Dog pining away - help!

[COOKERMAN]

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Hello

We got Pilgrim and Shadow, 2 cross collie's, from a rescue centre in December 2004. They were sisters. They were real scamps, doing absolutely everything together. Horribly, Pilgrim died on December 18 2015 at the vets.

Since then, Shadow has gone downhill. She has not eaten properly since her sister died. It has gradually gone worse over the last 4 weeks, to the extent that after refusing dog food, she was then refusing beef, lamb, chicken, ham, fish of varying types almost everything. Until today, she was occasionally eating some dog treats but now she is refusing them.

We did take her to the vets a couple of weeks ago and he said to give her a couple of months to try to get over it but we can't just let her go downhill like this. If anybody has any experience of this, or any advice, it would be so appreciated.

Thanks for any help at all

John

 

[JoanneF]

This is so sad. If anyone ever doubted that animals experience love, this surely prooves they do. I hope someone with more knowledge than me posts shortly, but I am guessing that like humans, it will take time for her to heal emotionally. But more urgently you may want to go back to the vet to see about her not eating. I know some people think dogs will eat when they get hungry but you don't want her to get ill. I hope she learns to enjoy life again after her sad bereavement.

 

[gypsysmum]

Lost previous post so hope this is not a duplicate.

I, too, would get a vet check up. They may be able to stimulate her appetite at least.

You could try lifting her spirits by encouraging the least little spark she shows of enjoying life again. Keep your demeanour around her as upbeat as you can even if you, too, feel sad at your loss. Try not to join in and reinforce her grief. Just let her be when she looks sad and wait for a sign that she is feeling a little better so that you can encourage that emotion in her.

Have you tried taking her on different walks? Playing different games? Jus things like sniffing out cheese or finding a favourite or new toy might lift her a little.

Dogs will pick up our anxiety over food. If we try to tempt them they pick up our emotions. Much better to keep it happy and bright around food. Try her, if she refuses then stay positive and try again later. the more you try the more anxious she will get. Anxiety kills appetite. Perhaps let her have some left overs from your table for a while? Try really smelly things like pilchards? Cat food sometimes works. The vet's often keep an invalid diet in stock that lots of dogs find irresistible.

If she continues to pine then calling in a behaviourist from either COAPE or the APBC might be a good idea. There is something called Practical Diet Manipulation that lifts the serotonin levels in the brain and makes life more enjoyable. It may be that they recommend it or other solutions to help her.

I do hope she picks up soon.

 

[COOKERMAN]

Thank you both for your replies.

Yes, we've tried taking her on different walks and playing with her. We've tried being upbeat and even made her sit for food (she knows she is going to get something special to eat when we make her sit!!). We've tried cooking her a rump steak of her own (cut up) but she refused. When she's out and about she's OK but when we get back home, the familiar smells etc. take over. We know she's hungry - each time we go to the pet food cupboard she is there looking and generally sniffing. But as soon as we put anything to her mouth she turns away.

She is still, after 4 weeks, looking for her sister. Each time she goes outside she gives a calling bark and when she doesn't get a reply she wanders around the garden looking behind trees and bushes etc.

Looks like another trip to the vets to see what he can do.

Thank you again for your trouble.

Regards

John

 

[JoanneF]

I know it's too late for this for Shadow but in case anyone reading this has to face this in future, I have heard it's a good idea to allow a dog to visit the body when a companion dies. It seems to help them understand she isn't coming back. I do hope she feels better soon, please let us know.

 

[COOKERMAN]

Hi

We asked our vet whether Shadow should see Pilgrim. He advised that she shouldn't. Seems there are some vets that say they should and some that say not.

I think, God forbid it ever has to happen again, that we would if faced with it.

Thanks again

John

PS. Finally, this afternoon, Shaddow ate something. She decided that she would eat 4 packets of spaghetti cheese that we get in for the grandkids. Not a lot but its a start!!!!!

 

[JoanneF]

So relieved she has eaten. Good luck.

 

[gypsysmum]

Glad to hear she has eaten something.

Yes, seeing the body is better for the dog left behind Gives them closure.

They are all different in the way they grieve though. I worked in a vet's and we had a chap tell us that when the time for one of his littermate dogs to be put to sleep he would have the other one put to sleep too as he thought he would pine too much on his own. The time came but the vet would not put the healthy dog to sleep and asked me to ring the client up a few days later to see how things were. The owner was most put out to find that the second dog was actually happier now that he was a singleton!

 

[JoanneF]

How has Shadow been this week?