Ideas to help my dog out of depression...Long...

[Tussiemussies]

My dog is aging and even so her body is in pretty good shape. She has a tiny bit of arthritis but it doesn't stop her too much from jumping up on furniture etc. last year she went completely deaf. She seems extremely depressed to me.

She sleeps almost all day long and then at night just lays in the crook of my DH's leg.


I also haven't been walking her like I used to. I just took her out early this morning.

She has no interest in playing, she used to keep her favorite ball near her, she used to act like it was her baby for the longest time. She has no interest in it any more and she doesn't look out the window like she used to. She loves to look out and bark but she got so excited she would fall off the windowsill where she put her paws so we had to move the furniture back slightly. Now she hardly looks out. We do have the bed in the bedroom set up for her to be able to sit and look out the window safely but he has been rarely doing that too.
She never wants to play and she just looks unhappy.

It seems that everything she used to like to do has been cut back. We are renting in a house with no fenced in yard which she used to enjoy. She has a little fenced in area to use for the bathroom but that is all. There is not much to see from there.

The only thing I can think of is taking her for good walks three times a day, at least she can sniff since she cannot hear. The exercise may help her perk up and I can take her on different routes for different scenery.

We are hoping to move out to the country in a private setting and I am afraid it would be worse for her unless I take her on even longer walks, which I don't mind. But there will be nothing for her to look at out there...

Do you have any suggestions? Ps she doesn't like other dogs and will attack them, so there is no hope for a doggie park etc. we have been very careful to keep her away from other dogs.

Have you dealt with this in your dog? What did you do?

Thanks, Christine

[Miss Cellane]

The first thing I'd do is take her to the vet for a good check-up. Various things go wrong with elderly pets, the same way they do for humans. It could be that she needs pain medication for the arthritis or there's a hormone imbalance or something. I pet sit for a cat who is on Valium, for what it's worth, so if there is a medical issue, there is probably a cure out there.

The long daily walks are probably a good idea. I'd also try to find someplace that you can safely let her off-leash, even if only one or two days a week. There might be some woodland or other open space nearby that you could use.

If the move to this house was recent, she may just be confused about all the changes. It might take her time to readjust.

[try2bfrugal]

Our dog lives for two things - the dog park and walks. Car trips without the dog park would be a distant third. On walks he seems to enjoy sniffing the most. He really likes to go a new route on each walk so he can get new smells. I like doing laps around the block for exercise but after one lap he wants a new route with new smalls.

I think the idea for a vet checkup is good. After that I would go for walks and vary the route. If your dog can go to the park, even if it is not the dog park, maybe that would be an interesting place for a visit. Our dog likes any place with good smells where wild animals or other dogs have left a good scent. After the dog park he gets to go for a walk around the lake at the park next door and he seems to like that almost as much as playing with the other dogs at the dog park.

Fresh air, sunshine and exercise are good for depression in humans so maybe it would help your dog as well. You could also try changing her dog food and see if that makes any difference. I guess it depends on the dog but our dog loves going for walks and even just rides in the car. Once he is in the backseat of the car he refuses to leave. He knows how to jump down from the seat but we usually have to forcibly carry him out.

[CathyA]

Our dog, Suzi, seemed so tired and depressed all the time. She is 9 years old. We had her thyroid checked and she was hypothyroid..........so definitely have that checked out. Suzi is on a very tiny dose of Thyroxine and it has improved her mood/energy alot. In fact.......some days I consider not giving it to her. hahaha

Make sure her food is good food and not just all grains and meal. I switched from Purina dog Chow to Blue Buffalo hard food and Taste of the Wild canned food.

Suzi gets very defensive with other dogs, but actually seems to enjoy them, once she gets over the territorial thing. A cat would be a companion too. I feel bad that Suzi doesn't have a companion, but I'm just not up for training and cleaning up after a new pet at this point in my life.

Exercise is important...........but you know that.
I would definitely start out with a vet check up and insist on a thyroid level.......even if they say she doesn't have all the symptoms. Our vet had to send that test out and its $75, but worth it to know for sure. I guess hypothyroidism is common among older dogs.
Let us know how it goes.

[iris lily]

tussie, I really think you should consisder the possibiltiy of a physical ailment, as others here suggest.

We know senior dogs since that is primarily who we adopt: middle aged to senior. While they may slow down and sleep a lot more as they get older, the "depression" signs in them have been, as I look back, physical in nature. But it is tough to figure out what is going on.

Thyroid and teeth problems may be among the first things yours vet will look at. It amazes me the amount of pain dogs will put up with.

Our current senior dog sleeps a lot and doesn't want to play like she did just a year ago. However, I don't worry about her being depressed becuse she shows excitment about dinner time, she perks up about going on a car ride, she likes to go outside and forage for apples, and she loves to sit and snuggle. As long as they show happiness about some things in their lives, I think they are ok.

