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My dog is depressed and won't eat because we recently lost a family pet.
What can we do? Would a new puppy help??
First off, you should make sure your dog's lack of eating isn't related to
(or causing) a serious physical problem. Please make an appointment with
your veterinarian for an examination and some bloodwork, to rule out any
other potential causes of your dog's anorexia.
You should only get a puppy if you want a puppy. Your
bereaved dog may very well not like the noise and chaos that a new puppy
will bring to the household. If you want to adopt a new dog, you might want
to consider getting an older, adult animal. A quieter, more mature companion
might be more reassuring to your dog. But remember, regardless of the new
dog's age, it won't be an instant replacement for your pet's lost companion.
In fact, for some dogs, a stranger in the house will only make the situation
worse. Your dog may or may not adjust to and bond to a new friend; it
depends on his personality.
Whether or not you get a new companion for your dog,
he's probably going to need some time to adjust to life without his old
friend. You can help him by keeping as many things the same as possible.
Give him routine walks and feedings and keep his old, familiar toys and
blankets around. And be sure to give him a little extra attention and love.
If he's still not eating, you can get him started by tempting him with some
extra-yummy canned food or treats, but don't let him eat them for too long.
If days go by and he continues to resist even the tempting treats, it's time
to enlist your veterinarian's help.
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