Just like us humans, dogs are emotional beings. Therefore, they can also suffer from mental disorders and psychological illnesses. These problems are usually slow to be detected, as many owners believe that dogs are not capable of developing mental disorders.
But to help you better understand the subject, we share below three mental disorders that dogs can suffer from:
Depression
Depression is one of the most common psychological illnesses that your dog can suffer from. This type of disorder is extremely worrying, as depending on your pup’s mental state, he may begin to exhibit self-destructive behaviors in addition to general disinterest. In more severe cases, some dogs may stop eating because they are no longer hungry due to depression.
A dog with depression may show some signs, such as:
- Sleeping for many hours beyond the ordinary.
- Lack of desire to do physical activities.
- Discouragement from any stimulus.
- Not feeling any kind of pleasure.
- Compulsively licking himself.
If you identify any of these symptoms in your dog, it is necessary to take quick measures and immediately seek a trusted veterinarian.
Read more: Dog Depression: How to Help Your Dog?
Phobias
Just like depression, phobias can also negatively affect your dog’s life and routine. A phobia is characterized by the dog’s excessive responses to a particular fear. This problem is difficult to treat. However, it is possible to reduce its consequences through training, exposure, and desensitization.
Phobias are born from an extreme fear, which can be of a person or a particular situation, which generates a terrible experience for the dog.
The most common phobias in dogs are:
- Gunshots, Fireworks, or Thunder – These noises are very strong for a dog, as their hearing capacity is much greater than ours.
- Animal Abuse – Usually the dog will avoid physical contact with other people due to this trauma.
- Abandonment – The feeling that this brings produces a trauma that leaves psychological scars on a dog.
Separation Anxiety
Separation Anxiety is an anguish your dog feels when you leave him alone at home. This happens when the dog has little confidence in himself and develops an extremely dependent relationship with his owner.
Some reasons your dog may suffer from separation anxiety are:
- Premature weaning.
- Genetic factors.
- Trauma caused by animal abuse or abandonment.
- Simply never leaving your pup home alone on a consistent basis for days, weeks, or months. Lots of Pandemic Pups suffer from separation anxiety for this reason.
To prevent your dog from suffering from this problem in the future, it is important to leave him alone on a consistent basis, especially when he is still a young puppy. You should never show emotions or make a big deal when leaving the home or when returning home. This will help your pup understand that this is a normal event and not to be anxious.
It is important to remember that dogs can also suffer from psychological illnesses and mental disorders. If your pup displays any signs of a mental disorder, be sure to be extra patient and kind so that they feel safe and loved. The main thing is the evaluation with a professional so that this problem is treated as soon as possible. We always advocate for trying to treat a mental disorder with a trainer through exposure and lifestyle changes before resorting to medicating your pup.
Dog Walker Astoria
If you require help providing socialization opportunities for your dog and you live in Astoria, you can enroll your pup in daily Socialization Walks with Buster and Whiskers. We offer daily 1-hour Socialization Walks. If your pup is under-socialized, we will work with them to help desensitize them and get them ready for our Group Socialization Walks. You must live within our Astoria coverage area. In addition, your dog must be up-to-date on all required vaccinations. Laying a strong foundation in socialization is the best gift you can give your pup for a long and happy life together!
Buster and Whiskers is The #1 Dog Walking Service in Astoria, NY. If your dog needs more exercise or social interaction, enroll your pup in daily Socialization Walks with us. Contact us for a professional and reliable Dog Walker in Astoria! Follow us on Instagram.
