By Kay Bradnum
Anyone who has ever lost a dog while having another dog in the house will know that yes, dogs can and do mourn, but also may not.
We always recommend that in a multi-dog household, you ensure that you are more important to each dog than the other dogs, and that does help at times like this. I have to admit that in 40+ years as a dog-owning adult, none of my dogs has done more than be a little puzzled for a day or two, looking for the missing dog before being themselves again. If they haven’t become over-dependent on their canine friends, they can be very resilient. That’s not a hard and fast rule though, and some dogs definitely do grieve the passing of their friends.
A question which comes up fairly regularly is: when someone has lost, or is about to lose a much-loved pet, how to help the surviving dog. This isn’t an easy question to answer, as dogs are as different as people. You are the best person to know what will help your dog, but there are some things you can definitely do.
Some people believe it helps if the surviving dog can see the lost dog after it has passed. Others have found it makes the surviving dog anxious as the smell, etc is completely different. You will need to decide for yourself which you think is preferable for your dog, if that is an option.
For those who like to try such things, ignatia is supposed to be good for grief. Personally I’m very sceptical, but it won’t do any harm. An Adaptil or Pet Remedy plug-in may help. Again it varies between dogs, but is a relatively inexpensive item to try.
The most important thing you can do is to try and keep things as close as possible to what your dog is already used to, with food and walks. ‘Spoil’ them a little with treats and special time with you, and if your dog enjoys it, a relaxing massage may help. If they have lost their appetite, try warming the food a little and/or putting something extra tasty on top, such as a sardine or some grated cheese.
Otherwise, time and patience, as for anyone mourning, is the answer. If your dog seems a little more anxious, or less confident than usual, just give them space and reassurance. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you ‘don’t make a fuss, you’re rewarding them for being miserable so they’ll carry on’. You can’t reinforce an emotion in this way, but you can give comfort.
See also: How pets cope with loss, from the Blue Cross