Study Shows That Losing A Dog Can Be As Difficult As Losing A Family Member

They are part of the family!

Stephanie

• Published in Animals
• June 17, 2019

If you've ever owned a dog, you'll agree that they are much more than just a pet - they are part of the family.

That is one of the reasons it is so heartbreaking when we lose them. When a beloved pet passes away, whether it's as a result of an illness or accident, or perhaps old age, it can be extremely difficult to deal with.

There will always be people who will tell you it's "just a dog," and to just "get over it." But those people don't understand that the loss of a pet is not dissimilar to the loss of a human family member.

In fact, a study has shown that the grief we go through after losing a pet is extremely real.

For some people, it can even be more difficult to overcome the loss of a pet than it can to overcome the loss of a human.

As people, we tend to bond with animals in the same way we bond with other humans, releasing hormones and chemicals in our brains as we bond and connect. So it's no surprise that we feel a profound loss when an animal we have formed such a deep connection with is lost.

There is no "acceptable" way to mourn that loss, just as there is no acceptable way to mourn the loss of a human.

When we lose a human loved one, there are many different resources available to help with the grief process. We are surrounded by others feeling the same loss, and we are able to seek out grief counselling or therapy if needed.

However, the same support isn't always available when dealing with the loss of a pet. We are expected to just "move on."

Psychologist, Julie Axelrod says that when a pet is lost, we are also losing a source of comfort and love. That is a huge loss.

Losing a pet also leads to changes in daily routine, and therefore can be disruptive in ways we may not have even considered before.

An additional mental struggle may also be if we are faced with the decision to put an end to our pets suffering. If the decision to put the animal to sleep was made, we can struggle with feeling like maybe there was more we could have done, or perhaps it wasn't the right decision in the end.

No matter what the circumstance, losing a pet is difficult and heartbreaking. Even science says so.

Stephanie