My dog is grieving and won't eat after losing his friend. Help!

My condolences on the loss of your father. If you have an item that belonged to your dad, place it on Tuffy's bed or near him so he can get your dad's scent. You can try warming his food or mixing in a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate the appetite. Try to get him engaged using play and exercises. A walk outside or a ride in the car may help to distract him. Taking him to your father's gravesite may also be of benefit. It could take time as pets do grieve over loss. You may need to have him seen by your veterinarian for supportive care if he doesn't begin to eat or drink soon.

First off, I am sorry that you lost your other dog. It's always so hard to lose a beloved pet. Dogs do feel the loss of a companion, and will often seem down or depressed afterwards, and may go off their food. That being said, a month is a very long time for a dog to mourn, and him not eating for 4 days suggests there is something medically wrong with him. I would recommend taking him into your vet for a health check to see if there is something medically that is causing the anorexia. There are many potential causes which can be attributed to a dog not eating. For example, most diseases (including infectious, autoimmune, respiratory, gastrointestinal, bone, endocrine and neurological diseases) will cause a dog to avoid eating because of pain, obstruction, or other factors. Anorexia can also be due to a psychological problem, such as stress or changes in routine, environment or diet. I'd take Sammy into your vet as soon as possible for an exam. Again, I'm sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry you and Dolly had to say goodbye to beloved Pepper. You can try enticing Dolly with bland food (as long as she doesn’t have any food allergies to the following items) such as rice mixed with boiled chicken, scrambled egg whites, or boiled hamburger with the fat drained off. You can also try chicken flavored baby food (as long as there is no garlic or onion in the ingredients). You can increase her water intake by adding water to her food so she takes in water while eating too. If she is still not eating well I would recommend having her evaluated by your vet as it is important to remember that there are other causes for dogs to lose their appetite. Here is an article with other suggestions on how to help Dolly through her grief: https://www.petcoach.co/article/do-dogs-get-sad/ I am so sorry for your loss- my thoughts are with your family during this difficult time.

I am very sorry you lost your dog. Just as people, dog can and do get sad when their companions die. It is quite likely that Spike is not eating because he misses your other dog. And this can take quite a while. I suggest you take him for a lot of walks, give him lots of TLC and offer him his favorite food, maybe even warmed up. If he does not start eating after a few days you should take him to a vet who, after making sure there is no physical problem, can give him some medication to make him hungry, or feel less sad.

Hello, and thanks for your question. I'm sorry to hear that your older dog is likely nearing the end of her life, and it's great that you're thinking about Derek and how he may cope. In short, all dogs respond a little differently. Some go through a period of obvious mourning with a decreased appetite and lethargy, while others don't. Dogs are pretty resilient and flexible, and likely Derek will do ok, even if he needs some time to mourn and adjust to the changes without his buddy there. Just give him some extra love and attention, and provide some extra stimulation through bonding activities, such as play and walks. Usually within a week or two they start to adjust to the "new normal." Here's a link to some more information on helping a grieving pet: https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/09/19/helping-surviving-pet-deal-with-loss.aspx Or a book that might be helpful: From Sad to Glad: Helping Your Dog Survive a Loss by Phoebe Lauren I hope this helps. Hugs to you.

A decrease appetite and lethargy are common after the passing of a housemate as they go through a depression. The best thing is to have her checked by a vet to make sure there are no medical problems that can cause this and then they can add medication to help her handle the depression if needed. You can always try special food and treats such as boiled chicken and rice or chicken broth to the diet if she is just eating less to see if that encourages her more.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bean. I am sorry to hear about your recent loss. It sounds like Bean is grieving the loss as well. She should start acting more normal soon, but if her behavior persists she will need to see her veterinarian. If she is not anything, vomiting or displaying other abnormal signs, she should be seen soon. If her appetite is just decreased then you can give her another week or so. Be sure to encourage her to eat and drink as much as possible. You can try hand feeding her or adding warm water to her kibble. Sometimes warmed up canned food is enticing as well. Hope this information helps!