Pet owners are not alone in their grief, research reveals
For many of us, our pets are more than just companions - they're family members. And when that special bond is broken by a pet's untimely death, the pain can be almost indistinguishable from the loss of a loved one.
A new survey published in PLOS One has found that the grief over losing a beloved pet can be as prolonged and debilitating as that experienced after the death of a close friend or family member. In fact, 7.5% of those who lost their pets met the diagnostic criteria for prolonged grief disorder (PGD), with rates comparable to human losses like a sibling (8.9%) or partner (9.1%).
While many people may feel shame or embarrassment about expressing their emotions over a deceased pet, it seems that's largely unwarranted. The study's author, Professor Philip Hyland, notes that the symptoms of grief for a lost pet are identical to those experienced after losing a human loved one.
"This research presents consistent and compelling evidence that grief over a pet is no less legitimate," he said. "The fact that we're still excluded from PGD diagnoses based solely on being the owner of a non-human species is callous."
Currently, only those who have lost human family members can be diagnosed with PGD, but Professor Hyland argues that guidelines should be expanded to include pet owners as well.
"It's not just about scientific accuracy - it's also about compassion and understanding," he said. "The fact that we're treating the loss of a beloved pet as somehow less valuable than the loss of a human loved one is extraordinary."
The study found that 21.3% of those who lost parents experienced PGD, but only 11.2% of pet owners did. This disparity highlights just how much our emotional lives are tied to those we care for - whether two-legged or four-legged.
While the findings may not be surprising to many pet owners, they do underscore the importance of acknowledging and validating our emotions around animal loss. As Professor Hyland so eloquently put it: "The decision to exclude pet loss from PGD is not only scientifically misguided but also callous."
For many of us, our pets are more than just companions - they're family members. And when that special bond is broken by a pet's untimely death, the pain can be almost indistinguishable from the loss of a loved one.
A new survey published in PLOS One has found that the grief over losing a beloved pet can be as prolonged and debilitating as that experienced after the death of a close friend or family member. In fact, 7.5% of those who lost their pets met the diagnostic criteria for prolonged grief disorder (PGD), with rates comparable to human losses like a sibling (8.9%) or partner (9.1%).
While many people may feel shame or embarrassment about expressing their emotions over a deceased pet, it seems that's largely unwarranted. The study's author, Professor Philip Hyland, notes that the symptoms of grief for a lost pet are identical to those experienced after losing a human loved one.
"This research presents consistent and compelling evidence that grief over a pet is no less legitimate," he said. "The fact that we're still excluded from PGD diagnoses based solely on being the owner of a non-human species is callous."
Currently, only those who have lost human family members can be diagnosed with PGD, but Professor Hyland argues that guidelines should be expanded to include pet owners as well.
"It's not just about scientific accuracy - it's also about compassion and understanding," he said. "The fact that we're treating the loss of a beloved pet as somehow less valuable than the loss of a human loved one is extraordinary."
The study found that 21.3% of those who lost parents experienced PGD, but only 11.2% of pet owners did. This disparity highlights just how much our emotional lives are tied to those we care for - whether two-legged or four-legged.
While the findings may not be surprising to many pet owners, they do underscore the importance of acknowledging and validating our emotions around animal loss. As Professor Hyland so eloquently put it: "The decision to exclude pet loss from PGD is not only scientifically misguided but also callous."
. I've seen my friends go through such a tough time after losing their pets, and they always seem to get a lot of sympathy for being so upset 
My family has a cat that's almost 20 years old, and it would break my heart if anything happened to her 
. It's not like she's just a pet, she's part of the family 
. The fact that some people think losing a pet isn't as traumatic as losing a person is crazy 
. We need to acknowledge that our feelings about animal loss are real and deserve respect 
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, I mean we're finally getting some research that shows pet loss can be just as traumatic as losing a human loved one, but do the forum mods still ban threads about it? 
i swear sometimes i'll post something and get modded for expressing myself honestly... anyway back to this study, i think it's awesome that prof hyland is speaking out against the lack of recognition for pet loss - we need more compassion and understanding here. and can someone please explain why our emotions aren't valued just because they're not "human" related? 
I mean, pets are literally part of the family, right? It's crazy that we're still not considered legit enough to be diagnosed with prolonged grief disorder just because they're animals. The stats are wild too - 7.5% of pet owners experiencing PGD? That's almost as high as people who lost siblings or partners! I feel like it's time for us to stop feeling ashamed about our emotions and start valuing the bonds we have with our furry friends just as much as we do with humans 
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. I mean, think about it - we're already conditioned to treat our pets like part of the family, so when they pass away, it's no wonder we grieve just as hard. The stats are crazy, too - 7.5% of pet owners experience prolonged grief disorder? That's right up there with losing a sibling or partner 
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Did you know that the emotional impact of losing a pet is comparable to losing a close friend or family member? 
It's all about compassion and understanding, IMHO 
. We need to stop stigmatizing pet owners and start validating their emotions 