Grief and Depression in pets
Many people will tell you that animals (wild and our companion pets) do not experience emotions as we do.
"It is noteworthy that no neurotransmitter or neuromodulator has been discovered in humans that is qualitatively different from those found in other mammals. In fact, all mammals share remarkably similar anatomical distributions of most neurochemical systems within their brains." Jaak Panskeep
Scientists have been able to elicit clear responses from seven different systems within the brain.
They are:
SEEKING (anticipation, desire)
RAGE (frustration, body surface irritation, restraint, indignation)
FEAR (pain, threat, foreboding)
PANIC/LOSS (separation distress, social loss, grief, loneliness)
PLAY (rough-and tumble carefree play, joy)
MATING (copulation—who and when)
CARE (maternal nurturance)
(Koch, n.d.)
This article is going to talk about the emotion of PANIC/LOSS and in particular the social loss, grief and loneliness.
It is not uncommon when a family member (be that human, or pet) passes away or even moves away that the remaining companion pet begins to suffer and may present with withdrawal from people and other social activities, from activities that were previously enjoyed such as games, walks, and brushing, and changes in appetite. Your pet may also have changes in weight (weight loss from reduced appetite, weight gain from reduced social & physical interactions). You may also have a pet that is now restless and unable to sleep, and may vocalise differently (often excessively).
You may find, particularly with cats, they also can reduce grooming resulting in an unkempt appearance, or increase grooming to the point of fur loss.
Some pets may also show signs of gastrointestinal distress and include things such as diarrhoea, possibly with blood, straining and mucous in the stool.
First you should rule out an underlying medical cause.
It may seem obvious to you that the cause for your pets change in behaviour is related to the loss of a human/companion pet, however, it would be terrible to overlook something that has a physical cause such as disease.
Often many of the above symptoms can present in pets that are suffering from an underlying illness, and this may be something that could easily be treatable. Things to consider include infectious diseases, hormone disorders, renal or hepatic diseases and in some cases neoplasia. In Koffi’s cancer - Haemangiosarcoma, often the first sign of the cancer, is sudden onset depression and lethargy (from an internal haemorrhage). In cases such as haemangiosarcoma with internal haemorrhage time is valuable if you are to attempt to save them from this episode.
What you can do to help:
Please do not force your pet to participate in things that they do not want to do. Encourage them to interact with you, reward with high value food or toys, and take your dog for a walk, only if it wants to go.
Allow plenty of time to sniff and take in the world.
If your pet is maintaining weight, do not be overly concerned in their lack of interest in food providing they are eating some, however, if your pet is not eating or is losing weight on their normal diet, feed the pet something that they would usually have found enticing prior to this emotional upset.
Feeding food warmed can also help as the olfactory component (smell) may help increase your pet’s interest in food.
If your dog enjoys walk and is keen to walk, take them allowing time to sniff and explore as well as having fun with you. Exercise can release endorphins known as happy hormones.
Work on basic skills and behaviours using force free and reward based techniques. This is for all species. Work on things they know well first, or keep things very simple if they haven’t had training before. Set them up to succeed, as success helps build confidence.
Use interactive food dispensing toys – such as Kongs, treat cones or even appropriate long lasting chews/bones. Licking and chewing also reduces stress and releases endorphins which may help your pet.
Other ideas:
Feeding supplements that contain PUFA [arachidonic acid (AA) omega-6 and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids may help with preventing the animal from worsening. These supplements help by combating inflammation and oxidative stress.
You could also use Tryptophan as a supplement (I use Paw Multi Vitamins with Tryptophan – made by Blackmores).
The recommended dose of tryptophan is 10-15mg/kg daily. If you are using this with your pet, please notify your vet if the pet is on medication that increases serotonin. If you are unsure, consult your veterinarian before starting this alternative medication.
Massage and T-Touch – calming, thoughtful strokes and touches may prove useful in reducing your pet’s depression.
Thundershirts or similar - provide comfort of a hug.
Classical music can be calming for both dogs and cats. I am unaware on studies on other pets at this stage.
Pheromones may also help.
For dogs I would use Dog Appeasing Pheromone, otherwise known as ADAPTIL. Please, buy the Adapitl products and not the cheaper Sentry product marketed as a similar product. The sentry product has significantly less active ingredient at 0.02% Pheromone compared to the Adaptil collars 5.0% Pheromone (The Adaptil collar is 250 x stronger than the cheaper Sentry Calming Collar). As such I feel it is unlikely to have the effect demonstrated by the Adaptil product. I use the Adaptil collars – these need to be fitted firmly as they are activated by body heat. However, Adaptil does also come as a spray and diffuser.
