Can pet loss be traumatic?
The loss of a beloved pet can indeed be a traumatic experience. The grief evoked by the death of a pet has been found to be comparable to the grief experienced after the death of a person. Observably, “the loss of a pet is comparable to that shown for human loss in terms of psychological impact”. The depth of attachment and connection humans feel toward their pets often mirrors the bonds between people. For some individuals, losing a pet may be a more significant predictor of psychological distress than losing one's home. When a pet is considered a close family member or companion, the loss can be devastating and complex for human survivors.
Specific circumstances can heighten the traumatic experience. Forced abandonment during an evacuation, such as during Hurricane Katrina, added considerably to the acute trauma. This ambiguous pet loss event led to both short-term (acute stress, peri-traumatic dissociation) and long-term psychological responses (increased symptoms of depression and PTSD) for survivors.
"This suggests that forced abandonment of a companion animal during an evacuation adds considerably to the acute trauma, thereby increasing the risk of long-term PTSD" (Hunt et al., 2008).
Similarly, experiencing a sudden death of a pet can be a predictor of anger-related grief.
However, the risk of pathological disruption following the death of a pet/animal generally appears to be relatively low (less than 5%).
Can pet loss cause depression?
Yes, pet loss is linked to depressive symptoms. Research indicates that the severity of grief following the death of a pet can be a risk factor for depression.
In a population that had recently lost a pet, the prevalence of symptoms of depression was found to be three times greater than in a normal population. Among those who experienced pet loss, especially in the context of a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina, higher levels of depressive symptoms were reported compared to those who did not lose their pets. In a study of pet loss survivors:
"more than half of the respondents self-reported scores on the PHQ-9 indicating major depressive disorder, 40% reported experiencing moderate to severe anxiety on the GAD-7, and 32% reported experiencing moderate to severe insomnia" (Ahn et al., 2023).
This highlights that pet loss can cause significant psychological stress, leading to depression.
The impact of pet loss on depressive symptoms appears to be independent of acute stress and dissociation, suggesting that the actual absence of the pet contributes to the severity of depressive symptoms, not just the acute trauma of the loss event. For those with a history of childhood trauma, pet loss can lead to significantly higher scores on depression measures compared to those without trauma, particularly within the first year following the loss.
Can pet loss cause anxiety?
Pet loss can be associated with anxiety symptoms. Studies have found that complicated grief (CG) expresses significantly higher levels of anxiety.
Among a sample of adults who had experienced pet loss, 40% exceeded the cutoff score for moderate to severe anxiety. A significant link has been found between how society responds to the grieving individual and their mental health outcomes.
"Their disenfranchised grief through social constraints has been shown to impact the bereaved in tangible ways, with poorer outcomes experienced in rates of anxiety, depression, somatization, and functional impairment" (Cleary et al., 2021).
For individuals whose relationship with their deceased pet was characterized by anxious attachment (excessive worry about the pet), this was positively associated with sadness, depression, and anxiety after the pet's death. If individuals have a history of childhood trauma, they show significantly higher scores on generalized anxiety disorder measures in response to the loss of a pet than those without trauma.
Can pet loss cause PTSD?
Pet loss has been shown to be associated with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In one study of participants mourning an animal loss, a specific prevalence was reported: "We found that 3.8% of participants met the cutoff score for CG and 5.7% met the cutoff score for PTSD, following the death of a pet/animal" (Adrian & Stitt, 2017).
The risk of PTSD is particularly high when the pet loss is associated with acute trauma, such as forced abandonment during a natural disaste. Those who have high levels of anxious attachment to their deceased pets may also be more susceptible to trauma symptomology.
Additionally, experiencing the loss of a pet can act as a potential trigger for individuals with clinical and subclinical levels of PTSD if they have a history of prior trauma."The current study showed that anxiety and not avoidance in adult attachment styles specific to the pet relationship was positively related to the emotional adjustment measures of complicated grief and trauma symptoms" (Brown & Symons, 2016).
A significant relationship exists between complicated grief (CG) and PTSD, as individuals who met the criteria for CG often also met the criteria for PTSD, and vice versa.
References
- Adrian, J. A., Deliramich, A. N., & Frueh, B. C. (2009). Complicated grief and post-traumatic stress disorder in humans’ response to the death of pets/animals. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 73(3), 176–187.
- Adrian, J. A. L., & Stitt, A. (2017). Pet Loss, Complicated Grief, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Hawaii. Anthrozoös, 30(1), 123-133.
- Ahn, J., Lee, S. W., Kim, K., Jin, B., & Chung, U. S. (2023). The relationship between childhood trauma experience and complicated grief: The importance of psychological support for individuals coping with pet loss in Korea. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 38(34), e305.
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- Barnard-Nguyen, S., Breit, M., Anderson, K. A., & Nielsen, J. (2016). Pet loss and grief: Identifying at-risk pet owners during the euthanasia process. Anthrozoös, 29(3), 421–430.
- Brown, O. K., & Symons, D. K. (2016). “My pet has passed”: Relations of adult attachment styles and current feelings of grief and trauma after the event. Death Studies, 40(4), 247–255.
- Cleary, M., West, S., Thapa, D. K., West, M., Vesk, K., & Kornhaber, R. (2021). Grieving the loss of a pet: A qualitative systematic review. Death Studies. [Advance online publication]
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- Hunt, M., Al-Awadi, H., & Johnson, M. (2008). Psychological sequelae of pet loss following Hurricane Katrina. Anthrozoös, 21(2), 109–121.
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- Wrobel, T. A., & Dye, A. L. (2003). Grieving pet death: Normative, gender, and attachment issues. OMEGA–Journal of Death and Dying, 47(4), 385–393.