HIDERABAD: Animals have feelings, just like people, but their mental health is often ignored, manifesting as anxiety, depression, aggression and fear.
Animal advocates and experts contend that while animals express their feelings in a variety of ways, people often fail to meet their emotional needs or misread their behavior, leaving pets with serious mental illness.
According to animal communicators and veterinarians in the city, “dogs and cats communicate their feelings of sadness or depression well through their actions, which not everyone can understand. however, they are just as significant and complex.”
According to experts, the emotional needs of animals are not met due to poor socialization or even insufficient brain stimulation. They argue that lack of socialization is a major contributor to mental health problems in animals. “They need to socialize with other dogs and get regular exercise outdoors. A dog denied access to these needs is tantamount to being locked up,” Rima Singh, a dog communicator.
Animals also need a quiet moment, not just humans. Pets deserve and often require their own private space and time, just like people.
“We show affection to animals when we want to. The same goes for animals; without their own time and space, their affection is torture for them. With dogs, communication is crucial. It’s not enough to ensure your pets are safe.” But it is also important to monitor their health and if they would prefer to go for a walk one more time than usual,” said Deeksha Marur, another animal communicator.
Dogs mimic the behavior of their owners, Marur said. For example, if the owner is aggressive, the dog will be too, and so on. Dogs experience depression when their owner does, and vice versa.
“Family vibes are extremely important as dogs can sense human energy. I have also witnessed cases where a dog helped its owner overcome negative emotions such as worry or depression. Dogs express their likes and dislikes in layman’s terms. There was a situation where a dog “The owner had two dogs that he frequently walked with. The younger dog demanded more attention. He wouldn’t stop barking and fussing when he was let out, as he didn’t like walking the older dog,” he said.
Dogs can convey their feelings and understand human language, according to Rima. She gave the example of a dog who stopped eating after his owner moved out of state for a year. The dog got sick and died within 48 hours because he couldn’t bear to be separated from his owner.
depression symptoms
1. Avoid food and water or overeat
2. Barks constantly
3. Home damage
4. Excessive attachment to the person you love the most.
5. Gets very depressed when you’re not around
6. Self-mutilation and self-harm
7. Start hiding under the bed
reasons for depression
1. No proper social life
2. Stay home alone
3. Health or eating habits are ignored.
4. Denial of care
5. Personal space ignored
6. Be aggressive with them
what to do
1. Socialize with other dogs. You can walk your furry four-legged dog at dog parks
2. Ensure a proper diet
3. Show patience when your pet gets aggressive
4. Show empathy and do not show aggression towards your pets
5. Communication and constant affection