For cats, the recommend product is Feliway – this contains feline facial pheromone and is proven to help reduce stress in cats. Feliway comes as a spray and a diffuser.
In any case, the diffusers will only work well if the pet spends the majority of its time in the area with the diffuser and the area is not open plan or has draughts through it.
Make sure you spend time with your pet, just engaging, and having a quality time. This may be the time to do some simple grooming with a brush or grooming mitt. Especially if your cat has stopped grooming.
Time – please allow your pet some time to adjust. Just like us, we do not recover and continue on with our lives unchanged when we lose a significant family member, friend or pet. However, if your pet is not adjusting and improving within 2 weeks please consult your veterinarian. In some cases medications that reduce anxiety may be required.
If your pet has to be left alone:
Organise a family member, or friend to stop by and visit, or even a pet sitter. Make sure however that your pet finds this a positive experience, we don’t need to add to their stress.
Leave the pet with enrichment toys, a comfortable area to sleep (cats especially love warmed towels), music or a TV playing.
Use an App such as Bark'n Mad (only available on iOS) to monitor audio when you are away. You may hear vocalization, pacing, destruction etc., and will be able to use these recording to monitor your pet’s progress.
Considering another pet
Please only adopt another pet, if you are ready to do so, and if you truly think that is the best option for your current pet.
References
Anon, (2017). [online] Available at: http://www.fearfreepets.com/protected_documents/professional/fear%20free/drug%20charts/fear_free_
complementary_and_alternative_drug_chart.pdf [Accessed 27 Jan. 2017].
Diamond Davis, K. (2017). Grieving: When Your Dog Mourns the Loss of Another Dog - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!. [online] Veterinarypartner.com. Available at: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=1400 [Accessed 27 Jan. 2017].
Dube, M. and Zulch, H. (2012). Stress and Pheromonatherapy in Small Animal Clinical Behaviour. 1st ed. Wiley-Blackwell.
Grandin, T. and Johnson, C. (2009). Animals make us human. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Horwitz, D. and Mills, D. (2009). BSAVA manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine. 1st ed. Quedgeley, Gloucester [England]: British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Koch, S. (n.d.). Fear, rage, panic, maternal care, vigilance, seeking, play, and mating are hard-wired brain instincts.. [online] Mybrainnotes.com. Available at: http://www.mybrainnotes.com/fear-rage-panic.html [Accessed 27 Jan. 2017].
Overall, K. (2013). Manual of clinical behavioral medicine for dogs and cats. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
"It is noteworthy that no neurotransmitter or neuromodulator has been discovered in humans that is qualitatively different from those found in other mammals. In fact, all mammals share remarkably similar anatomical distributions of most neurochemical systems within their brains." Jaak Panskeep
Scientists have been able to elicit clear responses from seven different systems within the brain.
They are:
SEEKING (anticipation, desire)
RAGE (frustration, body surface irritation, restraint, indignation)
FEAR (pain, threat, foreboding)
PANIC/LOSS (separation distress, social loss, grief, loneliness)
PLAY (rough-and tumble carefree play, joy)
MATING (copulation—who and when)
CARE (maternal nurturance)
(Koch, n.d.)
This article is going to talk about the emotion of PANIC/LOSS and in particular the social loss, grief and loneliness.
It is not uncommon when a family member (be that human, or pet) passes away or even moves away that the remaining companion pet begins to suffer and may present with withdrawal from people and other social activities, from activities that were previously enjoyed such as games, walks, and brushing, and changes in appetite. Your pet may also have changes in weight (weight loss from reduced appetite, weight gain from reduced social & physical interactions). You may also have a pet that is now restless and unable to sleep, and may vocalise differently (often excessively).
You may find, particularly with cats, they also can reduce grooming resulting in an unkempt appearance, or increase grooming to the point of fur loss.
Some pets may also show signs of gastrointestinal distress and include things such as diarrhoea, possibly with blood, straining and mucous in the stool.
First you should rule out an underlying medical cause.
It may seem obvious to you that the cause for your pets change in behaviour is related to the loss of a human/companion pet, however, it would be terrible to overlook something that has a physical cause such as disease.
Often many of the above symptoms can present in pets that are suffering from an underlying illness, and this may be something that could easily be treatable. Things to consider include infectious diseases, hormone disorders, renal or hepatic diseases and in some cases neoplasia. In Koffi’s cancer - Haemangiosarcoma, often the first sign of the cancer, is sudden onset depression and lethargy (from an internal haemorrhage). In cases such as haemangiosarcoma with internal haemorrhage time is valuable if you are to attempt to save them from this episode.
What you can do to help:
Please do not force your pet to participate in things that they do not want to do. Encourage them to interact with you, reward with high value food or toys, and take your dog for a walk, only if it wants to go.
