Are you one of those people who think bad things constantly happen to them? A car splashed you with a puddle on your way to work? Your hand got stuck in that jar when you were cleaning it? Your cat got mad at you for some reason and left you a 'surprise' under the bedsheets? Bad luck!
Well, check out these poor animals, and you'll probably see that they might be having a way worse day than you. Just like us humans, our furry friends – dogs, cats, squirrels, and even lizards – can get themselves into pretty sticky situations. We've scoured the Internet and found you the silliest and most 'aww'-inducing pics of animals having a rough day. Let us know which ones you like the best by upvoting them!
#1 The Sad Face He Gives Me When He Can't Sit On My Lap While I Drive
Image credits: pupsaurus
#2 Probably 10 Inches Of Snow In Our Garden. Making It A Little Bit Tricky For Otto - Our Sausage Dog - To Get Around
Image credits: GordonMaw
#3 “Mom? Halp”
Image credits: emnazee
Animal experts unanimously agree that pets can feel sad and depressed. How do veterinarians diagnose it? Usually, there's a change of behavior that the owner should notice.
Either a change in eating habits or less energy, but not all signs of depression are equal in all pets. For example, if a dog has depression, it might start licking its paws excessively. Cats, on the other hand, might begin ripping their hair out.
Why does a pet become depressed? Just like in humans, hormone changes might influence pet depression. If there's no underlying health issue, it might also be because of change. Whether it's a change of routine, their usual environment, or just people that they're used to.
A change in owners can be even traumatic for a pet. When there's a particularly strong bond between the pet and the owner, they might sense that the person has depression and start feeling depressed themselves.
#4 My Indoor Cat’s First Time Experiencing Heights. He Instantly Regretted It
Image credits: supercj926
#5 Now He Knows How Fire Smells
Image credits: Sweet_Polly1
#6 Sully Is Afraid Of The Neighbor's Cat
Image credits: DudeWantsHisRugBack
So, how can pet owners help their depressed furry friends? The first step is to get a vet to do a checkup. As mentioned above, depression can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health problem. Ruling out other afflictions allows vets to pinpoint the cause of the problem.
And what's the treatment for pet depression, you ask? Well, it's not that dissimilar to human depression. Exercise and fresh air, for one, are great for depressed pets, too. Exercising will release hormones the pet needs to feel better. If it's a depressed cat, you might want to spend more time with them.
Extra cuddles and playtime applies to dogs as well, especially if the cause of their depression is a new family member, such as a baby. In worst-case scenarios, vets can prescribe medication. Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft are usually the medicines for depressed pets.
#7 Albert Got An Owie. Albert Got Shaved And Had To Put On The Cone Of Shame. Albert Is Not Having The Best Day
Image credits: Ben_zyl
#8 They Were Both Sleeping 3 Minutes Ago
Image credits: E-P-I-C-K
#9 A Girl Teaching Her Cat How To Write
Image credits: usernot_found
A sad pet doesn't always equal a depressed pet. As clearly evidenced from this list, sometimes they're just having a bad day. John Woods, founder of All Things Dog, told Romper that it's important to differentiate when the pet is seriously sad and when they've just had a difficult day.
#10 Cat Rescued From The Camp Fire In California
Image credits: Metaphoricalsimile
#11 If The Vet Can’t See Him, She Can’t Treat Him
Image credits: magenta_thompson
#12 Dog Got Into The Cereal Box
Image credits: reddit.com
"Dogs love human interaction; they are man's best friend for a reason. If your dog isn't getting the love, attention, and fuss that they should be, this can result in destructive behaviors or an aloof temperament. We can easily confuse an aloof and sad dog for a dog who just isn't getting loved," Woods said.
#13 Defeat
Image credits: GoFetch130
#14 My Friend's Cat Got Shaved At The Vet And Now She Looks Like A Game Of Exquisite Corpse
Image credits: pbrinkworth
#15 This Sad Raccoon At My Back Door At 2:00 AM, He Was Looking For My Cat Who Wasn't Home
Image credits: FeeValuable22
A sudden loss of appetite is one sign that your pet might be unhappy. And if your pet is starting to eat like crazy, they're also trying to tell you that something's wrong. Basically, what you want to do is watch out if there are any deviations from regular eating patterns. Dog behaviorist Cesar Milan writes on his blog that this could be one of the signs of pet depression as well.
#16 Toby Snuck Out Early This Morning When I Opened The Door To Take Out The Trash. He's Back Now, And Very Remorseful
Image credits: JephriB
#17 I Guess My Puppy Doesn’t Know How Big He Is Anymore
Image credits: Aegeas2k
#18 Send Help
Image credits: daniitrix
If your pet seems like they just don't have any energy one day – that could also be a sign they're having a bad day. "The emotional state of depression can drain a canine of their usual enthusiasm and vitality, leading to a noticeable decrease in energy levels and overall sluggishness," Milan writes.
#19 My Dog Got Bit By A Snake This Morning And Couldn't Walk. After Getting Back From The Vet She Got Stung By Bees
Image credits: jacob7384
#20 "I Think You're Sitting On The Cat." "What Cat?"
