Dogs grieving one another

[danisgoat]

In your experience, do you think the dogs that were there to see their friend go, mourned less? Or do you think the mourning was somehow easier on them because they experienced the death and knew they were "gone" to a point? I don't mean that literally. And that the ones they weren't there for, was mourned harder in a sense? Does that make any sense?

In my experience, the best way I can describe this situation is that there is a "peace" about it. The dogs know what happened. They are not looking for their friend everytime the back door opens. They are not checking in the empty crate, going to the dogs favorite spot under a chair.

The hardest loss we had was our Glori (Irish Setter). She was 9 years old at the time. Glori ate some poisonous mushrooms in the yard and died within 12 hours from showing signs of illness (we did not see her get the mushrooms) at the vet's office. It was HORRIBLE. My Cedar (her brother) aged about 5 years after that. Within four months (he was 8 years old) his face went from red to gray. He looked for her for about 6 months. It took that long for him to forget her. He did not know what happened and he missed his best friend/sister. It was devastating for all of us.

If I have another dog die at the vets office, I will without a doubt, as hard as it will be, bring the dog home for the other one to smell. I will never go through that mourning process as I did with Cedar.

Everytime we had a dog put down at home, the dogs never "looked" for their buddy. This isn't something I am humanizing or creating. It just is what it is. They know.

 

[Emmasmom]

I agree with Danisgoat. Dogs know and look for those who do not die from home. To digress a little, Emma knew Mom died at home. She has not looked for her since.

I think it is the same with dogs. Pack animals know when one is sick or has died. If they cannot say goodbye in their own way, they will look for their companion. They do grieve in their own way.

 

[Lacey'sMamma]

I don't think they understand death, but they do grieve the missing, and they do look for them.

animals understand a lot more than we give them credit for..

I completley agree. This was exactly what i was going to post. Leaving the body in the house for a day is something i myself could not do...

 

[k9kreationz]

In my experience, the best way I can describe this situation is that there is a "peace" about it. The dogs know what happened. They are not looking for their friend everytime the back door opens. They are not checking in the empty crate, going to the dogs favorite spot under a chair.

The hardest loss we had was our Glori (Irish Setter). She was 9 years old at the time. Glori ate some poisonous mushrooms in the yard and died within 12 hours from showing signs of illness (we did not see her get the mushrooms) at the vet's office. It was HORRIBLE. My Cedar (her brother) aged about 5 years after that. Within four months (he was 8 years old) his face went from red to gray. He looked for her for about 6 months. It took that long for him to forget her. He did not know what happened and he missed his best friend/sister. It was devastating for all of us.

If I have another dog die at the vets office, I will without a doubt, as hard as it will be, bring the dog home for the other one to smell. I will never go through that mourning process as I did with Cedar.

Everytime we had a dog put down at home, the dogs never "looked" for their buddy. This isn't something I am humanizing or creating. It just is what it is. They know.

Thanks for all that. Seeing as how you experienced it both ways, I think next time I see my vet, I'll ask about my options. I don't know if I could bring my dog's body home, but at the same time, as much as Koji loves his brother, I want him to have a sense of peace too. Not looking for his brother for months/years. It just breaks my heart. So, I'll do what I can. Real or not real (although, after what you wrote, I believe it). Call me crazy, everyone does.

 

[danisgoat]

Thanks for all that. Seeing as how you experienced it both ways, I think next time I see my vet, I'll ask about my options. I don't know if I could bring my dog's body home, but at the same time, as much as Koji loves his brother, I want him to have a sense of peace too. Not looking for his brother for months/years. It just breaks my heart. So, I'll do what I can. Real or not real (although, after what you wrote, I believe it). Call me crazy, everyone does.

I am glad to help. It is something I feel strongly about, just based on my experiences.

This is actually one of the many reasons I use the vet that I do. He is a mobile vet, so coming to my house is not a big deal for him. Although, around here, most vets will come to your home under dire circumstances. For all other things, I go to his office, but it is nice having this mobile option. The day my Cedar died (naturally at home) he had a seizure first thing in the morning, followed by two more. It was great that my vet was able to come to my house and give me some valium to relax him, without me having to move a dog that is having seizures.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Did he see Dow pass though? If not, then that's a moot point to the question. If so, it's interesting that he'd still look for him in the house.

In the article, I think she actually left the deceased dog in her home for 24 hours before removing the body. She talked about how the dogs would lay next to the dog, sniff it, then after awhile, they seemed to know that he was gone. And that's when she knew it was time to take the body away.

Nope I am doubtful on the realizing they died part but I was more posting about the missing each other part of your question. Also poor Dow had internal issues and was not put down but instead died in his sleep.

 

[Caro]

Something weird happened then, most of my post went missing.

I think the feelings of the owner and how the owner copes is the best way of deciding where the dog should be put down. I would not like having it done at home and keeping the body around so I think all it would do was upset my other pets more. But if the owner also finds it calming that wwill go a big way to helping the other pets.

And also its a matter of what is best for the pet. My last cat was quite distressed in his last moments and we had finally got him settled when we saw the vet. The vet thought it was kinder not to stir the cat up again so we didnt say goodbyes but instead let the vet go straight back out and give him the injection. It was hard for us but I know best for the cat.

Now I do know research has shown that mammals understand death, but whether they understand that it will result in a change in the future , or link current changes with a past event is still up for debate.

 

[k9kreationz]

And also its a matter of what is best for the pet. My last cat was quite distressed in his last moments and we had finally got him settled when we saw the vet. The vet thought it was kinder not to stir the cat up again so we didnt say goodbyes but instead let the vet go straight back out and give him the injection. It was hard for us but I know best for the cat.

So very true and a great point.

 

[mbfrench]

I decided to chime in on this thread after I read Danielle's post. I personally feel in my heart that dogs do know,and I feel that they grieve.

Days prior to my beloved cat of 15 years being put to sleep,Earnhardt was just a young pup.But even then,he never left Nick those final days.

I brought Nick home swaddled in a blanket,and I let Earnhardt have what I felt a time that he needed to know that Nick was gone,he spent that time giving Nick some very sweet kisses and nudges.
Earnhardt was right there when we placed Nick in his special resting place. There were days after that that we would find Earnhardt resting where Nicks grave was. I know he missed him,but I never regretted letting him have those few moments alone with Nick.

I do think its important to have them there,if possible. We all are faced with these days,when we think,gosh we will loose our babes. Brian & I have talked about this very thing,as we know we would like to have any of our dogs be as peaceful as possible when that time comes.

 

[SheltieChe]

I am sure animals, dogs and cats understand Presence or Lack of Presence. It is human who put it into emotional terms, religious terms, make it sad or happy events and such. It is simpler on subconsious/ molecular/ tissue level Matter or NO Matter. Sickness/ Illness has a different scent/ different modalites in vibrations/ waves whatever theory you support. Point is illness is recognizable on some basic level. Imminent death is recognizable on basic level and it is us humans, not animals that lost this ability to recognize it.