Why the death of a pet can be as traumatic as losing a loved one

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"Grieving over a pet can be just as painful as mourning a human family member, new research has shown. The study by the academic journal PLOS One suggests guidelines on severe grief should be changed to reflect the feelings of loss that people can feel when a pet dies. The research found it is possible for pet owners to suffer from a mental health condition known as prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a condition which follows the death of a loved one."

The Independent funds on-the-ground reporting across major US topics and preserves free access by relying on donations rather than paywalls. Donations enable journalists to report from both sides of pivotal stories, including investigations and documentaries. New PLOS One research indicates pet loss can produce intense grief responses comparable to human bereavement and can lead to clinically significant prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Current diagnostic criteria recognise PGD only for human deaths; advocates are calling for diagnostic and guideline changes to acknowledge pet-related PGD. The research estimated that one in twelve UK PGD cases were linked to the death of a pet.

Read at www.independent.co.uk