Pet Talk

Pet Loss & Grieving

This is the third in a four-part series on pet loss and grieving.

Grief is itself a medicine.

—William Cowper 1731-1800

Although western civilization is centuries removed from the Descartian view that animals feel little or no emotion, only in the past ten years have scientists begun to truly recognize that animals lead emotionally rich lives. One such study conducted in 1996, the Companion Animal Mourning Project, documented evidence that most animals experience emotional responses to significant changes in their environment, and that includes the loss of animal or human companions.

"It's important for people to realize that the same brain neurochemistry that allows humans to feel is the same chemistry that many animals have," says Emily Levine, DVM, animal behavior resident at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Some animals can actually become depressed when they lose a loved one," says Monique D. Chretien, MSc, AHT, Animal Behavior Consultant. "They show symptoms similar to humans such as loss of interest in their favorite activities, loss of appetite, disorientation, and sleeping more than usual."

Cats and dogs alike may continue to wait or look for a deceased human or animal companion. Cats may meow or howl more frequently or sit and stare for periods of time. Some cats or dogs may stop eating all together. Chretien advises providing a grieving cat or dog with more attention and affection, treats or toys.

Levine recommends giving animals the time to recover some of their normal behavior patterns before introducing a new companion pet. The last thing you want, she says, is to overload your grieving pet with another environmental change, or new companion. She suggests trying to arrange first meetings or an introduction of a new pet around positive events, like attention and play.

Based upon the 1996 study, an animal's grieving process usually resolves in one to six months. Here are some ways to help your pet through the process:

Keep the rest of your pet's life as stable as possible with consistent feeding, grooming, and play time
Don't change your pet's brand of food
Leave a few of the deceased animal's toys, items, or bedding around the house for a few weeks
Spend extra time with your grieving pet

You should consult your veterinarian if your pet stops eating for more than a couple of days, has vomiting or diarrhea, becomes overly aggressive for an extended period of time, or continues to be severely depressed over two weeks.

Award-winning author Julie Rogers' articles on animal issues have been featured in publications around the nation. Rogers currently serves as president of Humane Society of the Ouachitas. Her talk show Animal Talk Live airs weekly on RMCC Channel 19 and 27. She is author of Happy Tails and a new limited edition hardcover The Black Book by Oblivion Press, due October 2004. All proceeds go to animal welfare in Polk County.