I am a huge movie buff, with one of my all-time favorite teen flicks being “Clueless” starring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd who later went on to “Friends” and other movies, and Brittany Murphy. Last December, I was definitely stunned by the news about Brittany Murphy’s sudden death. Animal Chiropractic

My heart went out to her mother and her husband, Simon Monjack, as they laid her to rest, following her funeral, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California. The 32-year old actress had a heart attack, which caused her death at their shared home with her husband in LA on December 20, 2009, as stated by the news reports.

As I clicked through her husband’s web site I saw breathtaking photos that Simon had taken of Brittany. Such a shame for someone so beautiful and talented to be taken from us too soon.

Aside from the tragic loss of her family and fans, what truly broke my heart was when I learned of Brittany’s female Maltese named Clara. I am such an animal lover that I cried when I read online at People magazine’s web site that Brittany’s husband said that the dog was experiencing a change in behavior since Brittany’s death.

Her husband gave Clara to his wife as a Christmas gift the previous year. Brittany named her after silent film star Clara Bow and was reported as describing Clara as “a humongous personality in a tiny package. She is treated not as a pet but as a family member.

I had never really given it much thought, but this tragic turn of events made me wonder how pets react to their owner’s death. Do pets mourn? If so, how can survivors help the pet’s physical and emotional health during the mourning process?

My pet’s veterinarian, Dr.Ava Frick, is a specialist in pet behavior. Due to problems of excessive barking and showing aggression toward my other two dogs, she has been using Alpha-Stim technology treatments on one of my dogs.

Dr. Frick and I discussed Clara and pets’ ability to mourn during our next appointment. According to her, going through a mourning period after the loss of a human or animal companion is common for a dog. The symptoms are actually exhibited for days or even weeks plus decreased appetite, lethargy, and changes in the dog’s behavior.

Keeping a dog on its normal routine is important in such cases, she said. Exercise can do wonders to relieve stress for pets as with humans who are going through issues. Also, acquaintance with familiar people and meeting new friendly faces can boost the pet’s mood.

If the pet’s mourning period seems to carry on, it is a good idea to seek the advice of professionals. Your veterinarian can identify Physiologic abnormalities, which might be contributing to the dog’s depression.

Alternative therapies like acupuncture, herbal supplements, and dietary modification fit for those dogs who are mourning and experiencing depression. Pet Pain Relief

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