Stress

[Carlina]

My poor girl Emma is really stressed with Nana's passing just yesterday, she is pacing looking everywhere for her buddy. Nana was here when we rescued Emma and they have been together for 5 years. She wants to be outside on her own and really does not want much to do with us. Bear is doing fine just trying to cheer us up bringing toys to us. Emma is eating and drinking but acting very strange. Last night she climbed into our bathtub which she has never done. I know we have been probably very upsetting to her by crying for the last two days and she does not know what is wrong with us. I do not want her to be so stressed about her friend Nana and us that she has a heart attack and pass. Do dogs ever die of a broken heart. Thanks for all your thoughts about Nana and Bob and I we really appreciate them.

 

[Murphy]

Don't have too much advise on poor Emma but I suspect like everyone, she will need time to get used to the loss. People who know more about this will chime in I'm sure.

I hope you are getting some rest and I have been thinking of you guys. My Mom and Adam send their condolences Jane, and some hugs. :icon_knuddel:

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Poor Emma. I'm so sorry about your Nana.

I don't have any answers for you, but I'm sure dogs need time to adjust to the loss as well. She's probably sensing what is wrong with you as well. Is there somewhere she really enjoys you can take her to play? A favorite park or something? Maybe that would help her relax and feel that things are ok, even if you're all missing Nana?

Hugs to you all!

 

[victoria1140]

perhaps some rescue remedy or valerian to ease her stress may help

 

[R Taft]

Tessa who was only young at the time was very distressed when we lost Zacky. She pined and even lay on his grave for weeks...But we did some fun stuff withher and tried to be happy around her, which did help. I agree withthe Rescue remedy, it might help. going for walks or drives might too. It is hard to put your own grieve aside to help the dog. And anyone who says dogs do not grieve, knows nothing about dogs...I know some do not, but those that do are really stressed.........Take care, Ronnie

 

[Lori]

When we lost Chelsea, Chance became a couch potato, just laid around. I know he was picking up on all of our grief, on top of his own. I tried to take him with me as many places as I could. He was with us when Chelsea left for the bridge, so I know he knew she was gone, but he still needed to grieve just as we did. It did take him some time.

 

[Newfs Forever]

I am firmly convinced that dogs grieve. Couple that with them knowing their mom and/or dad are grieving also.

They really are so in tune with us. I just wish I could be more in tune with them.

 

[MamaSu]

My heart goes out to you, so very sorry for your loss. I've been in that place, it is so hard. While it is very obvious that dogs grieve, they also can be 'somewhat' not totally, distracted a little easier than humans. I would like to pass on the best advice I was given. It's going to take some super human effort, but if you can, try to focus on giving Emma a brand new adventure of some type (a new outing, new toy, meeting a new friend's dog, hike to a new place, for just 15-30 minutes a day. You and Emma too can go back to grieving over Nana when you're done, as you surely will. But if you make that little effort each day soon Emma will start to look forward to it, and you both will start to find that there is just a little place for joy in amongst the sadness. I also did the journaling, but that didn't help much. It was mostly about making new joys where I never thought I could. I wish the same for you and Emma. Best wishes..

 

[new_2_newf]

I'm very sorry for your loss. I agree with a lot of the others, it really sounds like she's just grieving the loss as well. As long as she's eating and drinking, she'll be ok. I'm sure it is upsetting to see you all so upset, but that will get easier as well. Just give all of yourselves the time and space needed to go through that process. She'll come around.

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

It's so hard to watch them grieve too, as you are grieving. Gracie was lost when Angus died and later Maneen too. My vet advised me to keep an eye on her and let them know if she was going down too fast...not eating, etc. and in the meantime to try to occupy more of her time with fun things that she loved, as MamaSu suggests too. The day after he died I drove 2 hours to the ocean so she could swim. That was brutal because she was running in the surf and I was sobbing on the beach. We all got through it, and she definitely needed the extra attention. She became much quieter and reserved for a long time and surprisingly attached herself more to my boyfriend, who was missing his boy Newfs too. Best wishes.