---
title: "Dog Depression: Signs, When Sadness Is Really Illness and How to Help | DogServ"
description: "Dog depression: signs, when sadness is really illness, grief after losing a companion, what to do today and when to call a vet or a behavior professional."
url: "https://dogserv.com/dog-depression/"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-10-02"
image: "https://dogserv.com/og/blog-dog-depression.jpg"
alternates:
  es: "https://dogserv.com/es/depresion-en-perros.md"
---

# Dog Depression: Signs, When Sadness Is Really Illness and How to Help

By [Cal Hewitt](https://dogserv.com/authors/calvin-hewitt/) · Published October 2, 2026

![Tricolor basset hound lying on a living room rug with its chin resting on a plush toy, looking toward a window](https://dogserv.com/blog/dog-depression/featured.jpg)

Dogs can show grief-related or depression-like behavior after losing a companion or going through a major change. You may see more sleep, less interest in food, play, walks or family contact, plus withdrawal, clinginess, searching or unusual vocalizing. But pain and illness can look exactly the same, so if your dog is lethargic, eating less, hiding, vomiting, losing weight, drinking or urinating differently, or suddenly acting unlike themselves, call your veterinarian first.

Once medical causes are handled, a steady routine, gentle exercise and calm, reward-based time together can help. No universal timeline exists for canine grief.

### Key takeaways

- Depression-like behavior in dogs can follow a loss or a big change, but pain and illness cause the same signs.
- Lethargy, appetite loss, hiding or a sudden behavior change means a vet visit comes before any home plan.
- Keep meals, walks and rest predictable, and add gentle exercise, sniffing and short reward-based games.
- Grief has no fixed timeline, so watch for slow progress and call the vet if signs worsen or physical symptoms appear.
- Wait before adding a new pet, and ask your vet about a veterinary behaviorist if a dog is stuck.

## Is my dog sad, or sick? Start with the signs that need a vet

I know why you are here. Your dog changed, and you want to know whether this is sadness or something serious. Nobody can tell from the couch. [VCA Animal Hospitals](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/testing-for-decreased-appetite-with-listlessness) says medical causes are more common in pets that eat less and seem listless. The list includes [heart](https://dogserv.com/heart-disease-in-dogs/), [kidney](https://dogserv.com/kidney-disease-in-dogs/), liver, thyroid, adrenal, immune, respiratory and stomach problems, infections, cancer, pain, medication effects and toxins.

So, the first move is a veterinary visit, not a guess about grief. Call the same day, or go to an [emergency vet](https://dogserv.com/directory/vets/) after hours, for any of these:

- Extreme lethargy, or a dog that will not eat or drink
- Trouble breathing
- Signs of severe pain
- [Vomiting](https://dogserv.com/dog-vomiting/) or [diarrhea](https://dogserv.com/dog-diarrhea/)
- A sudden behavior change that is not like your dog

The [MSD Veterinary Manual](https://www.msdvetmanual.com/es/multimedia/table/cu%C3%A1ndo-acudir-a-un-veterinario) lists extreme lethargy, being unable to eat or drink, appetite loss, a sudden behavior change and sleeping more among the reasons to see a vet. Also call about weight loss, a lot more drinking, changes in urination or bowel habits, coughing and hiding. The vet will take a full history and examine your dog, and may suggest tests. If your dog is not eating, our guide to [a dog that is not eating](https://dogserv.com/dog-not-eating/) walks through when to worry. You can also find a clinic in our [vet directory](https://dogserv.com/directory/vets/).

## What depression-like behavior looks like

When people search "dog depression," they usually mean a clear change from how their dog normally acts. Your dog [sleeps more](https://dogserv.com/why-do-dogs-sleep-so-much/), or the sleep and wake pattern shifts. Food gets less interesting. Walks, play and the people they love stop getting the same response. The dog may seem flat or slow to respond to cues they know well.

Dogs are not diagnosed with human major depression. That is why I use the terms depression-like behavior, low mood, grief-related behavior and stress. It keeps the focus on what you can see, and what you can see is what your vet needs to hear. Write down what changed and when. A short note with dates helps at the appointment.

