Starlight with Melissa, a young kitten
who was grieving the loss of her mother and siblings.
How do animals cope with grief?
Dear Friend,
Animals grieve when they lose a loved one, and they can grieve deeply.
They can experience the full range of emotions associated with the grieving process: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance.
Some animals recover quickly, while others can take a very long time to fully grieve.
How can you tell if your animal companion is grieving?
Changes such as those listed here may indicate that your animal friend is grieving the loss of a beloved animal or human companion:
1_ Refusing to eat; eating less, or eating more than usual.
2_ Demanding more attention.
3_ Refusing to interact, including hiding.
4_ Sleeping more than usual.
5_ Refusing to play.
6_ Increased vocalizing or increased volume of vocalizing.
7_ Sitting in the deceased animal's favorite spot.
Death of a loved one is not the only type of loss that can lead an animal to grieve. When a teen leaves for college, when an adult dies or moves out, when another animal is given to a new home . . . these and other losses can cause grieving as well.
When loss of a loved one occurs while other traumatic conditions are taking place, such as hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters, the level of stress can be overwhelming
WHAT TO DO?
1_ When there are multiple animals in the family and one dies, it helps the remaining animals to see the deceased's body. This reassures them that the "missing" animal wasn't given away or abandoned.
2_ When an animal or human companion was very sick or an animal had to be euthanized, the remaining animals need to know what happened, especially if they could not be present for the euthanasia or the human's death.
2_ Animal Communication gives the grieving animal an opportunity to share feelings, to talk about their viewpoint, to ask questions, and to receive emotional support.
3_ The Emotion Code™ helps by releasing emotions when someone it "stuck" in the grieving process.
4_ Appropriate flower essences can help everyone in the family who is grieving move through the grieving process.
Don't just assume that an animal is fine with the loss of a beloved friend or relative, as some are quite stoic and may be good at hiding or burying their feelings.
Making sure that you animal companions are coping with a loss is part of being a sensitive and loving friend.
Animals can be helped to move through their grief.
Namaste,
Nedda
