Acting Sad in Dogs

Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 05/03/2017Updated: 05/29/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
Why is my dog acting sad?

What is Acting Sad?

The signs of sadness and depression in animals are similar to those you may see in humans. Some of the signs indicating that your dog is sad include sleeping more than usual, not wanting to play or exercise, hiding from you, laying around a lot, not eating as much, staying close to your side but not wanting to be petted, pacing, aggression, and whining. Some of the most common reasons for sadness in dogs include:

  • Illness
  • Loss of someone (member of the family or pet)
  • Addition in the family
  • Moving to a new home
  • Clinical depression

Sadness is usually not serious unless your dog is sad because of an illness or injury. In some cases, sadness may be one of the only symptoms of an underlying condition, so you should always try to figure out why your dog is acting sad. If you cannot figure out what the problem is and if it lasts longer than a few days, you should see a veterinary professional for advice.

Why Acting Sad Occurs in Dogs

Some dogs are just not as excitable as others. However, if your dog is normally active and happy and he suddenly becomes sullen and sleepy, he may be sad or depressed for some reason. There are many reasons your dog may seem sad or depressed such as:

Illness

If your dog is not feeling well, he may seem sad or depressed. Just like humans, dogs tend to mope around when they are sick or injured. He may just lay on the floor and stare off into space or sleep more than he usually does. There may be other symptoms you may not have noticed that make more sense now if your dog is acting more sad than usual. Some of these symptoms may include:

  • Loss of appetite
  • High body temperature
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting 

Loss of Someone 

If someone in the household is no longer there for any reason such as with a child who goes off to college or moves out. Also, your dog can be upset if you are not home as much as you used to be, as in the case of going to work after being home for a long time. Some of the other reasons your dog may feel loss include:

  • Death of a pet or family member
  • Divorce or breakup
  • Puppies given away or sold

Addition to the Family

Change in the family is one of the biggest causes of sadness in your dog. If you get married or have a baby, or if you have a guest that is staying with you, this can cause your dog to think he is being replaced and he may become jealous and sad. This can also happen if you get another pet, whether it is another dog, cat, or even a hamster; if attention is being taken away from your dog he may become sad.

Moving to A New Home

Anytime you change your dog’s home life, he can get unsettled and anxious. However, some dogs can become very sad, especially if they have been in the home for a long time. Your dog may be confused and wonder why he has been taken away from his home. He may hide somewhere and not want to socialize. Most dogs will get used to the new place eventually with no problem but some dogs may need a little extra help. 

Clinical Depression

Believe it or not, pets can have clinical depression just like humans. The cause of clinical depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain and can usually be treated with medication. Some of the medications that your veterinarian may choose for your dog are:

  • Buspirone (Buspar)
  • Diazepam (Valium)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Gabapentin (Neurontin)
  • Phenobarbital

Your dog may have been abused before you got him and you may not know about it. Being abused in the past can cause depression years later, similar to what happens with humans. In humans, this is called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and it can be extremely hard for your dog to process.

What to do if your Dog is Acting Sad

If your dog is not acting normal, has been sleeping more than usual, or has lost his appetite, you should probably call your veterinarian and see if you should bring him in for a visit. The veterinarian may give you some ideas of other things to try first if the symptoms are not severe.

However, if you believe that your dog may be ill or injured, you should make an appointment or go to an emergency veterinary hospital.

Prevention of Acting Sad

There is no way to prevent sadness in your dog since it usually happens for reasons that are out of your control. If the reason your dog is sad is something you can control, you can help with some of these suggestions:

  • Spend some extra time with your dog; play with him or just groom or pet him if he does not want to play
  • Try to entice him to exercise by taking him for walks, maybe a trip to the dog park will help
  • If your dog is missing a loved one or another pet, consider getting a new one.
  • However, if you and your family are not up to it yet, just try spending more time with him
  • If he is not eating much, try a new food or special treats
  • Try some music. Some dogs enjoy listening to music as much as humans do and some experts claim it can actually boost a canine's mood

Cost of Acting Sad

The cost of sadness in your dog may be nothing more than spending extra time with him. However, in some cases, dogs may need medication and treatment for an illness, injury, or clinical depression. This can cost between $50 for a veterinarian visit to several hundred dollars for medication and treatment. The average cost for treating a sad canine is usually about $100.

