Dog Grieving Her Lost Friend

[shybird]

I wonder if any of you ave ever experienced a Pet grieving the loss of another pet? We lost our Kinder 1/28/01 from a massive heart attack. Our Kafer age 5 grew up with Kinder. She has not acted normal since. Doesn't great my husband when he comes home from work, and won't move away from me at all. Two weeks after Kinder died, Kafer got an eye infection. Got that cleared up and a week later got an ear infection. My question is, could she be so upset that her buddy is gone that it has messed up her immune system? We go back to the Vets tomorrow for a check up and I know her ear is still bothering her...Any thoughts on the matter? Thanks....Myia

[Carina43]

Aww, sorry about Kinder. I lost "Jake" on January 12th. My old dog Phoebe really mourned him. She barely got off the couch for days, would not eat, and growled at a couple of visitors. It took her about a month to get back to "normal." She had much the same reaction when my old Rottie died two years ago. He was euthanised at home at age 10 (bone cancer), and she was there with us when he died. For several weeks, she really took on some of his "jobs." She brought in the paper (in nine years she had NEVER done that.) Instaed of sleeping in the bedroom with me, she slept outside the bedroom door in the hallway, where Bosco preferred to sleep.

I think it's not so much missing the absent animal the way we would. I think for some dogs, the stress comes from having their pack order disturbed. And I would imagine that stress will affect a dogs' immune system the same way it would ours.

Keep giving Kafer lots of love, she'll come around!

Carina, Cooper & Phoebe.

[LucyJ]

So sorry to hear about your loss. I hope Kafer is back to her old self soon.

[Soapie&Buddy'sMom]

I do think that pets grieve. My mom has told me incidents about how her dog has grieved the loss of my father (not another pet, but definitely a member of the pack!)
For several days, Sophie (my Mom's schnauzer) refused to sleep near my mom and in fact ignored her. This was right after my father died and was taken away in front of Sophie. Happily, Sophie has gotten over it somewhat and is now back to slepping with my Mom, and is a great comfort to her. I think your Kafer will get over it too, just give time to grieve.

[shybird]

Thanks for all your kind words. I know that it is rough on her being alone while I'm at work. She has taken up sleeping with the cat..I should probably give serious thought to a puppy....Myia