Do Dogs Mourn??

Bettyboop

Might seem a stupid question but I lost one of my dogs a few weeks ago,and
for the past 8 days the others wont eat except for their treats.They are also very quiet just seem to want to laze around all the time.I asked my vet but he just laughed.

MrJoeSoap

Definitely. I remember a dog was run down outside a 7/11 beside where I was staying in Thailand last year and all the other dogs were so noticeably mourning it was horrible.

armour87

Slightly unrelated but when an elephants mate dies it will deliberatly eat fermented fruit to feel its effects!

cazzy

yeah - sure dogs can even get depression so Im sure they can get lonely if they loose a pal. Of course they would. Especially 2 dogs that always slept together and always lived together - if one died of course the other would feel sad and lonely and perhaps not sleep or go off their food.
I'd say they would be sad if a human close to them left also. If kittens/puppies/calf is taken from their mother the mother would often cry out for them for a while after.

Bettyboop

cazzy wrote: »

yeah - sure dogs can even get depression so Im sure they can get lonely if they loose a pal. Of course they would. Especially 2 dogs that always slept together and always lived together - if one died of course the other would feel sad and lonely and perhaps not sleep or go off their food.
I'd say they would be sad if a human close to them left also. If kittens/puppies/calf is taken from their mother the mother would often cry out for them for a while after.

Thanks for the replies
can you tell me how long does the mourning go on for??When should I get concerned?As I am really worried about these 3.
Thanks again.

Jeapy

My boyfriends Golden Lab used to go missing after his mother died (boyfriends mum, not the dogs!) and they found that he'd been going to the graveyard about a mile away where she was buried. The dog was acting strange for a good few weeks.

MrJoeSoap

Jeapy wrote: »

My boyfriends Golden Lab used to go missing after his mother died (boyfriends mum, not the dogs!) and they found that he'd been going to the graveyard about a mile away where she was buried. The dog was acting strange for a good few weeks.

I assume the dog had witnessed the burial or been brought to the grave yeah?

cazzy

Im not too sure how long it would take them to cheer up. Do some research on the internet - maybe theres some things you can do lto help like take them for walks in new areas or that. Try the chat room on www.dogoftheday.com or maybe do some searches on dog sites. Maybe try a different vet if it goes on for a while.

Bettyboop

I have to collect my little dogs ashes in a cask from U.C.D. Belfield
this week,will they know he is in the cask??Will they be able to smell him??
Or will his scent be gone with the cremation??
Probably a stupid question but I would like to know.
Thanks:)

arybvtcw0eolkf

I've heard too many stories of dogs mourning the loss of both human and dogs lifes to not believe they mourn.

In my own experience growing up with dogs I'd say they mourn a loss. I've no doubt about that.

As regards smelling the ashes, I've no idea. But I wouldn't imagine so.

Btw how did you manage to get the ashes back?.

My cat Tigger died on the 15th of December last year and we'd have loved to have done that.

Bettyboop

Mairt wrote: »

I've heard too many stories of dogs mourning the loss of both human and dogs lifes to not believe they mourn.

In my own experience growing up with dogs I'd say they mourn a loss. I've no doubt about that.

As regards smelling the ashes, I've no idea. But I wouldn't imagine so.

Btw how did you manage to get the ashes back?.

My cat Tigger died on the 15th of December last year and we'd have loved to have done that.

Hi Thanks for reply
as regards the ashes! They do it in UCD belfield ,They give you an option to either have your animal prepared for burial and take it home to be buried or a communal cremation where your animal is cremated with others,I opted for a private cremation where by you get your animal cremated and given back in a cask with his ashes the cost is €160 depending on size of animal,you can opt for an urn as well where you can sprinkle the animals ashes wherever you wish.:)

Dacelonid

When I read the thread title, I thought what a stupid question (no offense OP), of course they mourn. When my grandad died his dog (who was fairly old anyway) didn't bother eating for days afterwards and died within a few months. Now granted he was old, but you could tell that he missed my grandad. He just wasn't interested in running around, or playing or basically doing anything. If that is not mourning I don't know what is.

peasant

I wouldn't go as far as to say that a dog "mourns", but it certainly feels the loss and a degree of abandonment. Dogs have strong social relationships and are also very much creatures of habit, so the loss of another dog surely gets felt.

