Animals form genuine social bonds and experience grief when companions are lost, requiring thoughtful management during periods of bereavement to support their emotional wellbeing.
Animal grief is real and deserves to be taken seriously by owners and veterinarians. The dismissal of animal bereavement as anthropomorphism has left many grieving animals without appropriate support. Behavioral and physiological evidence shows that socially bonded animals experience genuine distress following the death of companions. Supporting a grieving animal requires patience, maintenance of familiar routines, and additional social engagement. In some cases veterinary intervention may be appropriate for animals showing extended depression or health decline. Understanding and acknowledging animal grief also enriches our moral consideration of their emotional lives more broadly.