Losing a pet is beyond heartbreaking. They feel like a family member, and losing them affects your daily routine, emotions and even a sense of identity. Grief after the death of a pet is real and personal, and these are some tips on how to process the loss and preserve meaningful memories, honoring the life that was shared.
Grief After Losing A Pet
When you lose a pet, you may feel shock, sadness, anger or guilt. These are all normal feelings in pet bereavement, and can come in waves rather than all at once.
Grief might follow stages like denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, and rarely follows a near order. Some days will feel more manageable, and some days will hit harder without warning.
Pet loss grief can affect your sleep, your appetite and your energy, making it feel hard to focus on work.
Make sure you show yourself compassion while the pain is fresh. Small routines like walking, journaling or looking at photos can help you process your emotions.
Allowing Yourself Time And Space To Mourn
Give yourself permission to feel sad – the grief after a pet’s death is real and normal.
Set yourself aside a few minutes each day, to remember your pet, looking at photos or sitting quietly. Short and regular moments will help you to process feelings, without overwhelming your daily life.
You can also join a pet loss support group, or find a pet loss support group online, so you can connect with people that understand how you’re feeling. Hearing stories from others that lost their pets can make your feelings feel less strange, with practical ideas on coping after pet loss.
Honoring Your Pet’s Memory In Meaningful Ways
Make a pet memorial that fits your life and your feelings. Choose something simple, like a framed photo or collar on a shelf, or a small urn if you had a memorial service, to give your grief a steady place to rest.
Light a candle on the pet’s birthday, plant a tree, or set aside a quiet hour to look through photos.
Make yourself a memory box, with toys, tags and notes. Add a short card that explains what each item meant to you, so you can revisit the box whenever you need some comfort.
Some people commission a painting, with ashes of their pet included within the paint, or a embed fur or ashes into a piece of keepsake pet ash jewelry.
Supporting Other Pets In The Household
It isn’t just humans that suffer from pet loss, as other pets can suffer from grief. They may show a change in their appetite, sleep or behavior, showing they’re confused or sad.
Try and keep your routines steady, with feedings, walks, platimes and sleep schedules helping to give animals a sense of safety and normalcy.
Give them extra attention and calming reassurance. Short and gentle interactions help, playing and petting can reduce stress hormones, and help to strengthen your bond.
You can always place a blanket or toy from the lost dog, in the bed of the other pet that’s suffering from the loss, to give them reassurance of the smell of the lost pet.