On top of it all, dogs are also very sensitive to our emotions and moods. After the passing of a much loved pet, everybody around them would be sad and dejected and display altered behaviour. They sense and reflect this in their behaviour.

Bettyboop wrote: »

I have to collect my little dogs ashes in a cask from U.C.D. Belfield
this week,will they know he is in the cask??Will they be able to smell him??
Or will his scent be gone with the cremation??
Probably a stupid question but I would like to know.
Thanks:)

Err ...no. Any scent of dog will be gone from the ashes.

Some people recommend to let other dogs experience the death of their "friend" by letting them smell the dead body and thus understand that the other dog has not just abandoned them but is actually dead.

With most dogs passing in the vets these days, this is of course a bit difficult.

Some vets do home visits though to cater for this kind of scenario. (Also less stressful for the dying dog to pass away at home in familiar surroundings)

Alun

peasant wrote: »

Some people recommend to let other dogs experience the death of their "friend" by letting them smell the dead body and thus understand that the other dog has not just abandoned them but is actually dead.

I was watching a program on the BBC the other week called "Ben's Zoo" about a businessman who took over a failing zoo in England, and they had a situation where the old leader of a wolf pack, who was also being challenged for leadership by another younger wolf, became very ill and had to be put down. In that case they had to leave his body in the enclosure for a good while, to allow all the other wolves to come over and sniff it to know that he was actually dead and hadn't just somehow disappeared. This was important apparently, otherwise the new leader would have no authority within the pack, and all hell would break loose.

On the mourning front, there's always the old story of "Greyfriars Bobby". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby There's a film about it which sometimes comes on the telly at Christmas, which although probably not entirely factual, always makes me shed a little tear. (I'm a big softy like that )

Bettyboop

Thanks Peasant and everybody else for reply:)
I would have brought my other 3 dogs in had I have known Simba wasn't coming home,but little did I know that sunday when he ran down the steps with his tail wagging that he wasnt coming back! he deteriorated in a matter of hours
after I left him in Belfield ,and when they phoned for me to collect him I didn't realize I would have to make the heart breaking to get him euthanasied.
The house will never be the same without him,he always fought his corner even though he always lost:D He guarded his dinner for hours feeding time was a main event in the house.Now with the other dogs off their food it makes his loss even more sad.The buzz has gone.
Thanks again.

Jules

So sorry for your loss op. It is never easy.

http://petcrematoriumireland.com/roi/index.htm

They offer a great service. Only one in ireland i think. We use them where i work, and so do most vets at this stage, including belfield. Work there form time to time too Generally takes about 4-6 weeks at the most. As the crematorium is up in Antrim, i think.

Trojan911

Bettyboop wrote: »

Might seem a stupid question but I lost one of my dogs a few weeks ago,and
for the past 8 days the others wont eat except for their treats.They are also very quiet just seem to want to laze around all the time.

This might help.

Bettyboop wrote: »

I asked my vet but he just laughed.

How considerate.

