The 20th January marks Blue Monday 2025, statistically, the saddest day of the year. That got us thinking, do our pooches ever get a case of the blues?
Though there isn’t a clinical diagnosis, it is true that dogs can feel chronically down in the dumps and even show symptoms of dog depression, just like humans can.
If your pooch’s behaviour has changed since a recent life event, or they seem withdrawn or uninterested in life in general, it could be more than just a bad mood and may require special attention.
Read on for how to recognise signs of depression, anxiety and stress in your dog, and tips for keeping an emotionally healthy, happy dog by boosting their wellbeing over the long term!
How can I tell if my dog is depressed?
If you think your pooch may be suffering from something more severe than a bad mood, here are the signs to look out for:
Symptoms of dog depression
- Changes in appetite. Your dog will be less interested in eating, perhaps not even eating at all. Take note if your pooch is turning their nose up at food or doesn’t seem enthused at meal times.
- Lethargy. Just like with feelings of depression in humans, your dog may exhibit low energy levels and seem heavy on their feet when they move.
- Excessive sleep. They may sleep longer and more often throughout the day, when they previously slept a normal amount and had a routine wake up time.
- Social withdrawal. A dog in a low mood may get anxious or agitated at the presence of visitors or other dogs. This will be noticeable, especially if they’ve previously been a sociable and friendly pooch.
- Lack of interest in favourite activities. Take note if your pooch used to be enthusiastic about walks, playtime and training games, but now becomes disengaged or loses interest very quickly.
- Licking paws or self-soothing behaviours. Excessively licking paws and toys or otherwise seeking comfort can be a sign your dog doesn’t feel right in themselves.
- General bored or agitated demeanour. It might seem like your dog can’t relax or is always fidgety, and can be easily irritated or distracted.
- Barking or whining more. Your pooch may be more vocal and bark more, as their mood can make them anxious or short-tempered.
Why might my dog be depressed?
It can make it easier to diagnose a sad pup if there’s been a drastic change in environment or a specific cause or event you can link to the change in your dog’s emotional wellbeing:
- Environmental changes. Changes in your pooch’s home or routine - such as a house move, people moving out, a new baby, or building or renovations - can trigger a low mood in your dog as they transition to shifts in their environment.
- Loss of a companion. If one of your pets has just passed away, your dog may feel this acutely. It’s very common for dogs to grieve an animal companion and feel loneliness whether it’s a dog, cat or otherwise.
- Their owners’ stress. Dogs are very attuned to their owners moods and stress levels, so if you’ve been particularly stressed lately or there has been upset or conflict in the house, your dog will absorb that energy.
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Boredom. If your dog hasn’t had much playtime, interesting walking routes or socialising lately, this boredom can gradually slide into depression.
- Underlying medical conditions. If your pooch is in pain or discomfort due to a medical issue, this can significantly impact their good mood.
Is it dog depression or something else?
Feelings of depression can be an extended emotional state for your dog, or it could be symptoms of other health conditions.
Stress and anxiety
Anxiety disorders in dogs often present as nervous and restless behaviour, excessive barking and aggression around other dogs and people, or destructive behaviours.
Feelings of depression is usually linked to more subdued symptoms, like a lack of energy or disinterest in activities they usually enjoy. However, dogs can present symptoms of both conditions at once.
Cognitive dysfunction in dogs (CDS)
Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) in dogs is similar to dementia in humans, and can cause confusion, disorientation, disrupted sleep patterns and disinterest in activities.
Take note if your dog seems to forget things they know very well, has trouble recognising well-known people, or gets stuck in corners or rooms in the house.
How weather affects dog moods
A version of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in humans can affect dogs, too. When the weather gets dark and dreary in the winter months, this can make walks less pleasant for some pooches, particularly breeds that aren’t comfortable in cold conditions.
Shorter walks, shorter days and a lack of sunlight can get them down, just like it can for us. If you notice your pooch shows depression symptoms each year when the winter sets in, this could be the problem.
How do you help a dog feeling depressed?
All dogs are unique and have different personalities and needs, but even if your dog is particularly quiet and laid-back, they should still have a recognisable baseline level of energy and happiness.
As a dog owner, try extra hard to get to the root of the problem, and do everything you can to boost your pooch’s well-being day-to-day!
- Get enough exercise. If you only give your dog short walks around the block, try increasing their exercise intensity or taking them on new, more adventurous routes. Exercise is crucial for a dog’s mental health and wellbeing.
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Remember mental stimulation. Beat boredom in your pooch by giving them lots of playtime, puzzle games and training exercises; mental stimulation and enrichment is just as important as physical exercise.
