The minute your dog goes through that scary hemangiosarcoma diagnosis, the routine and the energy in your household shifts for everyone, and that definitely includes your other pets. One of the things you’ll probably wonder, while you try to balance your dog’s new needs and your old routine, is whether you need to pay extra attention to the interactions between your other little companions.
Here’s what to consider to help ensure a smooth transition for your sick dog and all the other animals in the house.
Do My Other Pets Know My Dog Is Sick?
The first question is always if your other pets know that your dog has cancer. The answer is, they probably do.
Dogs are known for being fantastic sniffers of several types of cancer in humans, and studies have also shown that cats can sense when other animals are unhealthy. Their heightened senses detect subtle changes in pheromones, hormones, and volatile organic compounds that signal illness. At the very least, they pick up the signs that something has changed. Animals can even recognize unique chemical signals called necromones that are present when another animal is dying.
They notice the obvious stuff, too: weakness, lethargy, and changes in habits, like eating or evacuation. Paired with the chemical signals coming off their body, these indicators may show other dogs that the pet is not well.
The degree to which dogs understand the concept of death is debatable, but they are experts in routine. They definitely know when something is different, and that shift away from normalcy is stressful in itself.
How Your Other Pets Might React
This shift in energy can sometimes make your other pets more dedicated to your sick dog, but it can also create extra stress on the rest of the pack. Animals are highly empathetic and often match our emotional states, taking on our stress and anxiety.
We know there’s a lot on your plate right now, but it’s important to keep an eye on your other animals. They communicate differently, and their signs can be very subtle. Here’s a full list of potential stress signals to look for:
- Being more cuddly with the sick pet and being more clingy for attention overall.
- Being completely indifferent to the sick dog.
- Being more tense, reactive, and looking to be on its own. For a reactive animal, this can mean the situation is too overwhelming.
- Other classic signs of stress: Hiding, yawning, panting, skipping meals, resource guarding, changes in social cues, excessive barking or growling, changes in sleep patterns, bathroom issues, and destructiveness.
What to Do: Supporting Your Whole Pack
If you notice any changes, here are a few things you can do to help everyone cope.
- Chemo takes extra care steps: If your dog is undergoing chemotherapy, for the 72 hours after treatment, try to keep your pets separated. The drugs will be present in your dog’s urine, stool, or saliva, so they shouldn’t share bowls, toys, or beds. Be extra careful with cats, as they tend to be the most curious sniffers. To avoid making anyone feel punished, try to make this isolation time special with quality one-on-one time with their favorite human, or have your healthy pets hang out somewhere else.
- Don’t Force Interactions: Let all pets set their own pace. Make sure everyone has the time and space they need to adjust. Be patient if they act out for attention.
- Supervise Playtime: Don’t leave the dogs together unsupervised. Your ill dog may not have the energy to engage and could snap if annoyed. Your healthy dog might also play too roughly without realizing their friend is fragile. On off days, low-energy activities like sniffing games or lick mats are a great way for them to play together safely.
- Create a Safe Space: Provide a separate, quiet, and comfortable place for your dog with hemangiosarcoma to rest where they won’t be bothered. Baby gates or separate rooms are very useful for this.
- Feed Separately: Illness and medication can affect appetite. Feeding them apart lets you monitor how your sick pup is eating and prevents tension or food-stealing from the others.
- Manage prized possessions: Be extra vigilant with high-value items like toys, bones, or favorite beds. Remove these items if they have historically caused any tension to minimize potential conflict.
- Stick to the Routine: As much as you can, try to maintain your healthy pet’s normal routine. Their usual walks, feeding times, and playtime provide stability and reduce their anxiety.
- Plan for Emergencies: Have a plan ready in case your dog experiences a bleeding crisis. The goal is to stay calm and move your other pets to another room quickly so they don’t react to the stress and make things more difficult.
- Considering Euthanasia: If you plan for in-home euthanasia, know that your other pets may react calmly or show stress. Allowing them to see and sniff the body after a peaceful passing can help them understand and process the loss, preventing them from searching for their missing friend.
Final Thoughts
We don’t know precisely how much dogs comprehend about death. A pet’s grief can take many forms; some seem to cope within days, while others need months. While we can’t eliminate their grief, we can help them through it.
Keeping their routine the same provides a crucial sense of normalcy and safety. And although we are grieving too, our pets feel more secure when we project calm. They are sensitive to our stress, anger, and fear.
So, take one day at a time. Your pets are smart. If you have an off day, know that you’re still doing your best. Enjoy your pack while your ill pup is having good days, give all some extra love when he isn’t. And receive the love that all your pets are giving you—let that be a comfort during these difficult times.
Sources:
https://oncotect-co.myshopify.com/blogs/resources/the-impact-of-canine-cancer-on-sibling-dogs-navigating-changes-in-pack-dynamics
https://www.anivive.com/learn/article/should-you-worry-about-other-pets-when-one-is-undergoing-chemotherapy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787824000151
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159123002131
https://www.vetbehavior.org/multi-dog-household-management
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9404676/
