How animals deal with grief
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:51 pm
I think it is important to show your remaining animals the one who has passed away so they can see and understand what has happened to their beloved family member or friend, and they can get to spend some final time with them and say their own goodbyes. I have done this whenever one of my animals has passed away.
One thing I hate is when people say animals do not have emotions, feel grief, etc. Studies in many different animals show that they clearly do. And all us animal owners know they do as we can see it for ourselves. We all see how our animals look for each other when one goes to the vet. The thought of them wondering where their companion is, and waiting for their companion to come home, when that will never happen, is so sad.
One thing that I am always so worried about, and I do not know if anyone else has seen it, but some animals simply give up living when their companions pass. I have heard of it in many animals, and in some people I know and I have experienced it myself.
I had three rescued male rats, all Brothers from the same litter, after I had to say my last goodbye to the second one, I showed him to his Brother. The last remaining one of the three. I was so worried as when the first one passed, the remaining rats grief was the worst out of him and his remaining Brother. When his first Brother passed he took a long time to perk up and eat and play normally, etc. So I knew he would take it hard, especially as he was now on his own. I spent time with him that evening and he was not himself at all, not playful, would not eat, just laid in my arms or in his cage. I spent time with him during the night. When I woke in the morning, I was devastated. He was just lying there. No sign of distress, heart attack, etc. It was clear that he had just layed down and that he had just lost interest in living. No matter what I could have done, I could never have been the same as his beloved Brothers.
When any of my animals have passed, I was always so worried about how the remaining animals would be able to cope with their grief. Knowing how my girl cat loved her Brother so, I was so worried. Even when I would leave the living room, she would follow me and wait for me. We were always together. She lived for 2 years and 5 months after her Brother.
I also had a friend who had 2 dogs, Mother and Daughter. They had to say goodbye to the Mum due to tumours. The Daughter would lay on her Mums resting place in the garden and just cry. My friend and her family tried everything, even when they carried her indoors, she would just lay on her Mums side of the rug and cry. She refused to eat, etc. 5 days later, she passed away on top of her Mums resting place. It was extremely sad.
Whenever one of my animals had passed away, I had always kept things as normal as possible for my remaining animals. I always made a point of spending more time with them and giving them all extra fuss and attention. My only animal to have given up due to grief was my rat. Sometimes I wonder why? Why some animals can cope better with grief than others. Just like people.
Sometimes no matter what we do, our animals cannot be consoled and even though they are everything to us and we know they think we are everything to them, it just reminds us clearly that animals have the same feelings of emptiness that we do. People are not the only ones who feel they cannot live after a being has passed away. Even though, just like us, they love the ones who are still with them, they cannot bare the emptiness left by those who have passed.
I wonder if anyone else has had the same thing? Or has had animals become overwhelmed with their grief?
One thing I hate is when people say animals do not have emotions, feel grief, etc. Studies in many different animals show that they clearly do. And all us animal owners know they do as we can see it for ourselves. We all see how our animals look for each other when one goes to the vet. The thought of them wondering where their companion is, and waiting for their companion to come home, when that will never happen, is so sad.
One thing that I am always so worried about, and I do not know if anyone else has seen it, but some animals simply give up living when their companions pass. I have heard of it in many animals, and in some people I know and I have experienced it myself.
I had three rescued male rats, all Brothers from the same litter, after I had to say my last goodbye to the second one, I showed him to his Brother. The last remaining one of the three. I was so worried as when the first one passed, the remaining rats grief was the worst out of him and his remaining Brother. When his first Brother passed he took a long time to perk up and eat and play normally, etc. So I knew he would take it hard, especially as he was now on his own. I spent time with him that evening and he was not himself at all, not playful, would not eat, just laid in my arms or in his cage. I spent time with him during the night. When I woke in the morning, I was devastated. He was just lying there. No sign of distress, heart attack, etc. It was clear that he had just layed down and that he had just lost interest in living. No matter what I could have done, I could never have been the same as his beloved Brothers.
When any of my animals have passed, I was always so worried about how the remaining animals would be able to cope with their grief. Knowing how my girl cat loved her Brother so, I was so worried. Even when I would leave the living room, she would follow me and wait for me. We were always together. She lived for 2 years and 5 months after her Brother.
I also had a friend who had 2 dogs, Mother and Daughter. They had to say goodbye to the Mum due to tumours. The Daughter would lay on her Mums resting place in the garden and just cry. My friend and her family tried everything, even when they carried her indoors, she would just lay on her Mums side of the rug and cry. She refused to eat, etc. 5 days later, she passed away on top of her Mums resting place. It was extremely sad.
Whenever one of my animals had passed away, I had always kept things as normal as possible for my remaining animals. I always made a point of spending more time with them and giving them all extra fuss and attention. My only animal to have given up due to grief was my rat. Sometimes I wonder why? Why some animals can cope better with grief than others. Just like people.
Sometimes no matter what we do, our animals cannot be consoled and even though they are everything to us and we know they think we are everything to them, it just reminds us clearly that animals have the same feelings of emptiness that we do. People are not the only ones who feel they cannot live after a being has passed away. Even though, just like us, they love the ones who are still with them, they cannot bare the emptiness left by those who have passed.
I wonder if anyone else has had the same thing? Or has had animals become overwhelmed with their grief?