Grief over pet death can be as strong as that for family member, survey shows

The survey found 7.5% of people who had lost pets met the diagnostic criteria for prolonged grief disorder, Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images

Grief over the death of a pet could be as chronic as that for a human family member, research has shown, confirming what many people already know about their bond with their furry friends.

People grieving the loss of a pet can suffer from prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a mental health condition brought about by the death of a loved one, a survey published in the academic journal PLOS One has found.