Research shows that dogs, cats, and other companion animals experience genuine grief responses following the loss of bonded companions. Understanding and supporting this process improves animal welfare.
Animal grief is a genuine welfare concern that many pet owners do not recognize or know how to address. Animals that have lost bonded companions experience real behavioral and physiological changes consistent with emotional suffering. Supporting grieving animals requires understanding that their behavioral changes are expressions of distress rather than behavioral problems to be corrected. Maintaining predictable routines, providing additional positive interaction, and allowing the animal time to adjust are evidence-based approaches. Decisions about whether and when to introduce a new companion animal should be made with the individual animal's temperament and adjustment in mind rather than primarily from the human's perspective.