Help: Lost without his Older brother

[MonkeyAndMax]

This message is a continuation from my thread titled: Help: Upper Respitory, Metacam, Lepto. Our other little boxer, Max, is so depressed and lost without his brother around. We thought it might take a little bit of time for him to realize that Monkey has passed on and isn't coming home, but it seems to have hit him right away. Six sense or perhaps seeing us upset. Any advice on helping Max get through this difficult time? Monkey was the "brains behind the operation" so to speak. Whatever Monkey was doing, Maxie followed. If Monkey was eating, Max started eating. If Monkey was drinking water, Maxie would drink water. Etc, etc, etc. It's like he's lost his way, lost his identity. He's perfectly healthy on a physical level, but looks like things are taking an emotional toll on him. He has the shakes and constantly looks for his brother around the house. I think he got something from his companion Monkey that we as humans can't give. We are giving him all our usual love and trying to maintain consistency with life since his brother passed on Thursday night. :-( Please help if you can.

 

[boxers4life2001]

I do not have any suggestions but wanted to let you know this is normal behavior Max is experiancing. We are currently going through the same thing with our Maddie, she lost her "big brother", companion, soulmate, ears, etc. in June when we had to make the terrible decision to release our baby boy from his suffering. Maddie is deaf so Chance was her ears, she never knew life without him as he was older and has been in her life since she was 9 weeks. She also suffers from seperation anxiety and he helped her with it but now he is gone. I can tell you she has been VERY depressed and lost since he has been gone. She does not play like she used too, she looks and acts very sad and moops around the house. I thought it would get better by now but it hasn't. I am seriously considering getting her another "brother" to help her out and make her happy and full of life again.

Sorry your Max is suffering also, he lost his best friend and will mourn for him like we do. Hopefully in time he will adjust a little better.

 

[carver1102]

same thing happened to us. only brutus didn't mourn right away. he would look for riley jo, but didn't start mourning until 3 months later. we made sure to spend extra time with him, extra walks, hide and seek, anything we could. but it still wasn't the same. we had decided to get him another friend in april, but found out we were expecting, so again decided not too. he finally came around, about march...we lost riley in october. i know he still misses riley, but here in a few months he will have a skin kid to look after and i am sure he will do great.

 

[MonkeyAndMax]

So sorry for your loss too

Maxie is a lost soul right now. I feel for Brutus. It's like they lose their identity, lose their way in life. No matter what we do Max mopes and lays around the house. He'll play but then quickly returns to that sad state of mind. Won't take cookies either. He's eating, but not his normal amount. Went out and bought him a Kong to fill with cookies and Kong Stuffing. Got home from an errand and the cookies were still in the Kong. :-(

Not sure my husband or I are going to get out of this "funk" of losing Monkey, so I guess we can't expect Maxie to either.

 

[morrissey11]

Just wanted to say I'm so sorry you lost Monkey and to hear how sad Maxie is. I hope he feels better soon, it must be so hard for him as it is for you. Please give him lot's of kisses from us.
I hope Monkey is playing with our Morrissey and all the other boxer babies, I'm sure he is, hugs to you, Kate, Morrissey's mommy.

God speed sweet Monkey

Morrissey, our angel
02/1995 - 04/2006
Miss you so much x

 

[hanley]

Max is lost without his brother & it will take time, his life is different. Give him time to grieve & find himself. I'm so sorry for yor loss, sending you & Max prayers.