Pets

How to help your dog cope with the loss of a canine companion

If you had more than one dog and one passed away, it’s important to realize that the dog left behind may be going through a grieving process. Just as humans mourn the loss of an animal companion or human loved one, there is a wealth of evidence showing that dogs go through a grieving process as well. Therefore, it is important for you to be aware of this fact and take steps to help your grieving pet get through the loss as best as possible.

Recognize a dog in mourning

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 dog in mourning often exhibits some specific behaviors. Some of these behaviors may include:

or lethargy

o Distant behavior

o Loss of focus

o Disoriented behavior

or lack of appetite

o Lack of interest in the environment.

o Disrupted sleep patterns

o Become “distant”

o Become too sticky

o Excessive vocalization

o Being quieter than usual

If your dog was unable to see the deceased dog after its death, 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. to return. 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 grievance after losing a canine companion, it’s important that you try to help him work through his grievance. One way to do this is to provide more affection and attention to the surviving dog. Trying to involve your pet in an activity that he enjoys will help take his mind off the loss, but be aware that some grieving dogs will resist playing. The key is to keep trying and continue to provide your dog with attention. Most bereaved dogs will return to 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 noting it. If he gives your pet 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 provide your pet with the affection and attention that 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 subside after your dog has finished grieving.

If your dog seems severely depressed and not progressing well through the grieving process, you may want to consider talking to your doctor about giving your pet anxiety medication. Otherwise, remember that healing comes in time, and with the help of your love and affection, your pet will likely return to his normal self.

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