Dogs Grieve: Helping Your Pet After Their Loss

Have you ever noticed a change in your surviving pet after the loss of one of their animal pals? You didn’t imagine it. Every pet experiences loss differently. Some dogs grieve openly and become quieter, eat less, or search everywhere for their friend, while others seem less concerned. Understanding these changes can help you give them the comfort they may need during what can be a difficult time.

In this post, we’ll discuss questions such as: Do dogs grieve? Do cats grieve? And how do dogs experience grief? We’ll also cover how to recognize that your dog is mourning their loss, how to help your pet after they lose their long-time friend, and when you might consider reaching out to your veterinarian for help or advice.

Do Dogs Grieve When Another Dog Dies?

Although we can't know exactly what dogs experience, veterinarians and animal behavior specialists have discovered that many dogs do show changes after losing a close companion. They seem to experience an adjustment period that includes behaviors commonly connected with grief. The length of these apparent grief periods often depends on how long the pets lived and how much time they spent together.

As pet parents, when one of our best furry friends is beginning to age out, we often look for a younger companion so the older one can help train our new friend. This can often help ease the pain of loss for us humans, but other pets, as long-time companions, often feel the loss too.

They notice their buddy's absence and changes in the familiar routine. Their friend they used to curl up with at night is no longer there to offer comfort and safety. They miss the daily play or interactions with their peers, and that familiar scent of their companion, or even brother or sister, begins to fade.

Dog Grief Behavior: Signs Your Pet May Be Mourning

Just as we humans have varied reactions to loss, so do dogs and cats. So whether or not your pet displays signs of grief, it’s perfectly normal. Some pets show almost no signs of sadness. Others seem stuck in despair.

Some things to look out for that might indicate you have a grieving dog are: 

• Searching the house for their friend

• Waiting by the door to see if they’ll come home

• Sleeping more to while away the time

• Less interest in eating

• Less interest in play, because they miss their friend

• Becoming unusually clingy or needing more attention than usual

• Whining or pining

• Restlessness - they may miss sleeping near to their companion

• Pacing the floor in stress or worry

• Changes in sleeping location - looking for their buddy’s body heat or pack security

• Wanting more (or less) attention from you

  
  

Some pets may show one, several, or even none of these signs of stress or mourning, but any of these are perfectly normal reactions.

How to Help a Grieving Dog Feel Safe and Comforted

You may feel like there’s not much you can do to help your grieving dog, but here are a few ideas that can help keep them grounded and safe in your presence. Even if their closest friend is no longer around, consistency, love, and attention from you all still help them cope with the stress of their loss.

• Keep your regular routines as close as possible to the way they were before

• Continue your remaining pet’s favorite activities 

• Keep exercise and walks consistent

• Offer open affection as long as they want it - don’t force anything

• Allow your companion extra rest as needed

• Speak calmly and in a comforting tone

• Try not to make big changes immediately after the loss

  
  

Though we can never completely eliminate their sadness, we can ease their pain by giving them the stability and reassurance they need as they adjust to life without their friend.

Do Cats Grieve Too?

Yes - cats grieve too, though they can be much more subtle than dogs in their grief. Cats tend to be more private creatures anyway, but there are still things to look out for that can help you determine whether what you’re seeing from your pet could be grief.

Potential cat grief signals include things like:

• Changes in appetite 

• Hiding from you and your family

• Less interaction and disinterest in human touch

• Searching for their companion

• Sleeping more than they usually do

• Vocalizations that sound sad

You know how your cat acts on a normal day, so pay attention to changes in any of these areas.

When Should You Contact Your Veterinarian?

Small changes in any of these above characteristics shouldn’t be a problem, but if you notice that the following habits become persistent, please reach out to a veterinarian for advice. Combinations of the conditions listed below can become dangerous if they last long-term and aren’t addressed.

• Appetite loss (short-term isn’t serious, but long-term can be)

• Anxiety (can be a sign of pain, loss of vision or hearing, or other disorders)

• Diarrhea (can cause dehydration)

• Lethargy (long-term - can indicate deeper problems)

• Vomiting (can cause dehydration)

• Weight loss (can affect internal organ function if severe)

  
  

These symptoms shouldn't automatically be assumed to be grief, particularly if they’re just short-term. But if they last longer than you expect, have your veterinarian evaluate your dog or cat. These behavioral or physical changes can signal an underlying illness.

Healing Takes Time For Both Pets And People

Everyone grieves differently. Some get through tough times quickly, and others need much longer to process, working through all kinds of feelings to finally arrive at peace. Whichever path you need to take, that’s okay. There’s no shame in either method. Healing takes the time it takes, and there’s no real reason to rush.

For those pets and humans who need more time, try to be patient. Healing from loss doesn’t have to mean discussing the situation; it can mean just being there as your pet was for you. You may not necessarily need to do anything - just be available in case they need you.

Routine helps for both remaining pets and humans. Knowing what happens next during the day means less mental stress and more time to simply exist and acknowledge your feelings.

Celebrating memories, taking walks, and being physically and emotionally available may be all people need or can handle.

Sometimes the best comfort we can offer is simply being present for those experiencing the grief of loss.

Helping Children Understand Why Another Pet Is Grieving

Children notice more than you may think. They may spot changes in the family dog or cat after another pet passes away. Explaining that animals can also miss their companions can help children understand both their pet's behavior and their own feelings of loss.

We, at Peace For Paws, understand that saying goodbye is only one part of the journey. Grief doesn't end after the appointment, and healing takes time for every member of the family, whether two-legged or four-legged.

If you're facing difficult end-of-life decisions for another beloved pet, we're here to provide compassionate guidance and peaceful at-home pet euthanasia when the time comes.