In the event you had a couple of dog and one passed away, it will be important for you to comprehend that the dog left behind may undergo a grieving process. Just as humans mourn the lack of an animal companion or a human loved one, there’s a fantastic deal of evidence showing that dogs undergo a grieving process as well. Subsequently, it will be important for you to pay attention to this fact and to take the steps obligatory to assist your grieving pet get through the loss as best as possible.
Recognizing a Dog in Mourning
Recognizing that your dog is in mourning can sometimes be difficult. In any case, they can’t consult with you and inform you how they’re feeling. At the identical time, a dog in mourning will typically exhibit some specific behaviors. A few of these behaviors may include:
o Lethargy
o Aloof behavior
o Lack of focus
o Disoriented behavior
o Lack of appetite
o Lack of interest in surroundings
o Disruption in sleep patterns
o Becoming “distant”
o Becoming overly clingy
o Excessive vocalization
o Being quieter than usual
In case your dog was unable to see the deceased dog after it died, reminiscent of will be the case if you happen to take the dog to the veterinarian to be euthanized and you select to not bring it home, your dog may additionally wait anxiously for the opposite dog to return. The truth is, it just isn’t unusual for dogs to undergo separation anxiety when one other canine companion dies.
Helping Your Mourning Dog with the Loss
In case your dog is showing signs of grief after losing a canine companion, it will be important so that you can attempt to help it work through its grief. One technique to do that is to offer the surviving dog with more affection and a spotlight. Trying to have interaction your pet in an activity it enjoys will help take its mind off the loss, but remember that some dogs in mourning shall be immune to playing. The bottom line is to maintain trying and to proceed to offer your dog with attention. Most dogs in mourning will return to their normal activities in about two weeks, though some can take as much as 6 months before they fully get well from the loss.
In case your dog is expressing its grief in an undesirable way, reminiscent of howling or otherwise vocalizing excessively, you need to use caution when giving it attention. In the event you provide your pet with attention or give it treats with a view to stop the vocalization behavior, you shall be reinforcing the behavior and your pet may proceed the behavior even after the grief has past. Subsequently, it will be important to offer your pet with the love and a spotlight it needs while it’s engaging in appropriate behaviors. As long as the undesirable behavior is expounded to the grieving process and you don’t reinforce it, the behavior should subside after your dog is completed mourning.
In case your dog appears to be severely depressed and just isn’t moving through the mourning process at a very good pace, you might want to contemplate talking to your doctor about giving your pet anxiety medication. Otherwise, keep in mind that with time comes healing and, with the assistance of your love and affection, your pet will likely return to its normal self.
