Do dogs get sad or depressed when separated from a companion?

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, dogs can have seperation anxiety if away from their companion dog(s). Since Sienna is still young, some of it may be a bit of jealousy or fear of missing out. I would recommend trying to make sure that she is ok without him, just in case there is a time when they would need to be seperated for a bit (illness or veterinary visit) that she is ok on her own. As she is fairly young, it would be much easier to prevent full blown seperation anxiety by working with her now. But I'm so glad that Sienna has had such a positve impact on your male dog's anxiety.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about how things are going with you and Daphne. These situations are always tough on everyone, including the pet. Have you thought about sharing her and letting her stay intermittently with your ex? Might be a good solution if you can both agree on the terms. That way she will never be in this situation again, as both of you will be spending time with her separately. I hope this helps. And I wish all of you and Daphne a long and happy life.

I am sorry to hear about Olly! Pets can sometimes become depressed when their owners or friends leave. I wouldn't expect him to become sick though. If he seems severely affected there are some options to help him with his anxiety at being separated from you. I would consider having them get an Adaptil collar or diffuser for the house which is a pheremone products https://www.adaptil.com/us/Adaptil/Adaptil-Collar and a calming supplement such as Composure for dogs https://www.vetriscience.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=900780060 or Zylkene http://www.vetoquinolusa.com/content/zylkene. If he is still having problems despite these products then your vet may need to prescribe prescription medication for him.

Hi. Yes, just like people, pets can become depressed for a period of time after a loss or change. Getting another pet is totally a personal decision. If that's what she has been used to, it is definitely an option. If you aren't ready, or not wanting another pet, she will adjust.

Dogs have anxiety and stress just like we do. Give her time, lots of attention, and she should adjust just fine. In severe cases of anxiety I use anti-anxiety medications off-label like Lorazepam that you can get from your veterinarian.

This is certainly not a common occurence, so I would say no. However, if the pet has an underlying illness that can be exacerbated by the stress of being away from the owner, then it could coincidentally lead to the pet getting sick. If your pet is seen regularly by your vet and deemed healthy, then the risk of this happening is also very low. Most pets, as long as they are properly cared for by the relatives, will do well when their owner is away. Now if your pet gets particularly anxious or has separation anxiety whenever you leave the house, then I would advise getting her on an anti-anxiety medication while you are away, to help keep her calm and stress free. You can certainly ask your vet for a prescription or look into a product called Zylkene, which is available online without a prescription b/c it is a supplement. I hope that this helps and best wishes with your pet Mitzy. Take care. : )

Hello! If often takes some time for a pet to adjust to their brand new home and family. Most dogs need a few weeks to become confident and comfortable in their new environment. It would be helpful to know exactly what she is doing that is causing you to be concerned though. If you'd like to resubmit a question describing the possibly depressed or adjusting behavior (ie. hiding, pacing, licking, chewing, growling), I may be able to better advise. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!