DO PETS GRIEVE?

Many of us will have witnessed in our own animals, or had clients tell us of pets that appear to be grieving the loss of another. While it is impossible to prove this theory, most of us believe that pets are capable of love, and therefore believe that they feel loss.  In some cases, perhaps the pet is just sensing the owners sorrow, but in absence of proof otherwise, I like to believe that they are capable of grief in their own right, and don’t just act as a receptacle of ours. Behaviours that you might notice include lethargy or apparent fatigue, loss of appetite or finickiness, or clingy behaviour. There may be signs of restlessness or changed sleep patterns and barking at night.

If we believe our (or our clients) pets are grieving, what can we do to help? Maintain a regular routine. Even if it changes after the pet death, make the new one as regular as possible as soon as possible. Avoid reinforcing negative behaviours (i.e.; don’t offer multiple food choices to a finicky eater). Don’t increase attention to the remaining pet unduly, as it may lead to anxiety disorders later. Recommend that owners avoid getting a new pet until both they and the grieving pet are ready. Getting a new pet too soon is rife with potential problems for the owner, the existing and possibly grieving pet, AND the new pet. They may never be loved as much as they deserve to be. Allow new hierarchies to form in multi pet homes. This applies mainly to dogs. Don’t be tempted to intervene…they will work it out.