangerous to them.
Supporting brain and mood from the inside
Helping a low dog is mostly about routine, company, exercise and ruling out illness. Nutrition plays a quiet supporting role, though. The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is a building block of the brain and nervous system, and a balanced diet containing omega-3 provides nutritional support for normal brain function as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. It is a foundation for wellbeing rather than a treatment for low mood, and it does not replace veterinary care.
If you would like to support your dog's brain health and general wellbeing from the inside, PetJesty's Vegan Omega 3, 6 and 9 Algae Oil is a clean, mercury-free source of DHA with no fishy smell, easy to add to meals. Combine it with a steady routine, plenty of gentle attention and a vet's input where needed, and most dogs find their way back to their happy, waggy selves.