Young Lurcher Stopped Eating After Oldie Dies

[Caravan Monster 323]

Not my dogs, but asking for a mate who doesn't use the web.

 

13 year old lurcher pts after she went down hill very quickly. The other dog in the house is a 12 month old bitch, mostly whippet / greyhound type. She is a normal, healthy, well adjusted youngster. Busy family home, the dog beds in quiet place in the utility room, but the youngster generally prefers to hang around with whoever is in the house.

 

The old dog died a couple of days ago. Since then, the youngster has stopped eating. She is otherwise her normal boisterous self, charging around and playing with other dogs. Dogs are fed very well in that house - lots of variety and no expense spared.

 

I can only think that the youngster is upset at the disappearance of the old dog and suffering more mental turmoil than she is showing. Or else, for the first time in her life, there is no competition for food, so she can take her time about eating and hasn't got really hungry yet.

 

Anyone encountered similar, or got any ideas on how to get the youngster eating again ?

[bird 10,014]

Not my dogs, but asking for a mate who doesn't use the web.

 

13 year old lurcher pts after she went down hill very quickly. The other dog in the house is a 12 month old bitch, mostly whippet / greyhound type. She is a normal, healthy, well adjusted youngster. Busy family home, the dog beds in quiet place in the utility room, but the youngster generally prefers to hang around with whoever is in the house.

 

The old dog died a couple of days ago. Since then, the youngster has stopped eating. She is otherwise her normal boisterous self, charging around and playing with other dogs. Dogs are fed very well in that house - lots of variety and no expense spared.

 

I can only think that the youngster is upset at the disappearance of the old dog and suffering more mental turmoil than she is showing. Or else, for the first time in her life, there is no competition for food, so she can take her time about eating and hasn't got really hungry yet.

 

Anyone encountered similar, or got any ideas on how to get the youngster eating again ?

well what you said, covers about everything . if the young dog was with the old dog 24/7 then it will take hell of a while to settle on its own. why not put her in with one of the other dogs, as you say she gets on well with them, and some running dogs can be picky eaters anyway. Dogs are pack animals , and really shows with things like this. ive got 2 dogs a 1x colliex grey and 1x gsd x grey both out side in twin kennel , the young dog Buck as bonded 100% to Bryn my older dog. and ive some times my self thought what will happen when Bryn dies, he 8 year old Buck 3, I will prob get another lurcher pup and kennel it with him when that time comes, 2 as easy to keep a one I think, and like this post there deff company for each other let me know how you get on pm if you want . Ray

[Caravan Monster 323]

Thanks Bird, my mate doesn't have any other dogs, his bitch has been playing with dogs they meet whilst out and about. Unfortunately, I don't have a dog myself at the minute. If I did, I would have suggested lending it to them in the hope of the getting the youngster's spirits back up. I think what you are saying is right. In fact, someone else who owns lurchers related to this one was saying how they do suffer when one of the 'pack' dies.

[Casso 1,261]

Not my dogs, but asking for a mate who doesn't use the web.

 

13 year old lurcher pts after she went down hill very quickly. The other dog in the house is a 12 month old bitch, mostly whippet / greyhound type. She is a normal, healthy, well adjusted youngster. Busy family home, the dog beds in quiet place in the utility room, but the youngster generally prefers to hang around with whoever is in the house.

 

The old dog died a couple of days ago. Since then, the youngster has stopped eating. She is otherwise her normal boisterous self, charging around and playing with other dogs. Dogs are fed very well in that house - lots of variety and no expense spared.

 

I can only think that the youngster is upset at the disappearance of the old dog and suffering more mental turmoil than she is showing. Or else, for the first time in her life, there is no competition for food, so she can take her time about eating and hasn't got really hungry yet.

 

 

Anyone encountered similar, or got any ideas on how to get the youngster eating again ?

When dogs live in the same area together a house or a kennel , each become part of the whole, that is to say they find they're own niche to fit into a stable unit , it's how it has to be for the group to get on together , what one want the other don't care about, one will be more reactive to certain things than the other

 

Temperment decides which is more outgoing and who wants what more , they don't consciously decide this, it's how nature promotes harmony and enhances sociability

 

So for the dog that's left there's a dramatic change to over come it may seem like it's grieving but for the dog that's left it now has to format how it addresses it's environment , in other words it has to become the whole,

I would expect more expressions of unlikely behavior before it settles back before it addresses it new role

It now has to go from the half to the full if ya get my drift

Edited January 23, 2016 by Casso

[stealthy1 3,964]

Three years ago I lost me 12 year old GSD, my lurcher bitch was around 3 and a half years old, I took the GSD to the vets to have him put down, cancer tumors. Never thought any thing of it. But my lurcher did, she went of her food, wouldn't go up the garden for a piss, and even turned her nose up at roast chicken. Took around 3 weeks for her to start to get over it. I even went and bought another GSD dog pup, and as soon as she saw it she ragged him, he was only 7 weeks old. The get on now, but those early days proved that dogs mourn other dogs, not all dogs do, but the one's that do seem to take it hard.

[bird 10,014]

Thanks Bird, my mate doesn't have any other dogs, his bitch has been playing with dogs they meet whilst out and about. Unfortunately, I don't have a dog myself at the minute. If I did, I would have suggested lending it to them in the hope of the getting the youngster's spirits back up. I think what you are saying is right. In fact, someone else who owns lurchers related to this one was saying how they do suffer when one of the 'pack' dies.

[Caravan Monster 323]

They were on about getting another puppy, so I'll pass on the advice that it's probably best avoided for the time being. I just hope as the hunger kicks in she'll start eating again.

[Caravan Monster 323]

To follow up, the bitch in question is doing much better now. I watched her have a couple of runs last night, and although no catches, she did great, handled fences and the terrain nicely and coming straight back when the lamp went off. None of the messing around you might expect from a youngster. She's eating fine now and in good shape again