The other pets in the house
Bonded animals notice an absence, and what you do on the day shapes how the ones left behind adjust. The near-universal advice from home-visit vets: let them be part of it.
Updated August 2026
During the visit
Let calm resident pets stay in the room or wander through; home vets work around them happily. A boisterous dog who'd disrupt the sedation cuddles can wait in the yard; the moment that matters comes after.
The moment that matters: after
Vets consistently recommend letting other pets see and sniff their companion after death, if they choose to approach. It reads as morbid to us; to animals it appears to be information. Dogs typically sniff briefly and withdraw; cats may sit nearby a while. Animals given this moment tend to search less in the weeks after: the door-watching and room-checking that otherwise goes on for weeks seems to resolve sooner. None of it is guaranteed, but the moment costs nothing and vets see it help constantly. No animal should be forced to approach; offering is the whole job.
Not sure what to do next?
We'll match you with a home visit vet who covers your area and email you their introduction. Reply to it and they'll call you. There’s no cost to ask, and no obligation.
Grief in the weeks after
Expect some of: searching and waiting at doors, appetite dips, clinginess or withdrawal, vocalising (especially bonded cats), sleeping in the missing pet's spots. Keep routines rigid (walks, meals, bedtimes at the usual clock) and give attention when sought without manufacturing drama around the absence. Most animals re-stabilise in two to six weeks.
When to call a vet about a grieving pet
A dog or cat who refuses food beyond a day or two, or whose withdrawal deepens rather than lifts after a fortnight, deserves a check. Grief can unmask illness, and appetite failure in cats is dangerous in itself. A home visit keeps the assessment low-stress.
The "replacement" question
Not yet: that's the usual honest answer. A new animal arriving while the household (human and animal) is still raw tends to land badly. Let the grief settle first; the remaining pets will tell you, in their behaviour, when the house feels stable again.
Planning a home goodbye?
Mention your other pets in the enquiry. Vets will happily plan the visit around the whole household.