The Grieving Dog: What To Do When a Canine Sibling Dies
When a member of their pack passes away, the surviving sibling may need your support. photo: AdobeStock
Recently, I provided an at-home euthanasia for a 15-year-old Dalmatian, Fionna, who had lived with her brother, Finn, since birth. At the time, Fionna and Finn were both the equivalent of 89 in human years. Both had slowed down over the past year, but Fionna no longer could stand safely, and her body was deteriorating. She also had a touch of canine dementia.
With her quality of life diminishing rapidly, her loving guardians, Jim and Mike, did not want her to suffer and contacted me. As a last act of love for Fionna, we set up a home appointment so that both pet parents, their dog walker, and her sibling, Finn, could be present as we released her spirit together.
When I arrived, I listened to Fionna and Finn’s origin story. The siblings were found as strays in a Central Valley forest when they were young adults. Jim and Mike loved Dalmatians and, having lost their previous dogs the year before due to old age, they were alerted by a Dalmatian rescue group that this pair was available. It was love at first sight and the siblings soon became integrated into their new family.
Fionna and Finn were inseparable and enjoyed each other’s company throughout their lives. They were often found sleeping or playing together. They both had loving personalities and beautifully spotted coats.
Finn and Fiona photo: Dr. Ken Gorczyca
I was glad that we were able to provide Fionna a ceremonial ending at home with her pet parents and her brother Finn nearby to offer her support. After her final breath, we all sat silently in awe at this sacred moment.
We then started discussing how Finn might grieve this powerful loss. Dogs do grieve the loss of loved ones, whether they are human or animal companions. Many of us have heard stories of dogs who remained on their guardian’s gravesites, or the heartbreaking tale of Hachiko, the loyal dog who waited for nearly 10 years at Tokyo’s Shibuya train station in hopes that his dead master would return.
With Finn in mind, I decided to do some research about how animals might grieve the loss of a sibling or a member of a household pack, and how we can support them in this process. While dogs might not fully understand such an absence, studies do show that dogs may react to loss with emotional despair. A recent survey found that a substantial percentage of grieving canines demonstrated one or more of the following symptoms:
Increased pacing, panting, and howling (30%)
Lack of appetite (32 %)
Lethargy or insomnia (46% showed a decline in activity, while 35% slept more)
Attention seeking (67%).
Playing less (57%).
Increased fearfulness (35%)
Of those survey participants who noticed a negative behavior change in their surviving dog, about a third said it lasted between two and six months after the death of their companion. Another 29 percent said the change lasted less than two months, and 25 percent said it lasted over six months. The study also found that the amount of time the sibling dogs had spent together had no effect on the surviving dog’s likelihood of exhibiting negative behavior. A much stronger predictor, they found, was the quality of the dogs’ relationship. Dogs were far more likely to show grief symptoms if their relationship was described as friendly rather than mutually tolerant.
So how do we support a grieving canine sibling or member of the household pack? It will take time for your canine to process the change. Here are some ideas for helping them through it.
Let your dog say goodbye, if possible. Encourage the canine siblings to be present during the euthanasia, or afterwards.
Maintain your daily routines. Feed them, walk them, and maintain their regular schedule. This will help them feel more secure after a big life change.
Keep them distracted with activities. This may include playtime, dog walks, or playdates with anyone else who loves your dog.
Reintroduce daily training. This focused one-on-one activity will encourage your dog to feel happier. Even 10 minutes a day can help counter the stress of grief.
Talk to your veterinarian if your dog is really having difficulty coping. They may suggest remedies or even a prescription medication in some cases.
Since Fionna’s passing, I have followed up with Jim and Mike, and I’m happy to report that Finn is doing well with the extra attention and love they are providing. Saying goodbye is never easy, but death is a part of life for all of us. While dogs can’t use words to tell us about their grief, we can help them through that loss with the same care and kindness we’d want for ourselves.