I look back at my favorite dog of all time who, in her late years, didn't want to go out of the house. After she died I figured out that it was because she couldn't see well at all. And then, in the last few months of her life she exhibited slow moving behavior while looking like a million bucks, she was fabulously beautiful and youthful looking until the day she died and I never suspected arthritis, but now we know that there was something nureological going on and that's what she died of. Whatever was going on in her head caused very odd behavior in the last few days of her life.

[puglogic]

So much wisdom in the posts above me - I have nothing to add but a note about the deafness.

My big white shepherd has, over the past twelve months or so, gone deaf. He can barely hear anything now, and it is very unnerving for him, having had the job of "protecting" us and our home for 12 years. He frequently exhibits something that looks like depression, and having had him checked by the vet and finding no physiological cause, we have to assume that it's just this change, and his advancing years, that is responsible. He is also becoming increasingly needy, always following us from room to room or at least always knowing where we are. The feeling of falling down the pack structure can't be pleasant for him, either.

So we do lots of things together. We play in place, like tug of war and hiding things; Kongs filled with healthy treats perk him up, as do yummy things to chew like tendons and hooves. We reassure him every chance we get, and are developing hand signals so he can feel like he still understands what we want.

A healthy grain-free diet has helped as well.

I too would make the vet my first stop, with bloodwork to check on all his vital functions.

[bunnys]

I agree with what the others have said.

I'd also add that your dog isn't depressed because of some angst she's ruminating over. It's probably physical in nature or some perceived threat she's afraid of. I'd definitely take her to the vet.

[CathyA]

I got to thinking..........there are hearing aids for people, couldn't they use them on dogs too? I know it might be a challenge to keep them from shaking/itching them out......but they do so much good for humans, it seems like it could really help pets too.
Didn't I read somewhere that dogs who are losing their hearing, go around in circles alot?

[bunnys]

I honestly don't think animals suffer that much for going deaf or blind or losing a limb like we do. There are no social repercussions with dogs like there are for humans along the lines of "I'm deaf now so I'm not as useful to society and am a burden to my family." I think the animals are ok provided their world adjusts. I think this is why trainers teach animals commands using hand signals along with the vocal command.

I think you could probably teach your dog some commands or signals to make your communications clear. That might help.

Maybe a cocheal implant. But that would be thousands of dollars for a dog who probably has a limited life span remaining.

[CathyA]

Actually, now that I remember back.........we took in a very infirmed stray dog a couple years ago. Bless her heart..........she was almost blind and I think she was deaf. I think she also had brain injuries. All she did was walk in circles. We'd have to hold her down to stop her, so she could sleep. Anyhow.......my point is, I had read up on communicating with deaf dogs and bunnys is right......you can teach them signs, or use colored paper (to hold up, to mean "go outside", etc.) Signs with the hands seems to be the easiest. When she's outside and you want her to come in, you could flash the light off and on (after dark).

[iris lily]

My dogs haven't been bothered about losing their hearing and we've had some that we suspect are completely deaf by the end of their lives. But then, see, my dogs aren't working dogs like pug's shepard. My dogs are layabout-the-house dogs, they are you-pet-me-and-serve-me-because-I-am-wonderful companion dogs. Bulldogs tend to have a lot of confidence in their own worth, ha ha.

Dogs that are used to doing certain "jobs" and who have a sense of responsibility probably ARE greatly bothered by loss of facilities especially if there is competition in the pack.

We fostered a young deaf dog who was born that way, and his original family had treated him well. He was completely socialized into family life with children. (Their family broke up for several reasons and it was sad.) I really liked this dog a BUNCH and I took him to a bulldog rescue event where I thought he'd be the star of the show 'cause he was handsome and nice. Well, was I surprised. We spent most of the time sitting in the back of the room because he was completely fascinated by, and would not turn his attention away from, a display of lights created by cars whizzing by. I felt like a mother of a disabled child, where all of the other kids are playing on the monkey bars and my kid is standing at the bottom, unable to climb up there. My foster dog had a good time, though, and I guess that's what counts.

[Tussiemussies]

Thank you so much to everyone for all of your input. You really helped me with aspects I didn't think of. It is so great to come here and have other's help. :)

Luckily my DH has an appointment with the vet this morning she went 2weeks ago because she had an ear infection,so when she goes today for return check I am going to have DH ask the vet if they can run a thyroid testing for her. And bring up this issue with them too. They ran some bloodwork last time she was there for the arthritis medication I imagine it was for liver and kidney function since those are the two places of side effects effected by the drug. I did ask the vet once if there is anything they could do for the deafness and they said no there is nothing for dogs unfortunately. I agree with Iris Lily about the amount of pain a dog will put up with, although her teeth are good as we brush them every night.
My brother is a detective and has a bomb smelling dog that had a herniated spinal disk and the only way my brother realized it was because she limped a little bit. If that was a person they would be overwrought trying to deal with the pain. The dog had surgery and is fine now...

