As a huge movie buff, one of my all-time favorite teen flicks being “Clueless” starring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, who later went on to “Friends” and other movies, and Brittarny Murphy. So last December, I was stunned by the news about Brittany Murphy’s sudden death. Canine Chiropractic
As they laid her to rest, following her funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, my heart went out to her mother and her husband, Simon Monjack. The 32-year old actress had a heart attack, which caused her death at their shared home with her husband in LA on December 20, 2009, as stated by the news reports.
As I clicked through her husband’s web site I saw breathtaking photos that Simon had taken of Brittany. Such a shame for someone so beautiful and talented to be taken from us too soon.
What truly broke my heart was when I learned of Brittany’s female Maltese named Clara aside from the tragic loss of her family and fans. Being an animal lover, I cried when I read online from people magazine’s web site that the dog was experiencing a change in behavior since Brittany’s death, according to Brittany’s husband.
Simon Monjack was quoted in People magazine, saying, “One of the saddest things is that Clara has looked everywhere for Brittany and can’t find her,” and “Clara, she looked in every place Brittany could be, she couldn’t understand why Brittany was not in bed or in the bathroom, and she looked in every inch of the house.” Identifying Clara as “a humongous personality in a tiny package,” Brittany named her after the silent film star Clara Bow. She’s more of a family member than a pet.
Though I had never really given much thought, this tragic turn of events make me wonder how pets react to their owner’s death. Do pets know how to mourn? If so, how do survivors handle the pet’s physical and emotional health during the mourning period?
Dr. Ava Frick, my pet’s veterinarian, is a pet behavior specialist. In fact, she has been using Alpha Stim technology treatments on one of my dogs due to problems with his excessive barking and showing aggression toward my other two dogs.
At our next appointment, Dr.Frick and I discussed Clara and pets’ ability to mourn. She said that undergoing a mourning period after the loss of a human or animal companion is common for a dog. The symptoms are actually exhibited for days or even weeks plus decreased appetite, lethargy, and changes in the dog’s behavior.
Keeping a dog on its normal routine is important in such cases, she said. As with humans who are going through issues, exercise can do wonders to relieve stress for pets. Being with familiar people, and even meeting a few new friendly faces, can boost the pet’s mood, as well.
It is a wise decision to seek for professional advice if the pet’s mourning period seems to continue longer than expected. Your veterinarian can identify Physiologic abnormalities, which might be contributing to the dog’s depression.
Complementary and alternative therapies like acupuncture, herbal supplements, and dietary modification are suitable for dogs who are mourning and experiencing depression. Pet Pain Relief
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