Depression has become a common and serious problem among people today. Unfortunately, this illness is not limited to humans alone. Like many others so called human illnesses, depression can also affect dogs as well. The difference between a depressed dog and a depressed human is that a dog can't tell you how he feels the way that a person can. For this reason pet owners have to have enough of a connection with their dogs to recognize the symptoms of depression.

Connecting with your dog may sound strange but it is actually much easier than it sounds. The key ingredients to this concept are knowledge and awareness. Knowledge is power and knowing the signs of canine depression is of great importance. The most common signs of depression in dogs are much the same as what is experienced by humans. The biggest indicators include excessive or inadequate amounts of sleep, losing their appetite and losing interest in things that they used to enjoy. In some cases a dog that is depressed may even become more aggressive than usual.

While knowledge is vital, awareness is equally important to being able to tell if your dog is depressed. Basically this means that you need to be observant of your dog's behavior. Watch them to monitor how much they are eating and sleeping. Making a chart may help in this determination. Records over a period of time how much your dog eats, sleeps and plays.

Other symptoms of depression to watch for are withdrawal and aggression. If your dog seems to be more withdrawn than normal he may be experiencing depression. This may also present itself as increased aggression towards both people and other animals. If you notice any of this type of behavior you should monitor your dog to see if the symptoms continue.

Another part of connecting with your dog is to try to find the reason for his depression. This illness alone does not necessarily mean that your dog has a serious problem. For example, something as simple as a change in dog food or daily routine can be enough to trigger depressive behavior. The good news is that these symptoms usually pass within a short period of time. This is another reason that awareness of your dog's behavior is so vitally important. Other causes of your dog's depression could be illness or injury. Remember that they can't tell you where it hurts so check for these problems as well.

If you have noticed symptoms of depression in your dog that have persisted or become worse it may be time to take further action. If you can find no other cause for the depression but your dog is still showing the signs, then a trip to the vet may be in order. Be sure to tell your vet about all of the symptoms that your dog is experiencing. This will allow your vet to quickly and effectively diagnose the problem. Once this has been done your vet can recommend the best treatment options for your dog.

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