Losing a pet when you have more than one..

[4doggiemama]

Thank you for this thread. My two females are getting up in age and I have wondered about this. Very interesting, sound advice. Just read this to my DH. Want him to know things if I am not around. Joanne

[Beabble]

Years ago when our kids were babies, we had Jake and Nikki (furkids) they were so attached to one another. When Jake passed away, I was scared to death we were gonna lose Nikki as well. It was really hard on her, she refused to eat or drink, lost her lust for life and just basically lost her will to live. We did anything and everything including taking turns force feeding her baby food and water with a syringe until finally she started to eat on her own again. We didn't leave her home alone, always made sure someone was there with her and eventually, in time, she was ok. It's hard on furbabies, especially when they been raised together for years and years.

[autumn star]

When our pug Dakota died in Sept, Autumn was not herself. She was sad and just followed us around. She spent a lot of time just laying. So we bought another yorkie. She has been happy ever since!

[ranedrops]

We had 4 dogs and when our oldest went into heart failure I believe the others knew she wasn't going to make it. After she passed away at the vet hospital they would lie by her bed from tiem to time. I really think they knew she had passed and wasn't just away from the house.

We also had 4 horses. When I had to put my oldest mare down, my other mare who had been with her for 10 years, yelled and looked for her for days. It was very sad.

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by ladyj

Even if it is morbid, it works, and my family has instructions that if something should happen to me, my dogs are to be allowed to see and smell me so they will know what happened and where I am and not look for me. They do understand a lot more than we know and they certainly understand death. When one of my dogs dies, I will see to it that the others see and smell it so they will know. A friend's husband died and their little dog was very traumatized because he couldn't find the man. My friend took the dog to the funeral home and allowed it to see and smell her husband's body as long as the dog wanted to. It didn't take long, just a few minutes, and the dog was satisfied and went back home and didn't look for the man any more. The dog did grieve, but didn't search. This is a simple thing we can do for our pets and their comfort.

I wish I had done that with my mother's little dog. It was heartbreaking...if our hearts could be broken any further.

[kdlmon]

I had a yorkie for 17 years that we finally put down when I was in my early twenties. Our German Sheppard was very close to our yorkie and she definitely mourned. She was very confused for awhile and we made sure to keep a close eye on her. She eventually she stopped looking for him, but it was very sad.

[yorkie mom-3]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

After losing pets and not doing this....when we lose a pet now, we allow the surviving animals to smell the body. I know it sounds morbid, but truly I think they understand than when we didn't do this. Let me say...I have always had multiple cats not dogs. The surviving cats would always look for their friend....mewing and crying...until I decided perhaps they would understand if I allowed them to smell the body. Since then we have not experienced the mewing, crying or looking. I do give them extra attention afterward.

We recently lost another cat...I allowed Ramsey and Reese to smell him too.

If one of my yorkies was to pass...I'd say I'd do the above, lavish attention on the surviver and play hard...so perhaps he wouldn't miss his companion quite so much.

PS I know that smelling thing...sounds me sound whacked. It's okay if you think it...I do myself.

I agree, I have done this with our dogs who have passed and also when I have lost horses. I really think it gives them some kind of closure and I know they grieve in their own way.

[SladesMommy]

Just last March I had to take my childhood dog, a Bichon in to be PTS. She was 20 so she had a nice long life, but it was still very sad. Because she was so much older than the other dogs in the house (who were 4 and 3 at the time) and rarely did much else but sleep, Poppy spent most of her time in mom's bedroom. The other dogs knew she was in there, and would occassionally (once a week or so) go in to see her, but I wouldn't really call them attached.

When she passed, Laney and Schatzie would just mope around and look for her. Laney would look for her under the bed, in the bathroom, etc then just lay on the rug, look depressed and "cry". Schatzie did the same thing. It was heartbreaking. I guess they both had their own special bond with her.

It was probably a month or two before they stopped looking for her.

[Proud Mommy]

After Zeke was taken, Cassie, my German Shepherd crawled behind a chair she didn't really fit behind and stayed there for a long time. She walked around calling him for weeks and she carried his elephant around in her mouth. If she gets any other plush toy she tears it up but she NEVER chewed on his elephant. I still keep all of his stuff out (he will come home some day ) and she will sometimes lay in his bed, well the part of her that fits anyway. They were best friends

[lovmyyorkie]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

After losing pets and not doing this....when we lose a pet now, we allow the surviving animals to smell the body. I know it sounds morbid, but truly I think they understand than when we didn't do this. Let me say...I have always had multiple cats not dogs. The surviving cats would always look for their friend....mewing and crying...until I decided perhaps they would understand if I allowed them to smell the body. Since then we have not experienced the mewing, crying or looking. I do give them extra attention afterward.