Bettyboop

Thanks Jules
The staff and vets in Belfield were great they explained Simbas illness/disease
to us in a way my vet never did cant thank them enough for all the care they gave us and Simba. Simba had x-rays done in Belfield in august and said he had acute "heart disease".They told me I needed to get a heart scan done to see exactly how bad it was.This I did and my vet received the results and told me nothing wrong with his heart at all so stop the tablets for his heart and breathing,I did, that was at the end of August. October he seemed to be coughing a lot and went back to vet who put him on new tablets,the next day I had to rush him down to the vet for oxygen he was in an oxygen tent for 3 days
I was able to take him home on the friday by saturday we were in Belfield again where they gave him an injection and went home again,sunday he was coughing for 10mins non stop so back into Belfield.He died from heart disease he was drowning in fluid from his lungs at this stage so nothing else could be done for him.Have to say I was fuming that a heart scan showed no disease at all even though the xrays showed his heart was enormous.I questioned my vet over this and he said he was standing over the scan I got done and the cardiologist/vet who done it.Still cant get my head around this!
Trojan thank you for that link it explains a lot of my dogs behaviour.
P.S. collected Simba tonight we all feel better to have him home

Trojan911

Bettyboop wrote: »

Trojan thank you for that link it explains a lot of my dogs behaviour.
P.S. collected Simba tonight we all feel better to have him home

Glad to be of help. Sorry for your loss...

Morganna

Yes dogs do sefinetly mourn both canine and human friends .So do horses .

Alfasudcrazy

My two dobies are very close. My male dobie is a lousy swimmer and every time he gets in the water my heart is in my mouth seeing him trying to swim (he thinks he only needs to use his front paws) :rolleyes:

The female dobies always runs to his rescue and is visibly relieved when he gets out of the water licking him etc.

I think a third dog (which I got) is necessary to balance a close and very dependent relationship between two dogs. Even so my two dobies are still very much as one with the collie being considered a very nice cousin but outside their circle. :rolleyes:

My point being that dogs sense danger and worry about their buddies - so I assume would be very sad if they lost them permanently.

andrawolf

my husky broke her heart when I had to get my boxer put to sleep. she didn't eat for nearly three weeks. she just wanted to come in and crawl into my dark hall cupboard.She would just dissappear. I did show her the boxer's body and she sniffed her she howled. she is better now and I got her a knew friend dinner doesn't last that long.:D

bongi69

I have noticed my staffie gets a little down after a visit to his mothers owners.
We also got them a photo collage for xmas, and one of the photos was of his mother, and i noticed him staring at it one night for ages, before we wrapped it up. Thing is staffies have really expressive faces, and he always looks really sad after leaving her.
We used to live in south africa, and when we went back 5 years after the move on hols. our old dogs who we had given to a friend, recognised us straight away, and apparently were really down in the dumps for weeks after we left

lurchin along

You could try Bachs Rescue Remedy for them.It works for me and I've seen it work on dogs that were stressed too.

Lil' Smiler

When my Collie had to be put down 3 years ago, our Cocker Spaniel who was maybe only 4 at the time was so depressed for a while


Then we got our greyhound pup and she was angry ha ha coz Jake is insane and bouncy and loves to play and pull at her ears.


Then when Amber goes to get her coat done and is gone for the whole day, Jake is the most depressed dog i have ever seen. he will stay in bed ALL day and only get up to look out the window if he hears a car because he thinks it's her coming home.

Then if he's left by himself he cries and cries


Cute but a tad annoying!!

Love&Light

Bettyboop wrote: »

Might seem a stupid question but I lost one of my dogs a few weeks ago,and
for the past 8 days the others wont eat except for their treats.They are also very quiet just seem to want to laze around all the time.I asked my vet but he just laughed.

Sorry for your loss Bettyboop. IMO Dogs do mourn for members of their family, either human or canine. I had two Rotties (brothers) never apart until one of them died aged 9, His brother and my old collie grieved for quite some time, ie. off their food, tummy upsets, not playing and generally sad. Your dogs are also very sensitive to your energies and so will sense your grief and pain which may be a large part of it. Your other dogs will get to the point where they literally 'snap' out of it. They have such an amazing ability to live in the now.

KTRIC

Bettyboop wrote: »

P.S. collected Simba tonight we all feel better to have him home

We had Polly (our cat) cremated as well , probably done in the same place and its the same casket.

Her brother (from the same litter) mourned her for about 2 weeks or so. He didn't want to do anything and just sat in his basket with his head in his paws.