Pets
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How do pets handle loss?
We have 2 pups (a 7yo chow/lab mutt named Munch and 6yo boxer/pit mutt named Scotti). Scotti has failed his 3rd attempt at chemo for lymphoma and is now just on low dose prednisone. When (it's not really an IF at this point) we put Scotti down, I'm trying to figure out how to help Munch cope, if he even needs help coping. The vet says she recommends bringing Munch to the appointment or would it be better if we leave him at home, have him say his goodbye then take Scotti to the appointment? Will Munch know that Scotti is gone when we get home or will he be waiting for his brother?
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Re: How do pets handle loss?
I'm sorry about your dog.
Pets know, obviously. When we had to put down our cat, the other cats knew. They really loved him, but it was at the point where we had to take him to the e-vet (due to a bloodclot) and we knew it was the end. HE was hiding in a corner of the bedroom, and one of the other cats knew he wasn't well. Afterward, the other 2 cats were a little clingier than normal and I think sometimes the remaining pet(s) will look for the other one. But I've never known of a pet who becomes majorly depressed because of it. Good luck.
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I'm so sorry you're going through this.
I used to work at at vet, and I don't recall any time where the family brought in the other family pet to be there as well.
That being said, my parents (and I) lost their (our) 16 yr old dog about a yr ago. They still have their 12 yr old. It was tough, but she is ok. At first, she would look out the door, or wait for her to come down the stairs (the 16 yr old was a lot slower) but then as the weeks went on, she realized she wasn't coming in the door. We didn't notice a significant change in personality, she still ate, still went for walks, and we tried to make things just as normal for the 12 yr old as possible.
I'm so sorry to hear that - we lost a cat to cancer, and it was awful.
When we had to let Milo go, our other cat Xena did take it pretty hard - she stopped grooming herself, got even skinnier, and slept a lot more. She did get over it eventually, but it took a while and took lots of love and snuggles from me and DH. We didn't get another animal because she and Milo had been together for so long and she was so old, we thought she might feel as though she was being replaced and that it might make things harder for her. Your other dog is young enough that when you're all ready, he may do well with another dog (it's all 100% dependent on personalities and what works best for your family, clearly).
I'm so sorry that you're facing this - I've been there and it's so painful. T&P to you - good luck with everything.
My pets have taken it pretty hard. When our dog died our other dog moped. She didn't eat much (even though she's usually extremely food motivated). She just looked sad. This lasted a few weeks. When our cat died, one cat just acted stressed out but the other was so depressed. She cried at night (like an awful moaning meow), she started throwing up all time, and she wandered around looking lost all the time. This lasted more than a month.
Stock up on special treats (especially things that will keep them eating and hydrated, chicken babyfood worked well) and be prepared to give them extra attention and distractions.
So sorry you're going through this. T&P and (((hugs)))
When I put my cat down, the vet offered to come to the house, but I didn't want my other cat to think bad things could happen at home, so I brought her with us.
I think it helped in many ways. Buddy HATED being out of the house, so having Bella with us helped keep him calmer. When the time came, Bella just kind of hung back on the seat. After the vet had left and I was sobbing with my arms over Buddy, Bella jumped up on the table, sniffed me, sniffed Buddy and laid down next to him with her head draped over my arms. When it was time for us to leave, she sniffed Buddy one more time, jumped off the table and crawled into HIS carrier.
When we got home, it was the first time she hadn't looked for him. She knew he was gone.
She was so clingy for the next few weeks, but slowly adjusted to life with just the two of us.
ETA: They had lived together for 7 years.
I just put my 16.5 year old cat down 10 days ago (she's the one in my sig with the one eye). She had been going downhill the past 6 months, and I had noticed that Fred, who had lived with her for 9 years, would avoid being anywhere near her (Merlin, my black cat, never liked her and never had anything to do with her). The day Missy died, neither cat seemed to notice she wasn't around, and acted normally. Until bedtime, when it was my routine to give them treats before climbing into bed. Missy was always very vocal about getting her treats and always got her's first, while Fred and Merlin would wait patiently. That night, I gave Fred his treats first, and he just sat there, looking all around, as if to say "Why isn't Missy crying and getting her treats?" After that, he went and sat outside the bedroom and just stared in, as if waiting to see Missy. The next night, Fred curled up in the spot where Missy always slept, and has slept there every night since.
Neither cat has shown any signs of grief, and if anything, I find them both to be more relaxed. My guess is they sensed and accepted her imminent death months ago, and the 'wait' was causing them to stress.