Allow plenty of time to sniff and take in the world.
If your pet is maintaining weight, do not be overly concerned in their lack of interest in food providing they are eating some, however, if your pet is not eating or is losing weight on their normal diet, feed the pet something that they would usually have found enticing prior to this emotional upset.
Feeding food warmed can also help as the olfactory component (smell) may help increase your pet’s interest in food.
If your dog enjoys walk and is keen to walk, take them allowing time to sniff and explore as well as having fun with you. Exercise can release endorphins known as happy hormones.
Work on basic skills and behaviours using force free and reward based techniques. This is for all species. Work on things they know well first, or keep things very simple if they haven’t had training before. Set them up to succeed, as success helps build confidence.
Use interactive food dispensing toys – such as Kongs, treat cones or even appropriate long lasting chews/bones. Licking and chewing also reduces stress and releases endorphins which may help your pet.
Other ideas:
Feeding supplements that contain PUFA [arachidonic acid (AA) omega-6 and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids may help with preventing the animal from worsening. These supplements help by combating inflammation and oxidative stress.
You could also use Tryptophan as a supplement (I use Paw Multi Vitamins with Tryptophan – made by Blackmores).
The recommended dose of tryptophan is 10-15mg/kg daily. If you are using this with your pet, please notify your vet if the pet is on medication that increases serotonin. If you are unsure, consult your veterinarian before starting this alternative medication.
Massage and T-Touch – calming, thoughtful strokes and touches may prove useful in reducing your pet’s depression.
Thundershirts or similar - provide comfort of a hug.
Classical music can be calming for both dogs and cats. I am unaware on studies on other pets at this stage.
Pheromones may also help.
For dogs I would use Dog Appeasing Pheromone, otherwise known as ADAPTIL. Please, buy the Adapitl products and not the cheaper Sentry product marketed as a similar product. The sentry product has significantly less active ingredient at 0.02% Pheromone compared to the Adaptil collars 5.0% Pheromone (The Adaptil collar is 250 x stronger than the cheaper Sentry Calming Collar). As such I feel it is unlikely to have the effect demonstrated by the Adaptil product. I use the Adaptil collars – these need to be fitted firmly as they are activated by body heat. However, Adaptil does also come as a spray and diffuser.
For cats, the recommend product is Feliway – this contains feline facial pheromone and is proven to help reduce stress in cats. Feliway comes as a spray and a diffuser.
In any case, the diffusers will only work well if the pet spends the majority of its time in the area with the diffuser and the area is not open plan or has draughts through it.
Make sure you spend time with your pet, just engaging, and having a quality time. This may be the time to do some simple grooming with a brush or grooming mitt. Especially if your cat has stopped grooming.
Time – please allow your pet some time to adjust. Just like us, we do not recover and continue on with our lives unchanged when we lose a significant family member, friend or pet. However, if your pet is not adjusting and improving within 2 weeks please consult your veterinarian. In some cases medications that reduce anxiety may be required.
If your pet has to be left alone:
Organise a family member, or friend to stop by and visit, or even a pet sitter. Make sure however that your pet finds this a positive experience, we don’t need to add to their stress.
Leave the pet with enrichment toys, a comfortable area to sleep (cats especially love warmed towels), music or a TV playing.
Use an App such as Bark'n Mad (only available on iOS) to monitor audio when you are away. You may hear vocalization, pacing, destruction etc., and will be able to use these recording to monitor your pet’s progress.
Considering another pet
Please only adopt another pet, if you are ready to do so, and if you truly think that is the best option for your current pet.
References
Anon, (2017). [online] Available at: http://www.fearfreepets.com/protected_documents/professional/fear%20free/drug%20charts/fear_free_
complementary_and_alternative_drug_chart.pdf [Accessed 27 Jan. 2017].
Diamond Davis, K. (2017). Grieving: When Your Dog Mourns the Loss of Another Dog - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!. [online] Veterinarypartner.com. Available at: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=1400 [Accessed 27 Jan. 2017].
Dube, M. and Zulch, H. (2012). Stress and Pheromonatherapy in Small Animal Clinical Behaviour. 1st ed. Wiley-Blackwell.
Grandin, T. and Johnson, C. (2009). Animals make us human. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Horwitz, D. and Mills, D. (2009). BSAVA manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine. 1st ed. Quedgeley, Gloucester [England]: British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Koch, S. (n.d.). Fear, rage, panic, maternal care, vigilance, seeking, play, and mating are hard-wired brain instincts.. [online] Mybrainnotes.com. Available at: http://www.mybrainnotes.com/fear-rage-panic.html [Accessed 27 Jan. 2017].
Overall, K. (2013). Manual of clinical behavioral medicine for dogs and cats. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.