Bull Mastiff Depressed

Question
Hi.  My one yr. old female bull mastiff, Toshi has seemed very different ever since we picked her up from being boarded for a week.  It was the first time we ever boarded her. At first our Vet suggested it her behavior change could be due to depression.  But, it's been about a week now, and we've showered her with love and attention. She is still walking around very slowly, with her ears back and her tail curled under her.  She has no energy and is normally very playful and happy.  When I take her out for walks, she can barely make it to the end of the block and sometimes pants when she hasn't exerted herself at all.  Can you help?

Answer
Dear Tanya,

Thank you for writing to me about Toshi.

Traditional kennel boarding is a very depressing and stressful experience for a dog.  That is why I specialize in cageless boarding in my home where dogs live together in a loving pack and get lots of exercise and free air.  Next time you travel, try to find a similiar place in your area.  You can search Craig's list to see if you can find leads as well as do searches on google.

Try giving your dog Rescue Remedy.  Place 12 drops in his water bowl and then rub some on his gums.

That being said, the problem could have started as depression but have become medical.  Run a full blood panel on your dog along with a thyroid test and check for any heart problems.  This will at least eliminate any medical problems.

Depression is one thing but not being able to make it to the end of the block and panting can be an indication of a deeper problem.

If your vet cannot find an answer then find another vet for a second opinion.

I hope that you can get to the heart of this problem for the sake of your beloved dog.

Best Regards,
Shelley Davis