Owners grieving the loss of a pet can better support surviving companion animals when they understand normal animal grief responses and receive appropriate support themselves.
The welfare of surviving companion animals after a pet loss is best supported when owners receive appropriate human support for their own grief. Owners struggling with acute grief may be less attentive to subtle changes in surviving pets, delay veterinary consultation for grief-related appetite changes, or misinterpret normal grief responses as illness or behaviour problems. Proactive communication from veterinarians about expected grief signs in animals, and provision of human grief support resources, improves outcomes for both owners and surviving pets. Community pet loss support services reduce isolation during a difficult time.