Pet Loss Grief

How is pet loss grief different than grieving for a fellow human being? In many ways, the two are the same. For some people, however, their pets are their closest confidants. These people choose to tell all of their deepest, darkest, secrets to their cat or dog instead of risking telling them to a person who might tell. Pets are a great comfort to their companions, and when they die, they leave a hole unlike any other known to man. When a person loses their pet, their house feels quiet and empty all of a sudden. Their everyday routines are altered and do not feel comfortable or right. There is no pet to feed or take on a walk or to cuddle with or reprimand when it scratches on the couch or barks at the mail man. A dog or a cat can be a person’s best friend, and losing that is hard to cope with

How to Deal with Pet Loss Grief

When dealing with the loss of a pet, it is natural to feel a sense of grief, abandonment, and maybe even anger at the universe for taking away such a beloved companion. These are all normal expressions of a very real sorrow, and all part of the grief cycle. There are different methods of coping with the loss of a pet. Some families immediately purchase a new pet, in hopes of finding healing through loving another. Some families go through a pet dry spell where they eschew all pets in order to grieve for their lost pet more effectively. Still others seek outside help in the form of grief counseling, or seek solace in education with courses in pet loss grief. However you choose to mourn your furry friend, realize that this sadness is ultimately short lived, and there are always a multitude of friendly animals that would greatly benefit from the care and concern that you have to offer.

Working through Pet Loss Grief

I had no idea you could go to school and get a certification for pet loss bereavement. I knew there were many people hurting about loosing there pet. I know when I lost my dog five months ago it hit me really hard. I loved my Bj like no other dog. He was 13 and he was my little baby. I still miss him now when I look at pictures of him. Thankfully I still have my cats and other dog Ike to help me get through this hard time. So I can easily see why people who don’t have anyone to talk to about the loss of their beloved pet would really appreciated speaking to someone who was skilled in pet bereavement. I decided to take the course. Helping People Deal with Their Loss I had no idea you could go to school and get a certification for pet loss grief. I knew there were many people hurting about loosing there pet. I know when I lost my dog five months ago it hit me really hard. I loved my Bj like no other dog. He was 13 and he was my little baby. I still miss him now when I look at pictures of him. Thankfully I still have my cats and other dog Ike to help me get through this hard time. So I can easily see why people who don’t have anyone to talk to about the loss of their beloved pet would really appreciated speaking to someone who was skilled in pet bereavement. I decided to take the course so I could help other people as well as helping myself. This course was helpful and very educational and I have three clients that are handling this issue right now.

Pet loss grief can be overwhelming, especially in the last weeks of a dying pets life. It used to be the only choice you had was to euthanize your pet if it was terminally sick or injured. Now pet hospice provides another alternative. Pet hospice has slowly been gaining acceptance in recent years, even though it has been around for a couple of decades. Based on the successful model that has been used with humans, pet hospice allows for animals to die as comfortably and as painlessly as possible in the home.
Hospice for pets can be a volunteer organization working with a veterinarian or it can be members of a vet staff that provide the education and care of terminally ill pets. Taking care of a dying pet can be very demanding. If you decide to take on this challenge, you will need to set aside time so that you can provide the necessary support to your animal. You are taught to understand the body language of your animal so that you will know if it is in distress or discomfort. Pet hospice educates you in pain management so that you will know when the appropriate time to give medications is. Usually medications are given before the pain becomes a problem. They also provide grief counseling for you and the family as you prepare for your pet to die.
If you don’t have a pet hospice near you, you can talk by phone or contact online organizations that can work with you. You always have the option to euthanize if you can’t manage the animal’s pain or if you can’t handle your pet’s suffering. Pet hospice is just another alternative that will allow your pet to die with dignity and in a peaceful environment surrounded by loved ones. When going through pet loss grief, consider seeking out the assistance of a qualified grief counselor.