The Queen's corgis are likely to be suffering from depression following her death, a dog expert has claimed.
John Smith says although her beloved pets do not understand the concept of death, they could feel the loss of her presence.
His remarks come after it was announced that Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah would care for her corgis, Muick and Sandy.
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The adorable dogs stole the hearts of Brits after they were pictured at Windsor Castle at the late monarch's funeral on Monday, reports The Mirror.
Speaking about the canines, the founder of pet personalisation product website Yappy, said: “Dogs don’t quite understand the full extent of absence due to their owner passing away, so they don’t grieve death in a sense.
"Instead, they suffer a feeling of loss and emotional despair which abandoned dogs would feel too.
“These feelings can lend themselves to common and often devastating symptoms, such as whining, pacing, howling, loss of appetite, fidgeting, broken sleep patterns, anxiety, and lethargy.”
As a result of the Queen’s death, Muick and Sandy could display symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to the expert.
“The corgis won’t fully understand the extent of the Queen’s death, but they are very intuitive and will understand the emotion of missing someone that’s no longer there,” he explained.
“A loss of an owner can be the trigger for depression in dogs, and signs to look out for are usually loss of appetite, becoming less active and a having a change of sleeping pattern.”
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The dog expert recommended implementing a similar routine to the one they were in with the Queen as it gives them a sense of familiarity “in a time when everything around them is uncertain”.
And to give them extra attention and distract them as much as possible with walks, games or cuddles.
He added: “Due to their independent nature, it may take some time for them to adapt to their new life with Prince Andrew.
“It will be a very unsettling time for the corgis, and they may become anxious and find it difficult to trust those around them.
“However, although they can be a little territorial in the home, they will eventually start to feel at ease with their new surroundings.”
The expert said although the corgis will not have understood that the Queen was in the coffin before them at the procession on Monday, they still may be able to detect her scent due to their excellent smell.
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