After the Dog Died

My Pet Died. How Can I Feel Better?

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Ensure that you seek others who value their companion animals as you do, and who can allow you to express your feelings honestly. There are many who feel as you do.

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Rituals have important functions in allowing the bereaved to proceed to acceptance by acknowledging your loss in a supportive environment. Allow yourself time and tears. It is also important to attend to yourself in the simple matters of daily living. Ensure that you continue to maintain a balanced diet. Avoid excessive alcohol or drugs. As you are in a stressed state, you are more liable to pick up colds and flu, as your immune system is weakened.

Avoid making important decisions while you are in a vulnerable state. What can I do to feel better?

Coping with Losing a Pet

There is no magic pill that can remove the pain completely. With time the feelings will become less intense. However there are activities that may help you to focus on the happy memories you shared.

Some people find the following useful: Invite like-minded and supportive people to share in memories of your dog. There are counsellors and psychotherapists who are sensitive to the needs of people who are grieving for their pets. However ensure that they have the same qualifications you would expect for grief counselling for humans eg psychologist, social worker, counsellor of professional association. The new dog in your life The decision when, or whether to get another dog is a very personal one, and should be done in your own time when you feel comfortable.

It should not happen when another well-meaning person thinks it should happen. You may feel ready soon after you lose your dog — this may be the case if your dog had a long illness and your grieving started long before the death. Ensure that you feel happy with the timing — some well-meaning people may try to give you a dog or puppy in order to replace your previous dog.

Others may try to talk you out of getting a dog when you feel ready. Some people find themselves preoccupied with the health of the new dog, with fears of his or her death. This is quite normal as the pain is so fresh for you, it is natural that you are anxious that you may experience it again soon. Again, this will become less intense over time. The path through grief is never easy. Each of our dogs is unique and irreplaceable. However as life and death are two sides of the same coin, so are love and grief. Make life easy for yourself until you can remember your loved dog with more smiles than tears, and you know the time is right to begin a new, unique and perfect bond with another, who will benefit from the caring person you are.

Here I have included a well-known poem that many people find helpful when thinking of their pets who have died. Help with decisions regarding euthanasia of your dog. Rainbow Bridge Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. Have illness or injury prohibited your pet from enjoying life? Is your pet facing certain death from the injury or illness? Is your family unanimous in the decision?

If not, and you still feel it is the best thing for your pet, can you live with the decision that you have to make? You may want to have a last day at home with the pet in order to say goodbye, or to visit the pet at the animal hospital. This is an individual decision for each member of the family. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, euthanasia for a pet is most often achieved by injection of a death-inducing drug. The veterinarian may administer a tranquilizer first to relax your pet.

Following the injection of the euthanasia drug, your pet will immediately become unconscious. Death is quick and painless. Start by explaining that your pet is ill, suffering badly, and that you have the ability to end that suffering in a very humane and gentle way. The injection is a very peaceful and painless process for your pet. Sometimes, when you really love a pet, you have to make these kinds of difficult decisions to spare the animal from more pain and suffering.

There are many wonderful reasons to once again share your life with a companion animal , but the decision of when to do so is a very personal one. You may want to start by volunteering at a shelter or rescue group. Mood-Boosting Power of Dogs: How Caring for a Dog Helps You. Some retired seniors living alone may find it hardest to adjust to life without a pet. If taking care of an animal provided you with a sense of purpose and self-worth as well as companionship, you may want to consider getting another pet at an earlier stage. Of course, seniors also need to consider their own health and life expectancy when deciding on a new pet.

Coping With Death of Pet — Details on understanding pet loss grief and how to cope with the pain and sadness. The Humane Society of the United States. Euthanasia of a Beloved Pet — Webpage devoted to helping you better understand and deal with euthanasia. The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. Helping Children Cope with a Pet's Euthanasia - Tips on how to explain euthanasia and help your child come to terms with a pet's death. How to Walk a Shelter Pet - Article about walking shelter dogs.

Also offers a directory of shelters and rescue groups in the U. Call the Pet Bereavement Support Service at Visit Chance's Spot to find support near you. Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, Ph.

The content of this reprint is for informational purposes only and NOT a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ORG Trusted guide to mental health Toggle navigation. Why does the loss of a pet hurt so much? The grieving process after the loss of a pet Grieving is a highly individual experience. Coping with the grief of pet loss Sorrow and grief are normal and natural responses to death.

Here are some suggestions: Dealing with the loss of a pet when others devalue your loss One aspect that can make grieving for the loss of a pet so difficult is that pet loss is not appreciated by everyone. Accept the fact that the best support for your grief may come from outside your usual circle of friends and family members.

