Dog Mental Health; what is it?
Is your dog mentally healthy?
Dog mental health is actually a thing. But have you ever asked yourself how your dog is doing mentally?
If you’re a dog parent (not just an owner), you may have noticed times when your dog appears to be smiling. Or maybe, they know you’re leaving for a while, and they get mopey. If thunderstorms are headed your way, do they go hide? All of these things are clues to your dog’s mental health.
Just like us, dogs have mental problems from time to time. If the issues aren’t severe, your dog is probably pretty healthy physically too. But if your dog has more severe issues like depression or PTSD, they might really be suffering physically too.
Noticing mental health issues can help you make life better for your dog. You can observe and notice changes in their physical appearance or behavior. Whether mild or severe, there are some things you can do to improve the situation. Good mental health is connected to good physical health.
What kinds of things can cause a problem with mental health?
There can be lots of different causes, either one at a time or more than one, that are all affecting your dog. The more stress your dog feels from these issues, the more likely that physical problems will show up or get worse. Conditions like:
Physical pain or chronic health issues
If a dog has pain or other ongoing physical issues, they are more likely to be depressed. Symptoms, like not eating well, withdrawing from enjoyable activities, or getting grumpy, might appear.
Change
Significant changes like moving, the birth of a child, or different schedules can cause depression and anxiety since your dog may not know how to deal with the new situation. Even holidays can be a time of change, even if it’s happy.
Loss of a loved one
Dogs mourn like we do. Whether the loss is human or nonhuman, dogs can have symptoms of depression and anxiety as they recover and learn to accept a new normal.
Fear or anxiety
Your dog might have a fear that seems to come out of nowhere, or there could be a specific cause that you’re aware of. Either way, fear can really cause some physical and behavioral issues. Some of the things we do can increase or decrease fear, anxiety, and stress.
Traumatic events like an accident
Dogs can suffer from PTSD after a trauma. They might get aggressive, anxious, or develop repetitive behaviors (OCD) to deal with the conflict they feel.
Abuse or neglect
When there is abuse or neglect, the mental issues can remain after the physical injuries heal. Often, dogs go through PTSD or anxiety as they heal mentally and emotionally.
Issues of unknown origin
Other circumstances in addition to pain or trauma can cause depression, anxiety, or other mental issues. These can be really tough to work with especially if the cause is unclear.
Ways to help your dog be happier.
As much as you want it to be so, you can’t always fix what’s broken in your dog. However, depending on all of the factors involved, several approaches could help them cope.
First and foremost, a visit to the vet would be good. Your vet can locate issues that might be causing problems or at least rule them out. It’s easier to address the mental issues if the physical ones are in check.
Having addressed physical issues, you can start exploring options that might help your dog be happier. Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic formula that works for every dog. Often trial and error are necessary to form a plan that works specifically for your dog. But it's well worth the effort if your dog will feel better.
Approaches
Some of the more mainstream approaches are:
Training – teaching your dog how to deal with an issue that’s causing them a problem.
Spending time with your dog – if your dog is feeling off or unsure, just taking the time to go for a walk, play ball, or cuddle could help them feel more themselves.
Medicating – if your dog is in pain or highly anxious, the vet may recommend/prescribe something that will help calm them down until they can resolve the issue.
Decreasing stress – if certain situations cause your dog to feel stressed, keeping them away from that situation can help them deal.
Maintaining schedule – if other things have changed, at least having a plan that feels more normal can help them find their way.
Read my post about dog anxiety for more tips. Or PetMD has a great post about stress you can check out.
Or there are less mainstream approaches.
For example,
Massage – Dog massage is getting to be more available, and, just like us, the process of having muscles massaged and receiving physical touch can help soothe mental issues.
Acupuncture or acupressure – part of this technique addresses disease causes, including mental issues and stress. It can really help reset your dog’s system. For more about this, read my post.
Reiki – an energy healing technique, can help resolve any negative emotions or mental issues. Classes are available, so you can do this yourself. Read about it here.
The thing to keep in mind is that there are many options out there. You can find something that helps even if it doesn’t completely solve the problem.
Why is dog mental health important?
Your dog needs to have overall health. One area, like mental health, affects all other aspects. Like a machine, each part has to work well for the machine to run its best. That’s why each piece of the puzzle is essential so your dog can be as happy and healthy as possible.
Feeling connected with your dog can help with their mental health, as well as yours. Read more about how much they understand us here.
What approaches do you take to help your dog feel their best? Let me know in the comments below.
No comments:
Post a Comment