Should I show my dead dog to my other dog? The Ultimate Guide

Can You Explain a Pet’s Death to Another Pet?

When a dog dies, owners often ask their veterinarian whether they should show the body to their other pets. They ask this in a sincere effort to help “explain” the finality of what has occurred to the surviving pets – to let them know why their buddy won’t be coming home.

Whether this is helpful is the subject of debate … and there is little evidence to support either view. On one hand, it may be argued that pets do not have the cognitive ability to understand the finality of death. Showing them a body would be like letting a 2-year-old see a deceased family member at a funeral – the consequences just don’t register. On the other hand, it can be argued that dogs and cats see death as we do, and that viewing a deceased companion does help to explain why that pet won’t be around in the future.

Can my dog see my dead dog?

Five years ago, my close childhood friend lost one of her dogs. She owned two and had raised them together for some years before death struck. The dog died in the house after suffering from an internal injury.

Rather than keeping the news to herself, she opted to “share” it with her remaining dog.

She wanted to let her dog say goodbye to other dog and felt this was the best way, but letting it see the dead dog.

While I didn’t make sense (back then) of why her decision was necessary, curiosity did get the best of me.

I did a bit of research online and discovered that some dog owners noticed their surviving dog stopped searching for their absent mate after seeing their dead body!

Believe it or not, it’s okay to show your furry friend the body of a dead dog if:

  • One, they shared a close bond.
  • And two, if the dead dog didn’t die of an infectious disease which could risk the surviving dog.
  • Do dogs get lonely when another dog died?

    When a dog loses a companion, two- or four-legged, he grieves and reacts to the changes in his life. Dogs alter their behavior when they mourn, much like people do: They may become depressed and listless. They may have a decreased appetite and decline to play.

    ✝ How To HELP A DOG Cope With THE DEATH Of Another DOG

    But in case your dog has passed away while dealing with a contagious disease, then you shouldn’t allow your dogs to see the dead dog in any case. The contact with a disease deceased dog could be a potential source of the spread of infection.