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Boo’s story doesnt seem to be an isolated case. In November 2017 another dog made the news when, after days of wandering around an airport appearing to be looking for someone, she died of what was believed to be a broken heart.
Wandering Cloud, as the staff at Palonegro airport, Colombia named her, had spent a month roaming the terminal, sniffing passers-by, before she curled in a corner, motionless and refusing to eat.
The pooch was later picked up by vets, but despite their best efforts, she died shortly after.
Its believed that the dog was abandoned at the airport and when her search failed to reunite her with her owner, she died.
But was it sadness that killed her and Boo, or was their death a coincidence that allows animal lovers to indulge in the belief that pets experience human emotions?
A heart condition in humans, often caused by severe stress such as the loss of a loved one, known by the popular name of broken heart syndrome, causes a weakening of the heart muscle that can result in heart failure and even death.
So, if a human can die of a broken heart then perhaps a pet can too?
The team of the South Pacific County animal shelter in Washington released a heart-breaking report, saying that they’d looked in veterinary medicine for the mention of broken heart syndrome, and despite not being able to find it, have witnessed it first-hand.
Cory McKeown, the author of the report, says that cats and dogs brought in to the shelter often stop eating and curl in a corner of their cages hiding their heads in their paws.
However, as McKeown says, there is no mention of broken heart syndrome in veterinary literature and there is no medical evidence that indicates that pets suffer the physical symptoms of broken heart syndrome.
Furthermore, for every story of a pet dying following the loss of an owner, there is one of a pet spending years stoically waiting for the return of the deceased and eventually dying of old age. Greyfriars Bobby even has his own statue in Edinburgh.
We spoke to veterinary surgeon Dr Neerja Muncaster who said: “Animals certainly can exhibit significant behavioural and character changes when an animal or person that they are attached to dies.
“These changes can trigger physiological changes that can lead to the deterioration of that animals health.
“Conversely, I have also witnessed positive changes in behaviour, for example, increased confidence and interaction, in animals who have been dominated or bullied by another animal in their household. This can occur in some multi-cat households. When the aggressor dies, the more timid cat will often exhibit altered behaviour.”
Veterinary medicine provides no proof that pets die of heart failure due to stress, but observations show that pets do go through behavioural changes and even death when they lose an owner or a companion, suggesting that perhaps there is something happening to them.
When Dr Stanley Coren PhD, canine psychologist, visited an old friend, he was surprised to find their pet companion group had gone down from two Boston terriers and a cat to only one Boston terrier.
He told Psychology Today, that his friend explained that her dog Lily had died and shortly after her cat Rosie followed, leaving one surviving pet.
In a 2011 article for the Daily Mail, reporting on the death of a dog in Afghanistan that had lost its owner, animal psychologist Roger Mugford said that he’s witnessed “a number of cases in which pets have died of grief”.
These stories bring to mind a phenomenon among people known as the widowhood effect where one partner of a couple dies and the other becomes severely depressed and follows within the next three months.
And even though the widowhood effect has not been documented in veterinary medicine, according to a study conducted by the journal Animals, there is plenty of evidence that pets experience grief in a similar way to humans.
The study, a survey of 279 people, showed both cats and dogs can experience severe behavioural changes following the passing of a fellow animal. The animals often kept searching for the deceased and whined and whimpered when they couldn’t find them.
In addition, the cats and dogs in the study, a lot like Wandering Cloud and the animals in Cory McKeown’s animal shelter (and just like humans when they are depressed), exhibited moderate to severe loss of appetite, lack of energy and loss of vivaciousness.
Unfortunately, when cats stop eating, they are quick to develop a condition called fatty liver disease, which causes liver failure and eventually death. Cats normally develop the disease as the result of stress-related appetite loss; so, when cats grieve, it is not their heart that takes the hit but their liver.
Something similar happens to dogs when they stop eating. A number of biochemical reactions kick in and in order to make up for the lack of energy, the body begins digesting internal fats and the metabolism becomes sluggish. Lethally low level of blood sugar levels set in.
So, it could be argued that, in cases of severe loss of appetite, pets grief leads to a form of indirect self-destruction by refusal to feed.
The warning signs of grief in animals are many, so learning to recognise them could help owners take action before the symptoms of grief have taken an irreversible toll.
Signs might include but are not limited to:
Some dogs will start crying and whimpering as soon as they sense their owner is about to set off to work – this is separation anxiety and can be extremely severe for some pets, especially after bereavement.
Pets who are extremely attached to their owners (or fellow companion pets) tend to be hit the worst by separation anxiety and grief. The bigger the attachment bond, the more severe their mourning.
How to help a grieving pet?
Vet Dr Karen Becker recommends keeping the pets routine as stable as possible, including feeding, walks and other daily interactions and encouraging and providing plenty of distractions to take the pet’s mind off the loss, such as long walks, exercising together and playing fetch.
In addition, she advises giving your pet enough time to cope with the loss before you introduce a new pet into the family.
Pets have a natural ability to pick up on the moods of their owners, so avoiding emotional outbursts around your pet might also speed up his or her recovery.
In addition, nearly all of our pet insurance policies cover treatment for behavioural disorders.
Evolutionary biologists believe that grief has the purpose of motivating emotional bonding and attachment. And where there is attachment, there is separation anxiety.
Domesticated animals are very social and easily become deeply attached to their owners and companion pets and can suffer when they lose them.
If youre concerned about your dog or cats behaviour after the loss of a two-legged or four legged companion, make an appointment with your vet.
Behaviour treatment might even be covered by your pet insurance. All our policies cover behavioural treatment where youve been referred by your vet.
All our policies also include free unlimited video vet calls. They might be able to give you some useful advice for your grieving pet as well.
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How Does Our Grief Affect Them?
A 2019 study from Duke University reported elevated cortisol levels in the hair of humans who indicated they were suffering from significant stressors in their lives. The study also found that pets living with humans under stressful conditions had elevated cortisol levels in their fur, suggesting that pets do sense our emotions and may exhibit similar physical stress responses.
This can certainly translate to stress brought on by grief or loss, so it’s safe to say that your pet is also affected when you are grieving a loss.
After the death of a pet, there are several ways you can help other pets during their time of grieving:
If your pet begins to show behaviors such as house soiling, destruction of toys or furniture, or excessive vocalizing and whining, it is important not to punish or discipline them. This will only teach them to fear you and may increase their anxiety and make these behaviors worse.
Talk to your vet or ask for a recommendation for a behaviorist in these cases. Pets with more severe behavioral changes may also benefit from antidepressant medications.
The amount of time that a dog or cat grieves will vary individually, but eventually they do recover and will usually fall back into their daily routines at some point.
However, if your pet continues to decline physically or emotionally, consult with your veterinary team to be sure there’s no underlying medical condition that’s causing symptoms that you initially thought were related to grief.
Cats in particular should be closely monitored if they stop eating, as prolonged anorexia in cats can quickly develop into a life-threatening condition known as hepatic lipidosis.
Can Dogs Die Of A Broken Heart? The Ultimate Guide To Broken Heart Syndrome
Most dog owners will easily claim that no one can love you more than your furry little friend. Tales of loyal dogs such as Hachiko have stormed the media. But can dogs die from sadness, or is this yet another urban legend?
We all know how sad dogs can be if their owner or friend passes. But can this go so far as to end with fatal results? Can dogs die from sadness? We have asked around about these claims and decided to see if there is any truth to them. If you’re interested in what we’ve found out, keep on reading below.