Scientific evidence for grief-like responses in companion animals following the loss of bonded companions and how to support them.
The welfare significance of companion animal grief is increasingly recognized in veterinary behavioral medicine. When a bonded companion dies, surviving animals frequently show behavioral changes consistent with loss — reduced engagement, altered sleep, changes in appetite, and searching behaviors. These responses reflect genuine disruption of social bonds that matter to the animal. Supporting a grieving pet requires understanding that their behavioral changes reflect real experience, not willful misbehavior. Maintaining routines, providing additional social contact, and allowing time for adjustment are the primary welfare supports. Some individuals benefit from veterinary behavioral assessment if grief responses are prolonged or severe.