What is postpartum depression in dogs? How should the master distinguish?

We are not unfamiliar with the word depression. From actors to directors, from writers to hosts, there are people in all walks of life who have suffered from depression. Nowadays, more and more people have realized the harm of depression, but many people don’t know that depression harms not only humans, but also animals... What is postpartum depression in dogs? How should the master distinguish?

What is postpartum depression in dogs?

When a female dog develops symptoms of depression after giving birth, it is likely that she suffers from postpartum depression, which may be caused by hormones, current stress or past anxiety, which will lead to physical discomfort and various negative behavioral manifestations in the dog.

Abnormalities after giving birth. Be careful that it may have postpartum depression. How should the owner distinguish it? From a physiological perspective, the hormones of the dog will steadily increase during pregnancy. When they give birth, the hormones will suddenly drop, which will affect the content of progesterone and prolactin in the body, resulting in a huge change in the dog's mood and hormone levels in a very short period of time. This change is the cause of depression.

Another reason is stress, which often also occurs with hormonal imbalances. Weight gain, hormone changes, actual birth can be very stressful things for dogs, which can lead to depression. In addition, if dogs have high anxiety in their daily life or have experienced extreme stress in the past, they are also more likely to experience stress caused by production.

Symptoms of postpartum depression:

To quickly identify postpartum depression so that it can help dogs, owners need to know some common symptoms.

Loss of interest in puppies

If the female dog does not take care of the puppies, she is likely experiencing postpartum depression. Not cleaning up the living environment, not spending time with the puppies, or even taking care of them, are all signs that the female dog is overwhelmed by postpartum depression. Even if it is always lying with its pups, be careful about the degree of interaction between them. Do female dogs spoil them? Or check them? Are they allowed to get close? Or is the female dog just staying alone? It is worth noting that the female dogs often lose interest in the entire group of puppies, not individuals.

There is too much sleep

After giving birth and caring for a litter of pups, the female dog will obviously be more tired than usual. However, it is not normal for them to sleep too much despite their lack of physical strength. In fact, a dog who is breastfeeding will wake up regularly to check on his puppy, urinate, defecate and eat. If you find that it sleeps most of the time, it is very likely that it is a symptom of postpartum depression. Normally, it will feel very tired after just a period of birth, and it will slowly become more energetic in the next few days or weeks. If the puppy has to actively interact with the female dog and the female dog is unwilling to wake up, then this is a very obvious symptom.

Loss of appetite

Did the female dog suddenly stop eating? If so, this is abnormal. The female dog may not want to leave the puppy, but when necessary, she will leave for a short time to eat and drink. Normally, its bowl should be placed not far from the cub, so that its pressure will be reduced a lot. Therefore, if it still shows a loss of appetite within a few days after delivery, or even refuses to eat, it indicates that it may be experiencing postpartum depression.

Anxiety

After giving birth, the female dogs will change their behavior, but there are some key behaviors that will indicate their anxiety. Does it bark often? Sudden and frequent barking is usually a sign of stress, showing the dog's overwhelming feeling. Is it obsessed with licking the same place? This is a compulsive behavior, and dogs often use it to comfort themselves. Also, are dogs prone to excitement, nervousness and will avoid you or others? All these behaviors are manifesting anxiety in dogs and are a symptom and sign of postpartum depression in dogs.

Aggression

Aggression may occur during pregnancy and after delivery until the puppy is weaned. No matter who you are, this is normal, even if you are the master. When aggressive behaviors become excessive and last longer, they may also become a sign of postpartum depression.

Dogs, like all women, may face unprecedented pressure after giving birth, so owners must provide them with support and help during pregnancy and during the period after giving birth!