Luckily even though she is deaf it hasn't made her feel down in pack status. Don't know why for her but I could see why a dog could feel that way. I really believe they sense a lot of things. She never seemed to have to learn hand signals, she seemed to pick them up right away. I really wish she wasn't deaf and that she could hear us talk to her as it was one way we expressed our love to her. She doesn't seem to realize she is deaf though, I used to throw treats around for her to find and she would listen to where they would fall first before trying to find them. Now I try and get her to watch me throw it, but she still trys to listen for it, it makes me sad to see that...
She is so dainty and finicky. Hates going in the car, my DH is afraid that someday she will have a heart attack from it...I have to get the homeopathic remedy for that, I used to use it on the 4th of July and it helped a lot.
Will not chew bones but she does like to eat baby food out of baby jars and containers, if I have an empty peanut butter container I will give it to her. I also save small boxes that I can put her treats in and she likes that, to chew it apart.
She will just not play any games like tug of war or anything like that.

I think walking her more along with the tests for thyroid would be good. She was checked over at her last visit so I don't think it is anything otherwise. We are going to start her on some homeopathic medicine made just for dogs for the arthritis since she doesn't have that much of it and they already want to put her on drugs with a lot of side effects. I'llsave that as a last resort if it gets bad.

I think it is just lack of stimulation mentally. I have stopped walking and stopped walking her as a result of it. We used to take very long walks to many different places, we have to get back to that...that with not being able to hear anything probably is just way too much lack of stimulation, I should be overcompensating for the deafness which I haven't...

I have been looking into Holostic vets to treat her arthritis. Yesterday I massaged her legs and she let me which she normally wouldn't, so that is something I can do.


Iris lily your description of the one rescue dog that you had brought to an adoption event that was deaf but handsome and stared at the car lights the whole time made me laugh!!! That is just too funny how you wound up in the back of the room with him...:) You are so funny sometimes with your description of things.

[CathyA]

Tussiemussies........its heartwarming to hear how well you care for her! Even without hearing your words, I'm sure your touch speaks to her!
Is it possible that the arthritis medicine is having this depressing effect on her?
Let me know what that herbal sedative is. I, too, worry that my dog will have a heart attack on the way to the vet's. Its difficult to watch. I've asked the vet for some sort of sedation we could give her at home before the visits, but they said no. I don't understand why not.
What breed of do is she Tussiemussies?
I find it amazing how much animals hide their pain.........but its a survival thing. They don't want to appear vulnerable, since other animals would harm them if they knew. My chickens are like that. I never know something is wrong with them, until it gets really bad. I also find it amazing how quietly they die.

[Tussiemussies]

Hi CathyA well we just realized that she had the beginning sign of arthritis not too long ago, we are going to use homeopathy to treat her which is all natural since she just has some minor stiffness in her legs. Wewill save the stronger meds if we need them down the road, since the side effects are pretty intense. My brother's dog who has since passed, i think part of his demise was from this medication. My husband is going to find out today if we can give her buffered baby aspirin for any pain she might have.

Here is the link for the homeopathy for fear for dogs, it has worked well for us. No food 15min. Before giving and none for 15 minutes after. I just put the drops, it is liquid, under her tounge in te side of her mouth.

http://www.newtonlabs.net/Pets-NervousnessFear/productinfo/P016/

Thanks for all your support...I really appreciate it.:)

That is really interesting how they protect themselves by hiding their pain. Never knew that or thought of it.

[daisy]

Another thing to watch for in an older animal is an enlarged heart/congestive heart failure, which can cause them to become lethargic. We've had 2 dogs with this condition and they required diuretics and blood pressure medication to control it. Both were diagnosed during pre-surgery x-rays, so I think it would be something fairly simple to test for.

[CathyA]

We had a dog quite awhile back and she started having arthritis, and we were referred to a vet in another town who was supposedly an expert. He gave us something in an injection to give our dog once a month. It helped alot. I'm embarrassed to say I don't even know what it was. I'm also remembering in retrospect that she would get withdrawn from the arthritis pain before she got the med. Unfortunately, she was growing a huge lipoma later that got infected and she got septic.........and I let it go awhile, because I thought she was just withdrawn from her arthritis pain. :(
Sorry to ramble. We love our pets so, don't we?
Keep us posted on what you find out.

[pony mom]

My horse is on an arthritis drug called Pentosan, which I inject once a month. It works amazingly well, and it may be available for small animals. No side effects (it actually reverses the damage, gets rid of free radicals) and costs about the same as what I was paying for an oral joint supplement. Acupuncture is a great pick-me-up as well.

When my dog was older, I taught her hand signals for Out and Cookie, two of her favorite things. She also enjoyed finding treats I would hide under yogurt containers (I'd let her watch me hide them at first so she knew what I was doing). Take her someplace new where other dogs are walked at a time when they aren't there so she can smell pee mail.

It's sad to watch them change.