![Young grizzle and tan border terrier sleeping curled in a dog bed in a quiet corner of a living room](https://dogserv.com/blog/dog-depression/signs.jpg)

## Other signs to watch: clinginess, searching, vocalizing and more

Not every dog goes quiet. Some do the opposite. Watch for:

- Following you from room to room, or clinging more than usual
- Searching the house or yard for a missing companion
- Whining, howling or other unusual vocalizing
- Pulling away from people or other animals
- More licking, or other repeated behavior
- Panting, pacing or trouble settling
- Changes in toileting, including accidents
- Chewing or other destructive behavior

[AKC](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/do-dogs-grieve-other-dogs/) describes withdrawal, appetite loss, lethargy, searching, vocalizing, clinginess and destructive behavior as changes that can follow a loss, and advises veterinary attention when signs are severe or last. Our guide to [dog body language](https://dogserv.com/dog-body-language/) can help you read stress, comfort and avoidance in your dog.

## What can trigger it: a death, a move, a schedule change, a new baby or pet

Triggers are usually easy to name once you look. A death in the house, whether another dog, another pet or a person. The absence of a favorite family member. A move. A new work schedule. A new baby or a new pet. Fewer walks or fewer shared activities. Plain boredom. Even tension and stress in the home. VCA names moving, a new baby, a new pet, a favorite person being away and the loss of a housemate as non-medical causes tied to lower appetite and lethargy.

Can a dog grieve after another pet dies? A 2022 study in [Scientific Reports](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05669-y) surveyed 426 Italian adults who had owned at least two dogs, one of which died while another survived. According to a [summary of the study](https://sciencesources.eurekalert.org/news-releases/942857), 86% of owners reported negative behavior changes in the surviving dog, including changes in playing, sleeping, eating and fearfulness. The dogs' relationship with each other and the owner's own grief or anger were linked to the changes. Time spent living together was not.

Keep the limits of that study in mind. It was an owner questionnaire, not a clinical exam, so owner memory and perception shape the results. It cannot tell us whether dogs understand death the way people do. It also cannot fully separate your dog's behavior from your own grief and the disruption in the house. Your dog is clearly reacting to a loss, and how much of that is grief in a human sense is hard to say.

![Pembroke Welsh corgi lying in one of two matching dog beds with the other bed empty and holding a folded blanket](https://dogserv.com/blog/dog-depression/triggers.jpg)

## What to give at home: nothing from the medicine cabinet

When a dog is listless, many owners want to hand over something that might help. Please don't. Nothing from your own medicine cabinet is safe to give, and I would not add supplements on your own either. A dog that is listless or off food needs a veterinary exam, and the vet decides what, if anything, your dog should take.

The [Merck Veterinary Manual](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/behavior/behavior-of-dogs/behavior-problems-of-dogs) explains that behavior-modifying drugs are sometimes used to reduce distress and put a dog in a state better suited to learning. That is a veterinary decision, made after an exam and after medical causes are ruled out. It is not a do-it-yourself fix, and I will not give amounts here. Ask your vet first, and use only what your vet prescribes, in the amount your vet gives.

## Boredom, grief, separation anxiety or illness: patterns that point one way

You cannot diagnose this at home, but patterns can help you describe it to your vet or a behavior professional.

- **Boredom** fits a dog that is otherwise physically well but gets little exercise, little exploring, long stretches alone and few chances to play or solve problems. It often shows up as barking, chewing, restlessness and attention-seeking. [AKC's boredom guidance](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/bored-dogs-how-to-recognize-and-solve-doggy-boredom-and-help/) covers exercise, enrichment, training and social time.
- **Grief-related behavior** fits a clear loss or big change followed by withdrawal, searching, appetite or sleep changes, less activity, clinginess or unusual vocalizing.
- **Separation anxiety** fits distress that happens mainly before or during your absence, such as pacing, vocalizing, destruction, house soiling or refusing food while you are gone. The [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety) describes these patterns, and our guide to [dog separation anxiety](https://dogserv.com/dog-separation-anxiety/) goes further.
- **Illness or pain** stays possible in every one of these, especially when appetite or energy changes suddenly.

Age matters too. An older dog whose sleep, appetite, social behavior or house training changes may be dealing with aging or cognitive changes. Our guides to [senior dog care](https://dogserv.com/senior-dog-care/) and [dog dementia](https://dogserv.com/dog-dementia/) cover those signs. The [ASPCA's senior dog guidance](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/behavior-problems-older-dogs) says to check behavior changes for medical causes first.

