Pet Loss Triggers Same Grief as Losing a Loved One

Grieving a beloved pet isn't "just" sadness—it can trigger the same profound, lasting grief as losing a human loved one, according to new research that's changing how we understand bereavement.

A study published in PLOS One surveyed 975 adults in the United Kingdom and found that 7.5 percent of people who lost pets met the criteria for prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a serious mental health condition. That rate nearly matches the grief experienced after losing a close friend (7.8 percent) and isn't far behind losing a grandparent (8.3 percent), sibling (8.9 percent), or partner (9.1 percent).

Prolonged grief disorder goes beyond normal sadness. It includes intense longing for the deceased, emotional numbness, difficulty with daily tasks, and a feeling that part of yourself has died—symptoms that can persist for months or years.

The research revealed something even more striking: one in five people who had lost both a pet and a human said their pet's death was more distressing. Overall, researchers estimate that one in 12 cases of prolonged grief disorder in the UK stems from pet loss.

Right now, PGD can only be officially diagnosed following a human death. But Professor Philip Hyland from Maynooth University in Ireland, who led the study, argues that's leaving grieving pet owners without the mental health support they desperately need.

"There is nothing unique or special about how PGD symptoms are experienced in relation to a human bereavement," the study states. Excluding pet loss from diagnostic criteria isn't just scientifically wrong—it's callous, Hyland says.

The research also highlighted an additional burden pet owners face: shame. Many respondents reported feeling embarrassed about their grief and experienced isolation when expressing their pain over a pet's death.

Why This Inspires

This study does something powerful: it validates what millions of pet owners instinctively know but society often dismisses. When researchers take grief seriously—regardless of its source—they open doors to compassion and healing that were previously closed.

By recognizing that love is love and loss is loss, the mental health community can finally offer support to people suffering in silence. That recognition alone can be transformative for someone who's been told to "just get another dog" while their heart is breaking.

The findings represent a major step toward expanding our understanding of grief and ensuring nobody suffers alone simply because their loved one had four legs instead of two.