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 â 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:
How do you help a dog cope with the loss of another dog?
When it becomes obvious that your dog doesn’t seem okay after seeing their buddy’s dead body, the best you can do to help them is be there for them. By doing so you can help a dog cope with the loss of another dog.
If they were close for years, it might take some time before your dog gets over the other’s absence. And if the bond was almost non-existent, your dog will get back to its usual self in no time!
Keep in mind: If you’re worried the grieving period is affecting your dog’s overall health, it’s best to contact your vet to know the way forward.
So, how can you support your dog mourning a loss of another dog during the grieving process? Let’s take a closer look:
If the dog’s death also hit you hard, try your best to act normal around your surviving dog, no matter how tough it may be. Dogs can easily read and interpret our emotions.
When your dog notices you constantly have a sad demeanor, they’ll most likely feed off your sadness, prolonging their grieving.