![Grey and white Siberian husky mix lying calmly on a rug beside a basket of dog toys, looking at the camera](https://dogserv.com/blog/dog-depression/grief-or-boredom.jpg)

## What to do today: routine, gentle exercise, sniffing and enrichment

Once your vet has checked your dog, or while you wait for the appointment, these steps are safe to start:

1.  **Keep the day predictable.** Meals, walks, rest and one-on-one time at familiar hours. [AKC's routine guidance](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/why-your-dog-needs-routine/) explains why predictability helps.
2.  **Offer gentle exercise.** Match it to your dog's age, health and mobility. Our guide on [how much exercise a dog needs](https://dogserv.com/how-much-exercise-does-a-dog-need/) helps with that.
3.  **Let them sniff.** A slow walk where your dog sets the pace and checks every smell is real mental work.
4.  **Add enrichment.** [Food puzzles](https://dogserv.com/go/puzzle-toy/) work if your dog is willing to eat. Short, easy [reward-based training games](https://dogserv.com/positive-reinforcement-dog-training/) give a dog a small win.
5.  **Offer calm company.** Sit nearby, offer affection if it is welcome, and arrange time with people or dog friends your dog enjoys. Do not force play or contact.
6.  **Be gentle with the searching, the whining and the accidents.** Punishment makes a distressed dog worse. [AVSAB](https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf) recommends only reward-based methods and says aversive ones can increase anxiety, fear and avoidance.
7.  **Keep watching.** Track eating, drinking, toileting, sleep and activity so you can tell whether things are improving or slipping.

Canine companion-loss study: reported figures

| Data | Figure |
| --- | --- |
| DataOwners surveyed | Figure426 Italian adults |
| DataOwners reporting negative behavior changes after a companion dog died | Figure86% |
| DataOwners reporting changes lasting 2 to 6 months | Figure32% |
| DataOwners reporting changes lasting longer than 6 months | Figure25% |

These are owner reports from one 2022 survey. They are not a clinical measure of recovery.

## How long it lasts, and why a new pet should wait

There is no dependable number of weeks. In the 2022 survey, 32% of owners said changes lasted two to six months and 25% said longer than six months. Those are owner reports, so treat them as a rough guide. The [AVMA's Spanish pet-loss brochure](https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/productdownloads/mcm-client-brochures-mcm-client-brochures-pet-loss-grief-spanish-2023.pdf) makes a similar point about grief in general: there is no set pattern.

Progress tends to look small. Interest in food comes back. A walk gets a little more tail. Your dog starts to seek you out, or to settle into familiar routines again. If signs get worse, do not improve, or physical symptoms show up, go back to your vet or ask about behavior help.

Many people wonder whether a new dog will fix the sadness. AKC advises against rushing it. Look first at your surviving dog's health, temperament, how much your household can take on, and whether your dog actually enjoys other dogs. A newcomer can add stress to a dog who is already low. Give everyone time, and make the decision when your home is ready, not just when the quiet is hard to bear. If your own grief is heavy right now, that is allowed, and your dog is probably picking up on it. When you face decisions about an older or ill pet, our guide on [when to put a dog down](https://dogserv.com/when-to-put-a-dog-down/) may help.

![Grey Scottish deerhound resting on a sofa beside a sunny window with a folded blanket](https://dogserv.com/blog/dog-depression/how-long.jpg)

## When to call a veterinary behaviorist, a behavior consultant or a trainer

Start with your veterinarian for any sudden change, appetite loss, lethargy, pain, sleep change or hiding. Move to a behavior professional when medical causes have been checked and the behavior still worries you, when distress is severe, when routine and enrichment are not helping, when the household needs a structured plan, when medication may be considered, or when safety is a concern.

Here is how the roles differ:

- **Veterinarian:** the first call for sudden or physical signs.
- **Board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB):** a veterinarian who completed an internship, a behavior residency, supervised cases, research and a certifying exam, according to the [ACVB](https://www.dacvb.org/page/Certification). This person can look at medical and behavioral causes together and prescribe medication when appropriate.
- **Certified applied animal behaviorist:** an applied behavior professional who meets education and experience requirements set by the Animal Behavior Society, as the [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/behavioral-help-your-pet) describes.
- **Certified behavior consultant:** can help with behavior change but does not replace a medical exam. [CCPDT](https://www.ccpdt.org/dog-owners/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/) says CBCC-KA means a passed behavior-modification exam and at least 300 hours of consulting experience. [IAABC's CDBC credential](https://iaabc.org/en/credentials) is for complex cases and recommends three years of experience and 400 hours of related education.
- **Certified trainer:** a good fit for enrichment, life skills and routine-building when no serious medical or behavior problem is suspected. CPDT-KA means a passed exam and at least 300 hours of training experience.

