Dogs, cats, and other companion animals show behavioural and physiological responses to the loss of a companion animal or human that indicate grief-like experiences warranting welfare attention.
Animal grief responses represent genuine welfare states that deserve acknowledgement and management. Grieving animals experience reduced quality of life through altered appetite, disrupted sleep, social withdrawal, and reduced engagement with normal activities. These states may be short-lived or prolonged depending on the individual and the nature of the lost relationship. Owners who dismiss grief-like responses as behavioural problems rather than welfare states may respond inappropriately with training pressure rather than compassionate support. Maintaining routine, offering gentle human companionship, and consulting a vet if grief responses are prolonged or severe are appropriate responses.