Death of pet can be as painful as losing a family member, study finds

A Maynooth University survey of 975 UK adults found about 21% said a pet's death was the most distressing bereavement they had experienced, and 7.5% met the criteria for prolonged grief disorder after a pet's death; researchers say PGD is currently diagnosable only following human deaths and have called for further study of diagnostic criteria.

A Maynooth University study reports that the death of a pet can be as distressing as the death of a human for some people. Researchers surveyed 975 UK adults to compare reactions to different kinds of bereavement. They found that a notable minority experienced clinically significant grief after a pet's death. Study results: - The research sample included 975 UK adults surveyed about various bereavements. - About 21% of participants identified a pet's death as the most distressing bereavement they had experienced. - Following a pet's death, 7.5% of respondents met the diagnostic requirements for prolonged grief disorder (PGD); PGD was classified by the World Health Organization in 2018 and is currently diagnosed only after the death of a person. - Lead researcher Dr Philip Hyland has called for testing and consideration of whether PGD diagnostic criteria should be extended to include bereavement after pet deaths. Summary: The study indicates that pet loss can produce clinically significant grief for a subset of people. Researchers have proposed further examination of diagnostic rules for prolonged grief disorder in relation to pet bereavement; Undetermined at this time.