When you call, ask which credentials the person holds and check them with the issuing organization. Ask whether they have worked with grief, withdrawal, anxiety or senior dogs, and how they work with your vet. Ask what methods and tools they use. [AVSAB's guide to choosing a behavior consultant](https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AVSAB-Selecting-a-behavior-consultant-final-5.11.20.pdf) points you toward reward-based work. Walk away from anyone who relies on pain, intimidation, shock, prong collars, leash corrections or alpha rolls. Ask what the first appointment includes, what follow-up costs and how progress is measured, and ask for a written plan that says when to see the vet again.

Costs vary by region, professional and how much medical work is involved. As one example, [Virginia Tech's behavior service](https://sas.vt.edu/extension/companion-animal/cbs.html) lists a $300 behavior consultation, a $100 single training session, $350 for four sessions and a $70 veterinary assessment that excludes medication. Use those as a reference point for your area. Our [trainer directory](https://dogserv.com/directory/dog-trainers/) can help you find local options.

## Questions about dog depression

### Do dogs grieve when another pet or their owner dies?

Many do change. In the 2022 survey of 426 owners, most reported behavior changes in the surviving dog after a companion died. Dogs can also react to losing a person. The behavior is real, though what a dog understands about death cannot be proven.

### What are the signs of depression in dogs?

Common signs are sleeping more, eating less, losing interest in play and walks, pulling away from people, clinginess, searching, unusual vocalizing and toileting changes. Any of these can also come from pain or illness, so a sudden change calls for a vet visit.

### Is my dog bored or depressed?

Boredom is more likely when your dog is physically well and gets little exercise, play or mental work. More walks, sniffing, food puzzles and short training games often help. A sudden change still deserves a medical check.

### What can I give my dog when it is listless?

Give your dog a vet visit, not a pill or a supplement from home. Ask your veterinarian first, and use only what your vet prescribes, in the amount your vet gives. A veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist may consider behavior medication in selected cases after an exam.

### How long does dog depression last?

No dependable duration exists. In the 2022 survey, owners reported changes lasting two to six months or longer than six months, and those were owner reports. If signs worsen or do not ease, call your vet.

## Your next step

If your dog is not eating, is lethargic or has changed suddenly, call your vet today. If a clinic is closed, use an [emergency vet](https://dogserv.com/directory/vets/). If the exam is clear, keep the days steady, add gentle walks, sniffing and short reward-based games, and write down what you see. I can't promise a result or a date. What I can say is that small, steady care helps, and a professional is there if your dog gets stuck. To find one near you, start with the [DogServ directory](https://dogserv.com/directory/) or reach us through the [contact page](https://dogserv.com/contact/).

## Sources

- **American College of Veterinary Behaviorists**: [ACVB](https://www.dacvb.org/page/Certification)
- **American Kennel Club**: [AKC's boredom guidance](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/bored-dogs-how-to-recognize-and-solve-doggy-boredom-and-help/)
- **American Kennel Club**: [AKC's routine guidance](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/why-your-dog-needs-routine/)
- **American Kennel Club**: [AKC](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/do-dogs-grieve-other-dogs/)
- **American Veterinary Medical Association**: [AVMA's Spanish pet-loss brochure](https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/productdownloads/mcm-client-brochures-mcm-client-brochures-pet-loss-grief-spanish-2023.pdf)
- **American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior**: [AVSAB's guide to choosing a behavior consultant](https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AVSAB-Selecting-a-behavior-consultant-final-5.11.20.pdf)
- **American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior**: [AVSAB](https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf)
- **ASPCA**: [ASPCA's senior dog guidance](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/behavior-problems-older-dogs)
- **ASPCA**: [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/separation-anxiety)
- **ASPCA**: [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/behavioral-help-your-pet)
- **Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers**: [CCPDT](https://www.ccpdt.org/dog-owners/how-to-choose-a-dog-trainer/)
- **IAABC**: [IAABC's CDBC credential](https://iaabc.org/en/credentials)
- **Merck Veterinary Manual**: [Merck Veterinary Manual](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/behavior/behavior-of-dogs/behavior-problems-of-dogs)
- **msdvetmanual.com**: [MSD Veterinary Manual](https://www.msdvetmanual.com/es/multimedia/table/cu%C3%A1ndo-acudir-a-un-veterinario)
- **nature.com**: [Scientific Reports](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05669-y)
- **sas.vt.edu**: [Virginia Tech's behavior service](https://sas.vt.edu/extension/companion-animal/cbs.html)
- **sciencesources.eurekalert.org**: [summary of the study](https://sciencesources.eurekalert.org/news-releases/942857)
- **VCA Animal Hospitals**: [VCA Animal Hospitals](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/testing-for-decreased-appetite-with-listlessness)