Why Isolating Himself Occurs in Dogs
Your dog may be isolating himself because of a mental or physical condition, the reason of which could vary.
Anxiety
Anxieties and fears are commonly seen in dogs, and can develop due to a number of reasons, such as poor socialization or trauma. Along with hiding and cowering, fearful and anxious dogs can exhibit behaviors such as trembling, whining, barking and grooming excessively, and even incontinence. Common conditions like noise anxieties could cause your dog to stay away from noisy situations, even if that means avoiding the family.
Depression
Dogs can be victims of depression, just like humans, and can show the same kind of detached behaviors. Major life changes can cause depression, such as a move, an addition to the family, or the loss of a companion. Mourning is common for dogs who have lost a friend, causing changes in appetite and activity, and possibly restlessness as he searches for his lost companion. Other signs of depression include decreased or absent social interactions, anxiety, or an increase in sleep. Another reason for depression in your dog may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Heart Disease
Heart disease can be congenital, but is also often acquired through a lifetime of general wear, injury, or infection. It includes diseases of the valves, heart enlargement, and heart failure, and can lead to death. When the heart cannot function properly, the body is deprived of oxygen and fluid can leak into the airways, causing coughing and gagging. The reduction in oxygen transport results in a reduced stamina, fainting, a loss of appetite, and various behavioral changes, all of which can be misconstrued as isolation behaviors or dullness. While the body can compensate for many months, the signs will eventually progress into a life-threatening condition unless medical attention is sought.
Other Illness
There are many other types of illness and disease that can cause behaviors related to depression, a lack of activity, and seeking isolated areas. Due to a physical discomfort, your dog may be unable to play or move like he normally would. If he is suffering from an illness, he may be quieter than usual, have a decrease in appetite, and hide. This is a behavior that dogs in the wild exhibit called fasting or natural hygiene, which allows the body to concentrate its energy on healing itself rather than moving or digesting food. Such medical problems that can cause this reaction include cancers, infections, poisonings, and various diseases of the respiratory, neurological, autoimmune, and digestive systems.
Pain
Pain is a real condition for some dogs. Joint, bone and muscle problems, as well as various traumas and injuries, can cause pain that results in a reluctance to move. Older dogs can suffer from arthritis and a decrease in muscle mass, which can cause limping and a reduction in movement, jumping, and even comfortable sitting. Dogs may be unable to follow their family members around the house due to pain associated with it, and may choose to lay still, or far from situations which may cause them further pain.
Age
Aging can be tough for our furry companions. While humans can complain of the various problems they are experiencing, our dogs simply can’t tell us that they are having trouble seeing, hearing, or understanding their surroundings. Because of conditions of deafness or vision, they may seem unresponsive to family members whom they did not see or hear. They may have decreased movement due to physical conditions. Cognitive dysfunction may cause confusion as they forget where they are, and can be accompanied by increased vocalization and changes in sleep and eating habits. An older dog who often sleeps away from the family may have gotten lost, or was just too tired to get up when a family member moved to another room.
There are a host of possible reasons for your dog’s behavioral issues, but here we will cover some of the more likely causes for your dog’s out-of-character mood and hopefully give you some much-needed clarification.
As mentioned before, dogs can be deceptively complicated at times. Usually, a dog acting out of character is due to a combination of factors, but we will lay them out individually here:
At Exceptional Pets, we understand just how much our furry companions mean to us. If your dog is showing signs of unusual or troubling behavior, don’t hesitate to call or visit us today to schedule a wellness check. Our talented and compassionate staff will do all they can to help remedy your pup’s mood by getting to the root of the issue. We look forward to welcoming you and your furry friend into the family!
Like humans, dogs can have complicated personalities and character quirks that can leave us newer pet parents scratching our heads. If your dog has been acting more distant lately, such as isolating in less-trafficked parts of the house or staying muted when they are usually vocal and affectionate, there is likely something bothering your pup.
Any dog who is showing unusual behavior should be treated kindly, and with a little patience, and the help of your local vet, hopefully, your pup can be coaxed out of his isolating mood.
Anxiety Can Make Dogs Act Weird
Anxious dogs avoid the source of their anxiety. If you’ve made them anxious by accident, they may be avoiding you. However, it’s more likely that your dog is avoiding a source of anxiety near you. For example, if you recently installed a new fan in the bedroom, and your dog won’t come to sleep in the bedroom anymore, they could simply be afraid of the fan—not you.
When anxiety is the root cause of your dog’s change of behavior, it’s best to watch them closely. Finding out when your dog acts differently is the key to figuring out what is causing them anxiety. At what time of day do they act distant, in what room, or with which people? Also, try to remember if you’ve made any changes in their environment around when the time they became anxious.
Depression in dogs – Symptoms and What to Do
If your dog has been isolating itself, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.
So, why is my dog isolating itself? Possible reasons why your dog has been isolating itself are depression, illness or injury, intimidation, it thinks it’s in trouble, or that it does not want to be bothered.
There are actually a number of possible causes and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are a number of things you can consider when figuring out the main cause.