Pets in dreams often represent a source of simple, unconditional comfort or support in your life, so losing one — or searching for one that's gone missing — tends to reflect anxiety about that kind of support being at risk.
Searching for a lost pet
This common version usually reflects a real, if not fully conscious, worry about losing access to a source of comfort — not necessarily a literal pet, but any relationship or routine that provides simple, undemanding support.
A pet that's actually lost in waking life
If this dream follows a real loss, it's a normal part of grief processing and doesn't need a deeper symbolic reading — the mind continuing to process a real and significant absence.
A pet transforming into something else
This more surreal version can reflect a relationship or source of comfort that's changing in nature — evolving into something less simple or more complicated than it used to be.