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Acting Sad Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals

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German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois

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Tam

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3 Years

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0 found this helpful

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0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Loss Of Appetite
Lethargic
Tired
Not Playful
My German shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix has been acting a lot less energetic. She still has small boosts of energy (mainly inside the house) but nothing like she did a month ago. I’ve been transitioning her to a raw diet because of health benefits and I recently added beef liver to her evening meals. Ever since adding this (I am giving her the correct amount according to her weight) she has been having diarrhea and hasn’t been very hungry. She also just seems to want to lay down and not do much. When I take her outside she doesn’t want to play and will just lay in the grass. I take her on a walk in the morning and evening but she just doesn’t seem as happy or energetic anymore. Please help.

July 12, 2018

Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM

0 Recommendations

Uncooked food can contain a lot of bacteria that are harmful to the intestines. Tam might be having a problem with this since this seems to be related to the change in diet. It would be a good idea to stop feeding her uncooked food, and have her examined by a veterinarian, as they can examine her, analyze a stool sample and see what might be going on with her.

July 12, 2018

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Jack Russell Terrier

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Bentley

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1 Year

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1 found this helpful

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1 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Whining
Not Eating As Much
Laying Around
Sighing A Lot
Laying Around, Not Eating As Much,
My family just got my dog less than a year ago, I am the main one who plays with him and he's 1. He is a jack Russell terrier and for the most part energetic. But recently he is sleeping more and whining a lot and just acting sad. He doesn't cry or anything but you can tell something isn't right. My parents have been saying they were gonna take him to the vet for weeks and I just want to know what I can do to fix it. I try to give him as much attention as I can but my family is busy and I feel like he needs more attention then we are giving. Both my parents work and my brother and I have school. I just want to know if there is anything I can do because I don't want him to be sad. I try to play with him and most of the time he plays but sometimes he doesn't. Also he went to multiple houses before ours, the first 2 families couldn't take care of him because of the cost and the last family before ours had a son who was allergic. My family thinks that he might have been abused because he gets scared easily and shakes a lot and the family that gave him to us said that the father hated him. Since this is my first time having a dog i'm kind of in uncharted territory and I just want him to feel better. I know this is kind of long sorry about that. Also I'm 16 and going to college soon and I don't really know if he's gonna be okay because he mainly hangs around me in the house.

July 10, 2018


1 Recommendations

Acting sad and being lethargic are non-specific symptoms which are common with many conditions so it can be difficult to narrow in to determine whether this is a behavioural problem or if there is a medical issue; in a dog like Bentley, we cannot be sure of his treatment until he found a home with your family so there is always that question mark. Without examining him, it is difficult to say whether there is a medical issue or not; a visit to a Veterinarian for a general examination is recommended, although you know already. My main concern is that something is causing pain which may lead to these types of symptoms. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM

July 11, 2018

Thank you, I am trying to get him to the vet as soon as possible and I do think something might be causing him pain I just don't know what it could be. I appreciate you answering my question sorry I wasn't specific enough.

July 11, 2018

Bentley's Owner


I am a little shocked by the vet's response here. As a parent and dog owner, I am really impressed with this teenager's caring and concern for the dog. That should absolutely have been acknowledged by the doctor rather than the stock phrase blaming the letter writer for not supplying enough information! This young person is doing everything right. They are alerting their parents, paying extra attention to the (lucky) dog, and reaching out to a vet. As a parent, if my child came to me, sat me down and expressed their concern, I would act and set up an appointment with a real vet. That's my advice - talk to your parents seriously. Ask to attend the vet appointment. Keep on loving your dog. Comfort him - he probably was scared by his prior owner. You do not need to medicate him, but your loving kindness will gradually, over time, help. Pat yourself on the back for being a wonderful and caring teen! And I will add, sometimes dogs express the feelings of a family, especially of the kids. If everyone is super busy and preoccupied and YOU feel a bit neglected and in need of more nurturing, try to find a way to tell your parents that as well.

Sept. 5, 2018

Sarah W.

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