Helping Another Pet Cope with Pet Loss

Those with multiple pets in their home will know that they have a bond stronger than we could ever understand. They are companions, leaders and company for one another, so when we lose a pet, it isn’t always just us that experiences grief, your other pets may too.

In this post we will discuss some common signs that a pet may be grieving, along with some advice on how to help them through it.

You know your pets better than anyone- their routine, their behaviour, their habits, what they like/dislike and how they communicate, therefore, there is no one more qualified to recognise if your pet is grieving than you.

Every pet is different, and their grief will be unique to them, but some differences you may notice in your pets are:

·        Change in appetite- a loss in appetite is a telltale sign there is something wrong with your pet, whether they are poorly or grieving, so it is always helpful to keep an eye on how much they are eating following a loss.

·        Change in interactions- some pets may become clingier and more attached to you following a loss, whereas some become more withdrawn and engage less with their family members.

·        Seeking- sometimes pets may seek the pet you have lost, they will look in the places they frequented most such as where they slept, they will repeatedly visit those places to try to find them, this is an indicator of grief.

·        Change in grooming- your pet may groom themselves less if they are grieving, just like humans they may find it hard to look after themselves.

·        Change in vocalisation- some pets are very chatty, some on the quieter side, whilst grieving you may notice a difference in their vocalisation, could be an increase or decrease in how much noise they make.

·        Change in sleep- your pets sleeping routine may change, as yours might as well. Sleeping more or restless nights could become the norm for a while until you can all adjust to your life after the loss of a pet.

Some tips on how you can help your pets through grief:

·        Provide closure- it is often recommended that after a pet passes, to let their companion see them and smell them so they understand what has happened and allow them to say bye and get closure. This may help with their grieving process as it will eliminate any confusion they could experience.

·        Don’t rush to remove reminders- as we all know, our pets have belongings all over our homes, to help your pet with the loss of a companion, don’t remove those little reminders too quickly as they can get a sense of comfort from being near them.

·        Quality time- give your pet some extra love and attention during grief, both of you could need the support from one another, cuddles are the best medicine sometimes, even if you just spend time around each other in the same room, being close can provide comfort as well.

·        Consistent routine- it’s best to try and keep your day today routines as normal as possible to not unsettle your pet and make them confused or uncomfortable.

·        Enrichment- pets can often show similarities to humans, we like to keep ourselves busy when we are struggling, as do pets, enrichment activities are a great way to distract your pet, spend some quality time together as well as distracting yourself.

·        Allow time for adjustment- one of the most important pieces of advice I can give you during the grief of you pet is give yourself time and give your pet time, you cannot rush the grieving process, and you cannot predict when things will feel “normal” again so allow everyone in your household to take the time they need.

·        Professional help- if you need to, you can reach out for professional help from vets regarding your pets’ wellbeing or speak with an animal behaviourist for advice.

Pet bereavement is a huge loss to the entire household, pets included. As they cannot tell you exactly what they are thinking or feeling, it is up to us to interoperate their behaviour and support them as best we can. You know best when it comes to your pet so go with your gut and give them what you think they are telling you they need.