Dogs Depressed

Treating Anxiety in Dogs

Anxiety often leads to depression. If your dogs depressed it may be due to anxiety. Dogs become anxious for many reasons – separation anxiety, changes in routine or a new person in the family.

Massage therapy has been used successfully to relieve anxiety in dogs and help when your dogs depressed. Here is the latest scientific evidence on using massage therapy to relieve anxiety in dogs.

In 2002, Michael Hennessy, PhD, a psychology professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, demonstrated that pet massage reduced anxiety levels in a test group of 40 shelter dogs.

After eight weeks, blood tests assessing cortisol levels showed that dogs receiving regular touch and massage – 20 minutes of stroking, massaging, and behavoir training five days per week- had significantly lower stress levels than others who did not get massaged.

Hennessy says the process is basically deep massage, along with very soothing talk. He stresses the deep massage is not the same as petting. You try to differentiate this from other petting.

Pet massage also reduced high stress levels in a 2001 study by Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga, DVM PhD, of the Radboud University Niijmegen Medical Center in the Netherlands.

Researchers, concerned that high variation of sodium levels in urine samples taken from laboratory Beagles could potentially disrupt results of research on blood pressure regulation, believed that the unstable sodium levels were related to stress. Results indicated that sodium level variation decreased among the dogs who received massages.

Michael Fox, DVM, a verterinarian and author of The Healing Touch for Dogs, has used biotelemetry – the monitoring, recording, and measuring of basic physiological functions – to measure heart rates of dogs receiving massages and gentle petting. Both can increase the presence of feel-good neurochemicals in the blood.

So if your dogs depressed it may due to anxiety about something that is going on in his/her life or your family, consider trying deep massage and talking to him/her in a soothing tone of voice. You might also consider supplementing the massage with a natural anxiety reducing product. PetAlive PetCalm for Stressed, Anxious and Highly Strung Pets from Native Remedies is designed specifically to reduce anxiety and help dogs depressed.

If you want more information about PetAlive PetCalm clink on the box below =>

For a simple home remedy for dogs depressed and anxious see our post Natural Anxiety Treatment for Your Pet

Natural Cures For Your Pet

Common Dog Health Problems

Here is a clear and simple guide to which alternative remedies and lifestyle changes are appropriate for several common canine medical conditions (Source: Natural Dog Magazine:

ALLERGIES:

Natural Remedy - herbs, homoeopathics, fatty acid, antioxidants

Diet Change – avoid grains, processing and byproducts

Lifestyle Change - frequent bathing with an organic anti-itch shampoo; keep off grass that has been treated with chemicals

ARTHRITIS:

Natural Remedy – Chondtoitin and glucosamine supplements, acupuncture, enzymes

Diet Change – Natural diet, restricted calories if needed, fewer treats or low-fat treats

Lifestyle Change – Weight loss, controlled exercise

BAD BREATH:

Natural Remedy – Coenzyme Q-10, fatty acids, antioxidants, herbs, homeopathics

Diet Change – none

Lifestyle change – Brush teeth at home, provide dental treats

CANCER:

Natural Remedy - Fatty acids, antioxidants, herbs, homeopathics

Diet Change - Improve diet: lowered carbohydrates and increased proteins and fats, especially omega-3s

Lifestyle change – No vaccines

DIABETES:

Natural Remedy – Herbs, supplements made of extracts from glands such as thyroid medication, homeopathics

Diet Change – Increased fiber

Lifestyle change - Increased exercise, small, frequent meals

DRY SKIN, COAT:

Natural Remedy – Fatty acids, antioxidants

Diet Change - Natural diet, increased omega 3s

Lifestyle change – Frequent baths with natural or organic hydrating shampoo

EAR INFECTIONS:

Natural Remedy – Herbal ear drops, antibacterial and antifungal herbs, olive leaf extract

Diet change – Natural diet

Lifestyle change – Clean ears regularly, limit swimming

EPILEPSY:

Natural remedy - Choline, B vitamins, herbs, homeopathics

Diet Change - Natural diet; reduced-protein diets help some pets

Lifestyle change – No vaccines, eliminate seizure triggers if possible

HIP DYSPLASIA:

Natural remedy – Joint supplements, acupuncture, magnetic therapy, herbs, homeopathics

Diet Change – Natural diet, reduced calories if needed.

Lifestyle change – Weight control, controlled exercise (especially swimming)

HOT SPOTS:

Natural remedy - herbs, homeopathic, fatty acids, antioxidants

Diet Change – Natural diet

Lifestyle change - Eliminate possible causes, such as fleas or allergies

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE:

Natural remedy - Enzymes, probiotics, glutamine, herbs, homeopathics

Diet change - Natural diet

Lifestyle change - Eliminate possible causes, such as food intolerance, food allergies, infections

KIDNEY OR LIVER DISEASE:

Natural remedy – Herbs, homeopathics, fatty acids, antioxidants, probiotics

Diet change – Natural diet, reduced phosphorus and protein if needed

Lifestyle change - Fluids administered at home as needed.

SEPARATION ANXIETY:

Natural remedy – Flower essences, herbs, theanine, homeopathics

Diet change – Natural diet

Lifestyle change – No vaccines; behavior modification

URINARY TRACT INFECTION:

Natural Remedy – Herbs, homeopathics, olive leaf extract

Diet change – Natural canned food or natural moistened dry food

Lifestyle change - Feed a moist diet to encourage frequent urination

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