We recently lost another cat...I allowed Ramsey and Reese to smell him too.

If one of my yorkies was to pass...I'd say I'd do the above, lavish attention on the surviver and play hard...so perhaps he wouldn't miss his companion quite so much.

PS I know that smelling thing...sounds me sound whacked. It's okay if you think it...I do myself.

Your very right!!!.....over 10 yrs ago I had 2 Shizu's (spell??) the oldest female died at 8yrs at the vets during surgery. One month later I got home late from shopping and while unloading the car the younger female snuck out, I didn't notice cause she always slept with my mom. The next morning I notice she was gone, we never found her.

Years later I told that story to my now vet and he told me she had snuck out looking for her sister, that I should have let her smell the dead body.

I never knew that.... in one month I lost my 2 girls and it took me about 3 yrs before I could get another dog again.

[ladyj]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

I wish I had done that with my mother's little dog. It was heartbreaking...if our hearts could be broken any further.

My mother's little dog was with her when she died and he never looked for her. He did grieve, but he was fine in a while. They do understand death and the finality of it.

[Tiggerwit]

We had to put Abby to sleep this weekend, it was very hard. Usually when Abby would leave the house without Alphy he would howl like nothing crazy, but he hasn't done so this time. Although he seems sad and grieving he's not really looking for her. Its like he knows. We found Abby Friday in a full seizure on the couch when we came home. I think she had been there awhile and Alphy witnessed it. We rushed her to the vet and someone stayed with Alphy and took care of him. Abby didn't get to come back. (short story is it was cancer). I'm worried for Alphy because I don't think he's ever been an only dog. I got him from lksdolls so he's had a ton of furbabies to play with and then Abby. Getting another dog is just not an option now.

I hope he'll be okay. I'm going to take him to work with me for at least the first week. I did leave him at home for a few hours and he was pretty wound up, he's never been left alone like that. Bit of anxiety going on. I had left the TV on too, but I think he was a bit scared or something.

Thanks for all your guys comments, it's been really hard for me.

[lilbumbleybees]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

After losing pets and not doing this....when we lose a pet now, we allow the surviving animals to smell the body. I know it sounds morbid, but truly I think they understand than when we didn't do this.

PS I know that smelling thing...sounds me sound whacked. It's okay if you think it...I do myself.

Actually, a lot of vets and trainers suggest this be done. It does help them to understand what has happened to their friend, rather than them wondering why they just vanished with no explanation. It sounds crazy and strange, but it makes a whole lot of sense.

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by Tiggerwit

We had to put Abby to sleep this weekend, it was very hard. Usually when Abby would leave the house without Alphy he would howl like nothing crazy, but he hasn't done so this time. Although he seems sad and grieving he's not really looking for her. Its like he knows. We found Abby Friday in a full seizure on the couch when we came home. I think she had been there awhile and Alphy witnessed it. We rushed her to the vet and someone stayed with Alphy and took care of him. Abby didn't get to come back. (short story is it was cancer). I'm worried for Alphy because I don't think he's ever been an only dog. I got him from lksdolls so he's had a ton of furbabies to play with and then Abby. Getting another dog is just not an option now.

I hope he'll be okay. I'm going to take him to work with me for at least the first week. I did leave him at home for a few hours and he was pretty wound up, he's never been left alone like that. Bit of anxiety going on. I had left the TV on too, but I think he was a bit scared or something.

Thanks for all your guys comments, it's been really hard for me.

I am very sorry about Abby. The cat I spoke of losing recently....was put to sleep. It breaks your heart. We brought him home afterward, but I understand not being able to do that.

I think you're right about Alphy...he's never been alone. Poor baby. Would it be possible to go to work all the time...instead of just this week? I only ask because it seems like putting off the inevitable if not....there's next week. Or perhaps taking him to work in the am but taking him home at lunch...at least so it's not a full 8 or more hours alone... more gradual approach if possible. I do think Alphy will adjust..it'll just take some time.

[Tiggerwit]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

I am very sorry about Abby. The cat I spoke of losing recently....was put to sleep. It breaks your heart. We brought him home afterward, but I understand not being able to do that.

I think you're right about Alphy...he's never been alone. Poor baby. Would it be possible to go to work all the time...instead of just this week? I only ask because it seems like putting off the inevitable if not....there's next week. Or perhaps taking him to work in the am but taking him home at lunch...at least so it's not a full 8 or more hours alone... more gradual approach if possible. I do think Alphy will adjust..it'll just take some time.

Yes, I should be able to bring him as often as necessary.