Do pets get depressed?

Yet in some case depression proves fatal. For instance, when my friend Ankita got a parrot home, it badly affected her cat, Tim. Tim used to be a very loving and playful kitten. He suddenly went into isolation. Neither love nor any medical intervention helped Tim come out of that state and he passed away six months later. According to Dr Lohith, a renowned vet surgeon at Bangalore Pet Hospital, “Sometimes a new animal in the family can make your pet depressed. They easily get upset and disturbed when that love and attention gets divided.” In fact, it’s almost the same when a baby is born in the family that already has an older pet. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the family to prepare the pet prior to the new arrival. If you have a dog, sign on for obedience classes so that it gets well-trained and prepared for the new member. In case of a new-born, gradually try to expose your pets to children’s parks and grounds, take them for evening walk, and teach them to be friendly around kids. Hiring a dog trainer can also be an option in such cases.

However, it’s not always a new addition to the family or an illness that causes depression in pets. It is often seen pets that get separated from a loving home slip into depression and other psychological disorders. When we adopt pets, they become a part of our family and get strongly connected with each member in the house. Any form of separation takes a toll on them emotionally. They undergo terrible emotional trauma due to such separation anxiety. Sharing her own experience with depressed pets, Sanjana Madappa, an adoption counsellor at CUPA, recalls the case of a German Shepherd that started falling ill after his owner left him at the centre. “It looked like he wanted to die. He stopped eating for the first 5-6 days and lost all weight. It was very heart-breaking to see him in that condition and later he was sent to a foster home where he started getting better,” Sanjana said. Sometimes pet parents are forced by circumstances to leave their pets in shelter homes, without realising the consequences. So, if you are planning to put your pets up for adoption or separating them from you, make sure to prepare them well. While seeking a good foster home make sure you introduce the pet to its new family and help them establish a good relationship. Once the pet becomes friendly enough with the new family, you may sometimes try leaving it at their home for a few hours to observe its reactions and behaviour at the new place. You may also consult a pet psychologist to ease in the change for the pet.

Pets are like our own babies—all they need is love, care, attention and some quality time. When we fail to do that, they get depressed or sad just like human do. It takes a great deal of responsibility, awareness and patience to understand their unspoken, unsaid feelings and address their mood swings and changing behaviour. So, look out for the signs of depression, seek professional help and ensure you revive your pets back in no time! Their wellbeing, is after all, our wellbeing too.