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PETS GRIEVE, TOO H. Ellen Whiteley, DVM |
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When my client, George, died of a heart attack, his cats
suffered the stress of his absence. They showed signs of anorexia and
depression, and sought seclusion. George's daughter said: "I know the cats
miss him; plus, they must pick up on the feelings of grief that Mother and I
are experiencing. But it's not just the loss of human companionship
that's stressful for animals; the death of a pet also brings suffering to
the other animal survivors. Several years ago, national magazines ran touching photos of KoKo, a captive gorilla accomplished in sign language, and her "pet" kitten. The pictures often depicted the bulky KoKo gently cuddling her tiny feline companion. When the kitten died, the gorilla cried and signed that she missed her friend. |
| Comforting grieving pets... |
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What can you do to help reduce the stress of surviving
pets? You can alert clients to the signs of stress in animals suffering from
the loss of an animal or human to whom they were closely bonded. Accumulated stress acts on animals the same way as on people: It makes each event more stressful. Pets can feel grief just like people. This isn't the time to get a new pet, board the survivors, or schedule medical procedures. If a family friend with whom the pets are familiar offers to help, suggest that he or she provide a safe, quiet environment for the animals, away from the friends and relatives who gather at family crises. In some cases, supplying familiar objects with the deceased's smell or playing Frisbee with the dog just like "Dad" did can be helpful. The dying act itself can distress surviving animals as well. As a house-call veterinarian, I often performed euthanasia in the home. To reduce the dying animal's anxiety, I administered a tranquilizer 10 to 15 minutes before euthanasia. Then I told the owner what might happen-vocalization, muscle twitching, elimination-and asked that other animals be removed from the area. A discussion of euthanasia in the January 15, 1993, Journal of the AVMA, reports: "Distress vocalizations, fearful behavior, and release of certain odors or pheromones by a frightened animal may cause anxiety and apprehension in other animals. Therefore, whenever possible, other animals should not be present when euthanasia is performed, especially euthanasia of the same species. Your knowledge and understanding can help ensure that your patients are well-cared for during a difficult time. |
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