dog grieving for his brother. Help and advice much appreciated!

[CadenceRoastingByAnOpenFire]

Hi, my sister had two dogs, brothers from the same litter, 13 years old. One of them had to be put to sleep a month ago. The remaining brother is still devastated a month on. I knew that dogs were intelligent animals but it's honestly amazed me how much this poor little dog has changed and how much he's missing his brother. It's as though he's depressed - we haven't seen him wag his tail once since his brother passed away and he howls if my sister so much as leaves the room, it's heartbreaking. My sister hasn't left him alone for more than hour in the last month, she works from home thank goodness and will just go out quickly or wait till someone else is there to sit with the dog. Even if there's someone sitting with him he still cries until she comes back, it's as though he's worried she'll leave him too . It must be strange for him as his brother had gone out to the vet with my sister and just never come back. In hindsight maybe my sister should've taken both dogs and given them chance to say goodbye?

We're just wondering if this is a natural grieving process and if there's anything we can do to help make him feel happier and more at ease, he's so on edge at the moment. He is eating okay thank goodness but in every other way doesn't seem to be coping at all.

Thanks in advance!

[foofooyeah]

This is very sad. I don't have experience of this but do know dogs can get v depressed at the loss of their companion.
I think it might be worth her talking to the vets .... Can you get dog anti depressants??

Otherwise other canine company? Thinking more for short periods of time rather than her get another dog.

[Floralnomad]

This happened to my mums dog ,they weren't litter mates but we're both pups from Battersea collected on the same day . What I would say is my mum got a pup to keep her company after about 6 weeks thinking it would help and it didn't , it was a total disaster the elderly dog couldn't stand the pup and my mum ended up having to separate the house with old dog and cat( indoor Ragdoll) in one half and pup in the other , she then compounded the problem by getting a litter mate of the pup to keep him company . The elderly dog did eventually cheer up with lots of human attention but sadly only lasted about 18 months before she also died .

[Rowgtfc72]

My thirteen year old jack Russell has now been without her companion for two years. She still howls on occasion and is quite clingy but has become waggier with time.

[CadenceRoastingByAnOpenFire]

Thanks for the replies. foofoo, thanks I'll tell her to make a visit to the vets. Floral, that's so sad, your poor mum, sounds like she really had her hands full! She did think about getting another dog but thought it might be too much stress if the dog has to cope with a new friend whilst still grieving. So I guess lots of human attention it is. Row I'm glad to hear your jack Russell became waggier over time and I love the word waggier