Animals grieve the loss of companions — human or animal — and understanding the signs of grief and how to support bereaved animals improves their welfare during a difficult transition.
The capacity of companion animals to experience something analogous to grief is supported by behavioral and neurobiological evidence. Animals that have lost a close companion show measurable changes: reduced food intake, altered sleep patterns, increased vocalization, searching behavior, and withdrawal. These changes can persist for weeks or months. Welfare support for grieving animals includes maintaining routine to provide stability, providing additional social interaction and attention from humans, allowing the animal time to adjust before introducing new companions, and consulting a veterinarian if grief signs are severe or prolonged. The validity of animal grief challenges any residual dismissal of animal emotional lives.