If you had more than one dog and one passed away, it’s important to realize that the dog left behind may go through a grieving process. Just as humans mourn the loss of an animal companion or human loved one, there is a wealth of evidence to show that dogs go through a grieving process as well. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of this fact and take the necessary steps to help your bereaved pet cope as well as possible.
Recognize a mourning dog
Acknowledging that your dog is in mourning can sometimes be difficult. After all, they can’t talk to you and tell you how they feel. At the same time, a mourning dog often exhibits some specific behaviors. Some of these behaviors may include:
or torpor
o Aloof behavior
or loss of focus
o Disoriented behavior
or lack of appetite
o Lack of interest in the environment.
o Disruption in sleep patterns
o Become “distant”
o Becoming too sticky
o Excessive vocalization
o Being quieter than usual
If your dog was unable to see the deceased dog after it died, as may be the case if you take the dog to the vet for euthanization and decide not to take it home, your dog may also be anxiously awaiting the other dog. go back. In fact, it’s not uncommon for dogs to experience separation anxiety when another canine companion dies.
Helping Your Grieving Dog With Loss
If your dog shows signs of grief after losing a canine companion, it’s important that you try to help him get over his grief. One way to do this is to give the surviving dog more affection and attention. Trying to involve your pet in an activity he enjoys will help take his mind off the loss, but keep in mind that some bereaved dogs will resist playing. The key is to keep trying and to continue giving your dog attention. Most bereaved dogs will return to their normal activities in about two weeks, although some can take up to 6 months to fully recover from the loss.
If your dog expresses his complaint in an undesirable way, such as howling or excessive vocalizations, you should be careful when paying attention to him. If he provides your pet with attention or treats to stop the vocalizing behavior, he will be reinforcing the behavior and your pet may continue the behavior even after the complaint has passed. Therefore, it is important to give your pet the affection and attention he needs while behaving appropriately. As long as the undesirable behavior is related to the grieving process and you don’t reinforce it, the behavior should decrease after your dog has finished grieving.
If your dog appears to be severely depressed and is not making good progress in the grieving process, you may want to consider talking to your doctor about giving your pet anxiety medication. If not, remember that healing comes with time, and with the help of your love and affection, your pet will likely return to his normal self.