Can Animals Be Depressed
Learning more about depression in animals could one day benefit humans, say scientists who believe that mammals share the same basic wiring in their brain for emotions as humans do. (Although not every scientist agrees with that premise.)
In the October 5 issue of Science, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Olivier Berton and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania reviewed recent studies of rodents, primates, and fish who lacked interest in their environment and their fellow animals.
Depression is diagnosed in humans based on a list of symptoms that are all very subjective. Common core symptoms include feelings of guilt, thoughts of death, and loss of pleasure. Because animals can't communicate even if they have these kinds of experiences, strictly the answer is: We can't say.
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There are certain aspects of the disease that may be measured in animals. One of the core symptoms of depression is anhedonia, the decrease and loss of interest in pleasurable activities. We measure interest in food that animals like a lot or in motivation for sexual activity. We also measure how they are interacting socially with other animals in the group, and changes in sleep patterns and daytime activities. Another behavior that has been used frequently to measure animal depression is whether they readily give up when exposed to a stressful situation.
Definitely the most convincing observations derive from nonhuman primates. Based on behavioral observation, trained observers can say a monkey looks depressed. Because their emotional behaviors are similar to that of humans, just by looking at their facial expressions or the way their gaze is directed, we can get an indication of whether an animal may be experiencing sadness.
One problem is that many lab studies in primates and rodents are conducted in captive animals that are raised in relatively impoverished conditions compared to their natural habitat. This can cause depression-like changes. Currently there is not a lot of data available that compares animal emotional behaviors in the wild versus in laboratory setting.
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I don't know. There are very few systematic studies of this kind. It is possible that behavioral disorders in animals in the wild may impair their chances of survival. Maybe there is a point where they cannot deal and are more easily preyed upon.
Veterinarians frequently give antidepressants to dogs to treat their behavioral disorders. For example, if an owner leaves the house and the dogs experience stress related to being separated, they may develop abnormal behaviors such as scratching themselves until they bleed or eating the door. These are thought to represent canine versions of psychiatric disorders. Although human treatments seem to work in dogs, large-scale studies are lacking.
Toxoplasma gondii infects up to a third of the world’s human population at any given time. It likely has a much wider impact on animal behavior than anyone thought.
Pets And Depression
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There’s an assumption that “getting cosmetic procedures makes you look better, which can make you feel better, ” one expert says. “But there’s more going on.”Does your pet seem sad? Pets can experience depression similar to the kind we as humans experience. But unlike us, our pets don’t have the option to tell us when they feel sad or depressed. Although there is much less research in the area of pet depression (of course) than there is in human depression, we have plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that pets can and do get depressed.
So how do you know if your pet is experiencing depression? And what should you do about it? Keep reading for some information and ideas from your team at Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital.
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Often times, behavior issues have a root cause in a medical or physical condition or disease. For this reason, to make sure any medical problems are addressed with a visit to your veterinarian.
When pets are depressed, they often appear withdrawn, sad, and lethargic. As a pet owner, the first step is recognizing the problem, which may often begin with understanding what can cause pet depression.
Grief. Although pets may not have the reasoning capacity that humans do, they still notice loss. Pets may mourn the passing of another household pet, may miss the presence of a housemate or neighbor dog that is no longer there. Or, maybe a child in your home has grown up and moved out. The loss of a playmate can definitely cause pets to grieve.
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Environmental changes. A move, a change in scenery, a pregnancy or new baby, or even the weather can affect pets and cause depression. It is well known that the addition of a new pet to the household may be stressful for some pets. It usually takes time for pets to adjust for these changes in their environment, and they may appear depressed during the adjustment.
You. Pets are very intuitive and keyed into their owners’ feelings. If you are depressed, it may be that your pet will mirror your mood.
Boredom. Your pet may also be depressed if left home alone too long. This form of separation anxiety manifests in depression and withdrawal instead of destructive behaviors.
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If your pet is exhibiting any of these signs and/or you suspect he’s suffering from depression, the first thing to do is to have her examined by your veterinarian, . Many times underlying health problems may produce similar physical signs.
If your pet has been diagnosed with depression, there are a few things you can do at home to help support them.
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