Companion animals demonstrate grief responses following the death of bonded companions, requiring owner awareness and management to support welfare through the bereavement period.
Companion animal grief is a welfare condition that reflects the genuine social bonds these animals form with their companions. The behavioural responses to companion loss — searching, vocalising, reduced appetite, and altered sleep — are consistent across species and represent a real emotional experience. While the philosophical question of whether animals grieve in the same way as humans remains open, the welfare implications of the observed behavioural changes are real and require management. Owners who understand that their surviving companion may experience distress following a loss can provide appropriate support — increased attention, maintenance of routine, gradual reintroduction to social contact — that reduces the welfare cost of bereavement.