Do dogs and cats feel sad? Do dogs and cats cry? Can dogs and cats have depression? How to know if my pet is depressed?
These are some questions we hope to answer as pet parents to understand our babies more. After all, connection with them is the most important thing to strengthen, and attempting to understand their emotions is a great start.
Do dogs and cats feel sad?
If your furry best friend has ever chewed on your shoes, or knocked over one of your mugs, you’ve probably had to give them some form of reprimand. As fur parents who don’t condone improper behavior, we sometimes must put our foot down so we can be clearly understood. Have you noticed their puppy dog eyes when you do this? Like they’re telling you “Please don’t be mad, I won’t do it again.” And your heart melts because you already know they’re sad.
In times when you must leave for the day, you’ll feel their sadness too.
Do dogs and cats cry?
Dogs and cats don’t usually cry when they’re sad. However, dogs do cry tears of joy! Cats don’t cry due to emotions. Both dogs and cats cry when there is debris on their eye, scratches, or probable eye problems.
Our pets have wide ranges of emotions, and more often than not, they feel for us. We experience love and joy; we deal with anxiety and depression—so do they; but their ways of showing emotion aren’t all like ours.
Part of being a good pet parent is to try to understand these emotions so that we can take better care of our pups and kitties. Connection is key—like when we’re sad and our pet is compassionately sharing our grief. They express sadness with us even when they barely have any idea what’s making us sad. They feel like we feel but we have different ways of showing what we’re carrying inside.
Can dogs and cats have depression?
While sadness is a natural feeling, dwelling in it might progress into depression. Depression is unhealthy for both us and our pets so it’s always best to get treated for it if we notice symptoms.
How do I know if my pet is depressed?
A study in New Zealand and Australia focused on signs of depression in dogs and cats. As pet parents, we should be vigilant of these symptoms so we can help them and ourselves by having a healthy happy furbaby.
Look out for:
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy or oversleeping
- Being needy or clingy with their human
- Frequent howling, barking, or meowing
- Being aggressive to other people or animals
- Excessive drooling
- Pooping or peeing in places they are not trained to do so.
- Withdrawing from social situations with you or your family
- Hiding
- Destructive behaviors
- Unwillingness to play and enjoy
In times when a pet has lost someone (a playmate, neighbor, or someone in your family moving apart) they can also frequent the place where they usually go together. Finding the main cause might help us understand why your pet is behaving out of the ordinary.
If your pets have some or all of these symptoms, consult with a veterinarian. Early research shows that CBD products like PhytoMAXX can help handle depression in dogs and cats. Our formula is made to address and alleviate anxiety, depression, and other discomforts that your pets may experience. We are currently conducting clinical trials with this product that are yielding promising results.
