A pet owner is convinced that her St. Bernard knew, on some level, that she had suffered a miscarriage and wanted to be there for her.
It’s a long-held belief that dogs can tell when an owner is pregnant and Dr. Rachel Barrack, a doctor of veterinary medicine and certified veterinary acupuncturist, firmly believes in this idea.
“It’s likely due to the scent and your hormones, as well as possible changes in your mood,” she told Newsweek. Dr. Barrack also believes dogs are perceptive enough to pick up on changes around the home, as owners prepare for a potential new arrival.
“Your dog is smart enough to pick up on these changes during pregnancy, both in a physical way—which is how your body will be changing, your stomach, your smell—and in an emotional way, such as your feelings and your mood,” she said.
If dogs are capable of picking up on the scents, hormones and mood changes pregnancy brings, then it stands to reason that they are also able to deduce when something like a miscarriage has a occurred.
Amanda, from New Hampshire, believes dogs understand. She has firsthand experience of this with her 3-year-old St. Bernard, Izzy, who was there for her during the toughest of times.
Amanda had always dreamed of having a dog like Izzy. “I’ve always wanted a Saint since I was a little kid because I loved the movie Beethoven,” she told Newsweek.
One day, she decided to make that dream come true after coming across a listing for some St. Bernard puppies. It was her son, who was 4 at the time, who chose Izzy when they went to see the litter.
“He saw her and he just fell in love with her,” Amanda said. “We brought her home and she just instantly became part of the family.”
Izzy loves all the things you would expect of a dog. She’s a great walker, enjoys the occasional swim and has been known to chase the geese that frequent the area close to his family’s home.
She’s a sweet girl though who loves snacks and playtime with Amanda’s two other dogs, Max and George. There’s another side to Izzy though.
“She is very intuitive,” Amanda said. “She can tell when I’m sad, happy, scared.”
Izzy is also incredibly protective of Amanda. “When I lived alone, she would lay in my room at night pointed at the door as if she was keeping an eye out,” Amanda said. “She always makes me feel protected. During my saddest times she will lay her head on my lap and just look at me with the most concerned eyes. I can tell she knows.”
So, when Amanda suffered a miscarriage, Izzy was a pillar of support throughout those difficult days and weeks that followed. ” I’m lucky because I had amazing support from my friends and family and husband, but Izzy gave me a comfort I didn’t know I needed,” Amanda said. “She never left my side (…) for days she followed me and laid her head on me. She’s my best friend. I know she knew something was wrong.”
Amanda shared footage of Izzy’s efforts on TikTok, under the handle aman_duh2024. The video resonated with many watching, garnering over 1.2 million views in the process.
“For years my miscarriage was a secret between me and my dog. He laid on the bathroom floor and cried with me. He’s with my baby now until I get there,” one viewer wrote. “When I was miscarrying my German shepherd came and laid her head on my stomach and stayed beside me the whole time,” another said.
It’s a response that has blown Amanda away. “I truly just shared it because I thought she was being sweet and she was so cute and to show that our animals know what we’re going through,” she said. “I didn’t think anyone would see it.”
Amanda says the responses have “both broken and healed” her heart. “So many women deal with health issues and fertility problems and I just hope that other women will feel comforted in each other’s experiences and know that they’re not alone and there is hope, and also that animals can help and be healing and provide support,” she said. “I hope that if anyone, especially women, are feeling alone that they may find comfort in a pet.”
The post What Female Dog Did As Owner Miscarried Breaks Hearts: ‘She Knew’ appeared first on Newsweek.