Seek out others who have lost pets; those who can appreciate the magnitude of your loss, and may be able to suggest ways of getting through the grieving process. How to explain pet euthanasia to a child Be honest. Children tend to feed off of how their parents react. You should feel sad, and your children can feel the sadness, but don't mix guilt in with the sadness. They just need a friendly lap, a warm smile, and a pat on the head.

I can do that for as long as needed…. Good fortune to you. Your life is not ending. This can be a new beginning and the start of smiling when you think of your buddy…. If you live long enough you will get better. The fact that you asked this question on Quora is a very good sign you will survive and perhaps live to have another best friend.

When we choose to associate with dogs we have to deal with the unavoidable fact that we are most likely going to outlive them And be faced with LEARNING how to deal with this loss. You dog will teach you how to improve your life in its death. I truly hope you find the joy of another best friend that you care for deeply even though you and I both know that a part of you will always miss your dog that you have lost. When I lost my best friend I found it helpful to talk to a psychologist. She gave me some great insights on how to proceed in a healthy manner and to overcome a great deal of my grief.

As long as you have your dog in your memory it is not truly and completely gone. Words aren't enough to share what it feels like to loose a pet you love, especially a dog, whose love for you is so unconditional that it defies belief. Yet everyday we come home to that wagging tail and smiling face and we know that no matter what shortcomings we have, our dogs still love us more than we'll ever understand. I know what it's like to come home from the vet holding an empty collar with the tags still clinking, a sound that had always reminded me I wasn't ever alone.

To see his toys and bed and know I couldn't deal with packing them up and putting them in the garage without crying my eyes out. But you shouldn't despair. You shared your life with a creature that couldn't have a life worth living without someone like you.

Because of you your friend had a happy and rich life. You gave your dog a home. Your dog gave you the only thing it had, it's love and loyalty. Recently I found a young dog. She looked about seven months old. She was cold and hungry. She was hiding under a parked car after dark. I took her home and bathed her. I took her to the vet and got her immunization shots and deepened. I posted pictures of her on Facebook with updates about her condition.

Then I got a message from a friend I hadn't seen in a while. She had lost her ten year-old dog to a sudden illness. She too was heartbroken. She saw my post and pictures. The dog I found looked so much like hers that even though she felt it was too soon, she felt compelled to come and meet her.

My wife and I invited her over for dinner. We talked for quite a while about her old dog, Max. She got to meet our new foster and tears filled her eyes. We asked her if she wanted to take her home and she broke down and said she really missed her Max but she knew she would love this new dog just as much, maybe not today, but some day.

We only had that little dog for less than two weeks, but she stole our heart. We have our own dog, who can be quite jealous and territorial, and she stole his heart too. But this sweet little pup even stole his heart. After she was gone even he was notably depressed. Lucky for us, our friend travels for work from time to time. When she does she leaves her dog with us. Our dog loves her visits. When it's time, you can make room in your life for another dog. It won't replace yoru lost pet, but it will feel good to know that another animal has a chance for a great life only you can give.

Before you know it you'll feel that familiar comfort only a pet can give. When my puppy died a year ago.

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I went through hell. I have now a new relationship with my new dog and i am the happiest owner on earth. I will never forget my friends who passed away, but loosing a dog shouldn't be the reason not to own another pet. The pain is terrible when you loose a companion but the joy this companion has brought is generally priceless. And yes this new companion may died before you due to life spawn reasons but those years you are going to spend together will bring incredible happiness. Nothing is wrong with you. I slept with my dog collars for days and because this little soul had taken so much place in my life, coming home and not having her waiting or going to the places we used to go together was unbearable at the beginning.

Like with loosing a human, the pain never really goes away but become bearable with time. I am very sorry for your lost. I have also lost my dog in a hit and run accident last year and am still traumatized by it. She was a very beautiful, lovely, cheerful and smart border collie.

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We were away during the time it happened. My dad was the only one who was home. But since he had an important meeting that day, we entrusted our pup with someone, who we thought was a dog lover and had played with our dog occasionally. We were even still imagining how happy our lil one would be when she sees her favourite snacks. Moments before our lil one passed away, she went out the house to say goodbye to my dad who drove off to work. My dad didn't even notice that she followed him to the road.

Suddenly a few moments later, we received a phone call saying that my dog was in a terrible condition and required an emergency attention as a car just hit her and left her lying on the road. No words could expressed how shocked we were when we received that phone call. We immediately went back, while calling all the vets we could find in the city it was in Indonesia , only to find that none of the vets were willing to help my pup, who was so much in pain. We got home and still found my pup conscious and breathing slowly.

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