We’ve all had a tough time during the COVID-19 pandemic – we’re still going through it today! It’s hard not to get depressed about it, but did you ever stop to think if this collective experience is limited only to humans? The answer is no.

We’ve all had a tough time during the COVID-19 pandemic – we’re still going through it today! It’s hard not to get depressed about it, but did you ever stop to think if this collective experience is limited only to humans? The answer is no.

Here are 5 signs of depression in pets, and let me tell you, they are not too far off from human signs.

Appetite loss.

Like humans, one sign of depression is the loss of appetite or anorexia. The little cutie might have an upset stomach or might be feeling a lot of stress. That can lead to being picky with their food to eating very little to not eating at all. The dangerous thing that can happen is that your pet starts not to eat for more than a few days, that can be a major sign of depression and you need to take them to the vet ASAP! You would not want your beloved best friend to starve to death! 

Not as active as they once were.

Now, this one you’ll probably be able to spot from a mile away if you spend a lot of time with your pet. They’ll appear to be sad and withdrawn. They’ll stop showing signs of interest in things that they used to love or play with. They’ll yawn a lot and refuse to participate in any group activities. Sometimes you can even feel them staring at you with an icy glare.

Change in sleeping pattern.

An average pet usually sleeps from 8 to 14 hours a day. The sign to look for is if your pet is sleeping more than that. If all they want to do is sleep, or lie in bed without moving, your pet could be depressed.   

Rebellious behavior.

If your pet is being naughtier than they usually are, this can also be a sign of depression. They might still obey your orders or continue to follow you around, but a change in behavior could be the start of a depression. A depressed pet will refuse to do anything that you ask of them, and it could be accompanied by aggressive behavior, a cold glare, and even a bite because they suddenly hate to be touched!

Lick or bite themselves often.

A depressed pet often licks or bites their own paws, tails, and even their body when they have anxiety or stress. The worst that can happen is that they start to seriously hurt themselves, and that could lead to suicide much like in humans. If you find that your pet is showing these types of symptoms, please do not hesitate and take them to see the vet as soon as possible!

We’re not the only ones who can have depression, your beloved pets can as well and depression in pets can derive from a number of factors. It could be grief or simply a hormone imbalance, so as a responsible pet parent who loves their baby so dearly, it’s important to be able to spot these signs and symptoms.

Have a pawtastic day 🐾

👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ MyFriend’s Healthcare is where you can find all content that is vet-verified to take better care of your pet’s health! Both local and international sources so every pawrent can get a well-rounded understanding of how to care for your pet’s physical and emotional health!

🐶🐱 MyFriend, your pet’s app. Where pet parents can find all services and content to take better care of their best friends!