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Is your pet awfully quiet and gloomy? Is he/she no longer excited to perform any kind of activities? If so, your fluffy companion might be showing the first signs of depression. As strange as it may sound, animals might easily become depressed due to any disruption in their lifestyle and routines.

Instead of using antidepressants as a temporary solution for the mental condition of your lovely companion, a natural remedy like CBD oil might be a better alternative. Numerous online vendors, such as http://holistapet.com/ , provide a huge assortment of CBD dairy-free and gluten-free products. These products are aimed at reducing discomfort in animals while inducing no side effects typical for medications.

This guide will introduce you to the causes, symptoms, and role of CBD in depression in pets.

Causes of depression

Depression in pets might be caused by a series of lifestyle changes, phobias, or mental health issues, particularly common in the course of winter. For instance, most canines and felines aren’t fond of changes in their environment, such as moving to a new home or having the house redecorated. Such situations diminish their confidence, making them experience changes in temperament and acquire depressive behavior.

Moreover, a change in social patterns is also likely to induce depression in your companion. Since pets consider themselves members of the family, even the slightest alteration in social patterns can trigger anxiety and sadness. These creatures feel baffled when children move out of the house or their owners start working longer hours. Due to the lack of attention and security, animals feel melancholic and discouraged.

Grief is another common cause of depression in pets, triggered by the absence of a family member or an animal they played with. Canines are particularly susceptible to melancholic behavior when someone from the house moves out, goes on vacation, or dies. Since dogs are more active than felines, it’s possible for these animals to become depressed when bored or insufficiently trained.

Pets might experience symptoms of depression during the gloomy winter months, especially canines. Owners cannot take their dogs for proper walks in cold, snowy weather, depriving them of the necessary physical stimulation. Similar to humans, animals are prone to developing a Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) throughout the winter months. Click here to learn more about the symptoms of SAD in canines.

Ultimately, depressive behavior in pets might stem from a physical condition, particularly one that causes overwhelming pain. The first thing owners are suggested to do when noticing potential signs of depression is having their companions examined by a veterinarian.

Symptoms

The symptoms of depression in pets are not much different than those in humans. For example, the majority of animals experiencing melancholy show reluctance towards food, hence experiencing loss in appetite. In contrast, pets seeking solace in food when feeling gloomy are likely to gain plenty of weight.

Even though canines and felines adore sleeping, extreme sleepiness and lethargy might be a sign of depression. In case your companion barely gets up from the floor after you call out its name a bunch of times or takes no notice of your presence, he/she might be in low spirits.

Another common symptom is the loss of interest in everyday activities. If your canine friend refuses to go out for a walk or your feline companion doesn’t follow you on your way to the kitchen, it’s a clear sign of low-spirited behavior. Also, some pets turn to paw licking as a soothing method.

Felines and canines tend to avoid their owners and hide around the house when depressed. In such cases, depression is usually caused by physical injury or illness.

The role of CBD

The treatment of depression in pets can be a long, challenging journey for owners. Antidepressant medications prescribed by veterinarians aren’t always the best choice for animals, providing nothing but a short-term solution. In contrast, CBD oil has been largely used to address depressive behavior in pets by employing its mood-lifting properties.

Unlike antidepressants, CBD oil provides natural treatment for this mental disorder, giving rise to no side effects. This remedy allows serotonin, the hormone of happiness, to be more present in the brain so as to lift the spirits of pets. By affecting the C1 receptors, it encourages the brain to increase serotonin secretion and promote happiness in animals.

After several days of consuming CBD oil, pets experience behavior changes, and an increase in energy levels. Animals suffering from a loss of appetite will soon look for their bowl and restore their interest in food. Owing to the simulative effect cannabidiol has on ghrelin, the hormone of hunger, pets are encouraged to continue eating their favorite meals.

Animals becoming depressed due to an illness will restore their vigor as a result of the effect CBD oil has on pain. This organic compound relieves animals from excruciating pain and makes them cheerful again. By boosting energy levels, cannabidiol eliminates lethargy in canines and felines, stimulating them to go back to their routines.

Although adding CBD oil to the food of animals is believed to be the most efficient method of administration, most of them refuse food when depressed. Therefore, owners can use a dropper to put a couple of drops on their paws and wait for them to lick the oil.