Image credits: GilfMagnet
#21 The Saddest Face Ever. Message From The Puppy Sitter Who Couldn’t Let Him Play Outside Because It’s Raining
Image credits: sugarcream5w30
Rollpet adds that disinterest in other pets also qualifies as a possible sign of depression. Sometimes, pets can lose interest in playing with other pets that they've always had fun with. If they start biting or scratching their play partner, that's a sign they don't feel comfortable around them for some reason. Experts advise not to push your pet and give them time to adjust.
#22 I Told Him To Stop Eating Plastic, And He Put Himself In Timeout. He Looks Genuinely Sad
Image credits: rebelraf
#23 I'm Bringing Home A Baby Bumblebee. Won't My Mommy Be So Proud Of Me
Image credits: Rolltop
#24 He’s A Good Boy, I Swear
Image credits: emmethompsonn
It can be hard to read a pet's facial expression as they don't use their facial muscles the way we humans do. However, there are still ways to tell a pet is feeling bad just by observing their body language.
Fingers And Paws Dog Training lists some signs that a dog might be feeling off. And they say it's important not to test their limits and give them some space if they're exhibiting this behavior.
#25 Looking After My Parents' Dog, And My Cat Is Not Impressed With Our Visitor
Image credits: afyyrch
#26 Neighbors Just Ditched Their Doggo At Our House And Moved. Sadly, We Can't Keep It
Update: my husband's boss is taking him tomorrow, he will have an amazing home. We would but can't have dogs at our home and neither of us have time for an active dog with work and school.
Image credits: winterweed78
#27 Our Dog’s Reaction To Bringing Home Our Tiny Human
Image credits: drscurvy
Alarming body language can include rounded and worried-looking eyes. If their ears are angled sideways or back and down, that's also a sign that the dog feels anxious. Their tails can also tell a lot about how they're feeling. It shouldn't be lower than usual, and the wag should be sweeping and loose.
Sometimes, pets might want to make themselves look smaller – that's also one sign of anxiety. Unnatural crouching with a lowered head and rounded back can signal that a pet is worried about something.
#28 The Best Pillow Is An (Unwilling) Friend
Image credits: LackingUtility
#29 Caught Him Stealing A Slice Of Beef Cheek This Taco Night
Image credits: tctochielleon
#30 A Friend's Pets
Image credits: Magnus_Rufus
However, try not to jump to conclusions. All these signals by themselves might signify nothing. Context matters – always look at the bigger picture. If the pet isn't eating, wants more quiet time than usual, and avoids eye contact with the owner, that might indicate an anxiety or depression problem. Remember – it's always better to consult with a vet than try to diagnose your furry friend yourself.
#31 I Heard Pawing And Complaining, Turns Out He Got Himself Stuck In The Bath
Image credits: pm_me_cute_sloths_
#32 He Was Mad That He Was Awake, So He Woke Me Up Too
Image credits: werndog69
#33 My Friend Helped Rescue A Raccoon That Was Stuck In A Drain
Image credits: Josh Behling
#34 Best Friends, But Cat Doesn't Seem Very Happy
Image credits: CoeurdeBois
#35 Dinner Is At 5:00, Not 5:03
Image credits: kamokutie
#36 The Groomer Did Him Dirty. He Looks Like A Half-Cooked Chicken With Feathers Still On It
Image credits: _aalyssaaa
#37 Was Wondering Why My Dog Wasn't Coming Inside
Image credits: CommonPinkDaisy
#38 My Boyfriend's Dog Tried To Fit Through The Yorkie-Sized Dog Door
Image credits: niabais
#39 Kevin Caught Herself In A Bit Of A Predicament
Image credits: foxfiregalleries
#40 Owner Used The Wrong Shampoo. It Was Hair Dye
Image credits: AbanaClara
#41 Crumb Bum Sometimes Walks On His Injured Paw, But Mostly He Uses It To Boop Jabroni
Image credits: PennyLaane
#42 He Went From Happy To Really Mad
Image credits: karsen_xo
#43 Our Sweet 7-Year-Old Dog Has A New Firework Phobia Thanks To The Neighbor Who Just Had To Shoot Illegal Fireworks Above Our House
Image credits: freebaer
#44 "Hmm, I Remember My Legs Being Longer... I Hope No One Is Watching"
Image credits: lolaandpenelopes
#45 Dog Got Excited To See Grandpa And Ran Through A Bush Full Of Burrs
Image credits: reddit.com
#46 Poor Baby Got Neutered And The Dog Thinks He’s A Toy
Image credits: discoheaven97
#47 Lily Had A Bad Hair Day Today
Image credits: carrerasdgdfgdfg
#48 Went To Show My Bunny The Forest. Sounded Better In My Head
Image credits: lil_sakamadaV2
#49 Our Puppy Got Into The Wax Strips
Image credits: lachai2
#50 My Dog Got Stuck On The Swing Today
Image credits: lollersk8s