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Honour your dog’s routine. Having the same events happen at the same time each day is important for your dog to feel safe, happy and content. Not honouring timed meal times or daily walks, for instance, can disrupt their emotional wellbeing. A wind down before a set bed time is also important.
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Socialise with others. If you think your dog isn’t getting enough interactions with other people and animals, make a point of organising socialising dates - either getting them out to where other dogs are around, or having friends with dogs coming to visit.
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Keep a calm environment at home. We know life can be unpredictable, but do all you can to keep your dog’s home a place of calm, quiet and routine. Your pooch should have a safe space of their own to retreat to, like a sleeping bed or crate, with lots of comfort toys and blankets.
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Try supplements for dogs. Making sure your dog gets enough vitamins and nutrients can boost their overall health and in turn, their mood. Supplements such as Salmon Oil for dogs, a digestive supplement for dogs or even hemp-infused chews with calming effects can work wonders.
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Integrate excitement into your dog’s life. As well as keeping their routine stable, your pooch will feel better with lots of enrichment and novelty in their lives.
Get them a new toy now and then, try some new healthy dog treats, take them on a trip, or try walks to new places you’ve not been before. All of these things will refresh your dog’s mood and have them feeling more energised each day.
When is it a cause for concern?
Whether you think there’s a reason for it or not, it’s a good idea to mention to your vet about your dog’s lull in mood if they’ve been showing symptoms for more than a week.
They can give your pooch a check-up to rule out any underlying health conditions and offer advice to boost your dog’s mood over time. They may even suggest certain medications or refer you to a behavioural specialist.
FAQs
What other mental health conditions can dogs suffer from?
Though depression in dogs isn’t a clinical diagnosis and there hasn’t been much scientific study on it, it is one of a range of mental health conditions dogs can show signs of.
Dogs can suffer from anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) which is a sort of ‘dog dementia’, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and stress-related conditions.
If your pooch is showing a change in mood or behaviour for a week or more, it’s a good idea to report these symptoms to a vet for a diagnosis.
Is my dog sad or feeling lazy?
It can be hard to tell!
If your dog eats and sleeps a lot and enjoys lounging around the house, but is generally in high spirits and of their usual demeanour, ‘laziness’ might be all it is.
But if your pooch has demonstrated a change in behaviour and is now lethargic and unenthused by activities they were excitable and energised about before, it could be that they're feeling low and experiencing symptoms of depression.
Are some breeds more prone to feelings of depression than others?
Yes, some dog breeds are more prone to depressive behaviours based on their environments.
Working dogs such as Border Collies, Huskies and German Shepherds can easily become bored and agitated without enough exercise and stimulation, and will show signs of lethargy and depression.
Others such as Poodles are very sensitive and can easily pick up on their owners’ emotions, whereas Great Danes are gentle giants that need stability and calm to boost their wellbeing.
That said, every breed can show depressive behaviours and crave companionship, affection, mental stimulation, routine and exercise in order to feel good every day.
How can you tell if your dog is unhappy?
General signs of unhappiness or depression in dogs can be:
- A distinct lack of energy and enthusiasm in activities they once enjoyed
- A drop in appetite, licking paws to self-soothe, and sleeping a lot more than usual.
This is common in dogs especially following a life event such as the loss of an owner or animal companion, or a house move. You’ll be able to sense that your dog isn’t their usual self and should mention it to your vet if these behaviours go on for more than a week.
How long does it take for a dog to recover from feelings of depression?
If you’ve been making a special effort to enrich your dog’s life with affection, playtime, novelty and adventure, as well as keeping their environment calm and safe, they should hopefully transition out of their period of depression.
The time it takes can change depending on why they’re feeling down, their breed and lifestyle factors. Remember if your dog is grieving an owner or companion, this can take a while, but giving them enough love and attention can help the process immensely.
Can diet affect my dog's mood?
Yes - diet is a huge contributor to a dog’s mood due to the gut-brain axis.
Basically, whatever a dog eats and digests is scientifically linked to the brain and has a significant impact on mood and behaviours.
Make sure your pooch gets a well-balanced diet full of natural ingredients, whole proteins, fruits and veggies. Adding supplements for dogs such as probiotics or salmon oil (great for brain health) can add some superpower to your dog’s mood-elevating diet.
One way to maintain your pup's good mood is to feed them a healthy, nutritious diet. Our Pooch & Mutt grain-free dog food will have them feeling energised and content. Made with whole ingredients and gut-friendly nutrients, we have recipes formulated for all kinds of health conditions that will get their tail wagging!
If you're experiencing any feelings of depression or issues with mental health, find help and support here.
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