Dog grieving

[Kernow_Stalker]

Hi all,

Got a 13 year old boy at home, unfortunately our other dog (14 years old) passed away about 2 weeks ago. They have never done a day apart since the day we got the younger one.
Understandably he has taken this quite hard, but he seems to be really struggling, moping around, not as excitable. The real concern is he seems to be gnawing away at himself, I think its a stress reaction. We have taken him to the vets and their first course of action is ruling out mites etc.

Just looking to see if anyone else has experienced this sort of thing, and what you found to help them?
We will consider getting another dog in the next 6 months or so to allow us time to grieve as a family.
That being said, does he need a companion because that is what he has always known? Or by getting a companion too soon risk him rejecting them?

Lots of questions I know, but any advice gratefully received.

Cheers

KS

 

[ColinBr]

Separation anxiety

He's so used to it's buddy being there and now he's missing him.

It's not an easy thing to try and sort as he's a fair age himself. A young pup may not be the answer(most likely not).

Hopefully someone has a better answer for you on how to go about it

Oh and 6 months may be too long for the dog to wait.

 

[Pedro]

So, only my experiences: Initially, keep him busy and occupied, to the extent when he isn't busy, he needs to sleep. As much as possible anyway. Given time, things should work out.

Getting a puppy is maybe no bad thing either. But you've got to weigh up if your old dog can cope with the mayhem that can bring. For a middle-aged dog, still active, coping with a puppy is cool. For an aged dog, not physically able to put a boisterous youngster in it's place, there could be problems. So even if your dog is still active now, consider a year or two down the line...

 

[tonyshooter]

We have just had this when our 15 year old ESS dog sadly died.

Our other dog, a 7 year old ESS almost lost the will to live.

He was, understandably, grieving more than us.

In our circumstances the purchase of a new puppy sorted this !

 

[shakey jake]

I Tell the misses im not digging two holes for this very reason,cant give helpful advice

 

[2Ll’s]

Hi all,

Got a 13 year old boy at home, unfortunately our other dog (14 years old) passed away about 2 weeks ago. They have never done a day apart since the day we got the younger one.
Understandably he has taken this quite hard, but he seems to be really struggling, moping around, not as excitable. The real concern is he seems to be gnawing away at himself, I think its a stress reaction. We have taken him to the vets and their first course of action is ruling out mites etc.

Just looking to see if anyone else has experienced this sort of thing, and what you found to help them?
We will consider getting another dog in the next 6 months or so to allow us time to grieve as a family.
That being said, does he need a companion because that is what he has always known? Or by getting a companion too soon risk him rejecting them?

Lots of questions I know, but any advice gratefully received.

Cheers

KS

Hi all,

Got a 13 year old boy at home, unfortunately our other dog (14 years old) passed away about 2 weeks ago. They have never done a day apart since the day we got the younger one.
Understandably he has taken this quite hard, but he seems to be really struggling, moping around, not as excitable. The real concern is he seems to be gnawing away at himself, I think its a stress reaction. We have taken him to the vets and their first course of action is ruling out mites etc.

Just looking to see if anyone else has experienced this sort of thing, and what you found to help them?
We will consider getting another dog in the next 6 months or so to allow us time to grieve as a family.
That being said, does he need a companion because that is what he has always known? Or by getting a companion too soon risk him rejecting them?

Lots of questions I know, but any advice gratefully received.

Cheers

KS

I heard of this years ago, dog giving up after losing a partner in crime. I know too late for you now but when our dog had to be put to sleep at 15 years of age, we took his sister who had been with him from birth with us to the vet and once he was asleep we let her see him and have a good sniff around him etc. She lasted nearly another 3 years. I am so glad we did what we did and am sure it helped her with knowing that he had gone.

So sorry for the loss, never easy.

 

[Buchan]

Not easy. Dogs show behavioural changes that for all the world is grief. I’d go and get an adaptil collar from your vet/pets at home and maybe ask about behaviour advice. The collar is pheromones and very effective in lots, not all, of cases like this.

 

[finnbear270]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/how-to-help-a-grieving-dog&ved=2ahUKEwjLh_SLs4CHAxX_Z0EAHWqCCfYQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1vbA8uTey-VMYXpiimm6d0

 

[Heym SR20]

Just spend lots of time with him, take him with you and just show lots of love. Animals grieve, just as much as humans.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

My shepherd has not been 'normal' since she lost her best mate a couple of years ago. Together since she was a pup. We see signs of her back every now and again but it's few and far between.

We never managed to find anything to help her unfortunately.
Hope you succeed better than we did

 

[basil]

My old Lurcher Jeff has been through this twice.
I've always had my Lurchers and my Mrs always had her Yorkies.
Jeff was bred from another of my Lurchers Sox.
When Jeff was weaned and Sox didn't want to know him anymore one of my Mrs Yorkies, Molly absolutely mothered him, she was there at every whimper.
In time Molly passed and Jeff went into a deep depression, nothing we did took any affect. Jeff dealt with it his way.
April 2022 Sox passed and it sent Jeff into another depression. I'd walk him miles, spend hours trying to distract him but nothing has worked.
Jeff is thirteen now but he's never been the same dog ever since his two losses.
If only they could talk because they grieve .. Just like we do.

 

[EssBee]

Blue Cross very good advice - keep your do busy.

 

[Stumpy2]

Had this with our lurcher midge, totally bereft without her mates when we lost 3 dogs over 6 months.
Got a Labrador pup and first night put the pup in a small bed and midge in a large bed in the porch.
Got up in the morning and both of them were in the small bed curled up together.
She had a new lease of life and mothered the pup despite never having had a litter of her own.

Assuming your circumstances allow I would get another pup

 

[WalkedUp]

I hope he is getting happier. Some of the best advice I was given when I got two pups at the same time to work some 15 years ago was to get them used to being alone so that if one dies etc the other isn’t lost. One of them then died aged four, it was unexpected sad but I was very thankful that they were accustomed to being alone and so the surviving dog was prepared.

My current pup goes out with me on his own but I have got lax, he is always with the older bitch when left at home. This sad thread reminds me that I need to start preparing him for the eventual.

 

[Bowland blades]

The loss of one of the pack , is a tough one . The fact is it will also pick up the humans grief . Few nice walks etc helps the both

 

[GBR66]

New puppy ASAP, won't mean you and the dog don't miss the old one but fills the gap for both of you. Got my Irish Terrier a couple of weeks after my daughter's Cairn had died at 15, he is great company for me but has also revitalised our Miniature Bull Terrier who was 12 when he turned up - pretty good mates now.