Some behavioral problems can be described as a state of depression. Depression is defined as an emotional disorder characterized by insomnia, psychomotor inhibition and withdrawal. The animal looses its ability to adapt to variations in its environment. The depression can be acute or chronic. On a behavioral level, acute depression is marked by inhibited action or apathy (inhibition of exploratory behavior). The dog is indifferent to his environment and loses interest in his normal activities. He eats less, or does not eat at all (anorexia) and sleeps a lot (hypersomnia).
There are many causes such as a violent attack (traffic accident), or the abrupt loss of a social-emotional reference point (abandonment, death of an owner or even another animal to whom he was attached). Sometimes, puppies prematurely rejected by their mother do not later enjoy a strong bond with either a person or another animal. In chronic depression, the dog displays sudden emotional responses when exposed to very intense stimuli.
Behavioral functions are altered. The dog loses interest in all his normal activities (play, social relationships). Problems sleeping and eliminating inside are reported. Chronic depression can evolve from untreated acute depression or it may also be the result of endogenous disorders such as endocrine problems (malfunction of the thyroid or adrenal gland), or even diencephalon tumors.
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