Diagnosis of Dog Depression
Just like with humans, veterinarians can diagnose depression in dogs if you bring them in for a checkup. Diagnosis can be difficult, due to the dogs inability to consciously communicate with a veterinarian. However, with the proper evaluation, a veterinarian can diagnose and treat depression.
When taking your dog in for a checkup, the vet may perform several different tests to evaluate the possible cause of the suspected depression symptoms. What the vet is hoping to accomplish with these tests, is to rule out any medical conditions that may be present. A full checkup will be in order. Be sure to bring any records you have with you, as it is important your veterinarian has all the facts before diagnosing your dog.
The "Nose to Tail" Exam
The first task your veterinarian will perform is a full body checkup. They will start with the nose and work their way to your dogs tail, inspecting every part for signs of any serious ailment. Particularly important areas are the eyes, lungs, skin and coat which can all give large hints about your dogs wellbeing.
Blood Work
At some point during the checkup, your veterinarian is going to request that blood work be preformed. The most common types of blood work are T4's CBC's RBC's and WBC's, which all test different aspects of your dogs blood. Combined they can suggest particular diseases that your dog may be fighting off. Unfortunately there is no way your veterinarian can check serotonin levels (the most common way to test for depression in humans), due to the lack of a commercial test for dogs.
Blood work takes a bit of time, and as a result you are going to have to wait to hear the results of the tests performed. If everything comes back clean, and your veterinarian suspects depression, they will have you come back in for another appointment.
Behavioral History
At this point, your veterinarian is going to ask you a series of questions designed to address the behavioral history of your dog. It is important to be honest here, because at this point the veterinarian only has your word to evaluate and treat your dog. He or she will ask you questions about your dogs origin, home life, activity levels, changes in environment, and similar topics.
After the evaluation is finished, your veterinarian will advise you on the best course of action to treat your dog's depression.
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