Depression in senior dogs

Age is always your biggest enemy. It slows you down, brings more pain and weakens you mentally. Your older buddy is also going through this painful phase and it makes them more helpless as they cannot express what they feel like us humans.

Signs of depression can be seen in the form of loss of appetite, aggressive behaviour, losing interest in activities that they used to do and more noticeably when they are in pain and are constantly tired. Loss of a family member, change in their daily routine or a new addition to the family is bound to bring about anxiety and depression in your older buddy as they find it difficult to adjust to new changes in their life.

As a concerned pet parent you must understand that all that your senior pet requires from you are three simple things – compassion, patience and a whole lot of love. You must take your pet to the vet when they show signs of pain or notice any other changes in their behaviour. Try to keep their routine constant and make sure they get regular exercise. Any new changes like an addition to the family or a new pet must be gradually introduced to your elderly pal for them to adjust to the change.

It is always a good idea to contact your vet or a behaviorist for their professional advice.
Happy parenting!