How to Deal with the Loss of Your Pet

As a Dog Mom, I dread the day that I have to face saying goodbye to my boy, Ryder. I have had many, many pets in my day. However, losing a pet never gets any easier. It is a fact of life that we live longer than our dogs do.

At some point in our life, we are going to have to deal with the loss of a pupper. We might know it’s coming. Or, it might be a totally unexpected loss. Either way, it is still going to be a highly emotional time. Especially, if you are a dog mom, like myself who has a very unique bond with your fur baby. Right now, Ryder is my Emotional Support Animal. When he is gone, he will not be able to help ease my feelings of loss. But there are some things that you can do to help you through the process.

Accept Fate

As has been stated, dealing with the loss of a pet is likely to happen in our lifetime. So when you have a pet, particularly if it is getting sick or getting older, it can be a good idea to expect that it will happen at some point. Doing so will help you to be prepared. Ryder just turned five this week, I am already preparing my mind on how I will cope with the fact that he leaves this earth before I do.

Talk To Your Vet

Talking to your vet and having a good relationship with them is always very helpful. Being close to your vet and visiting often is a good way to stay productive with your dog’s health. Your vet is likely to know of signs that something is wrong before you do. They will also be able to talk to you about your dog and the pain that they may be going through, to help you for the inevitable.

Take Photos

Can I get an, “amen”? How many of you have thousands of pictures of my furbaby on your phone?! While you still have your pet with you, taking lots of photos can be a really good idea. Having saved some of the memories you share will give you something to look back on.

There are even sites like Print Your Pet, where you can upload images, and have them cartoonized and turned into things like cushion covers or cell phone covers. As with ordering anything online, it can be a good idea to look at a Print Your Pet review to see what others are saying. When it is done well, it can be such a nice memory to have when your dog does eventually pass.

Make Plans

If you have a plan in place, then it can make the traumatic and emotional time of when they have passed, easier. I have plans in place to rescue and foster other dogs before Ryder passes. I feel like it will distract me more if I have other dogs to look after when Ryder passes.

Think about what things you would like to do in honor of your furr-end. Will you get a memorial piece of some kind done? Where will they be buried? Or would you rather that they were cremated and have the ashes scattered somewhere? When the decision is made beforehand, it will be easier to put in place when needed.

Grieve

Our pups become a member of our family, so it is only right that we allow ourselves time to grieve. Cry if you feel like crying. Take time out if you feel that will help. Tell others about what has happened, and deal with the grief as you see fit. There can be sadness. There might even be anger, especially if it is unexpected. But grieve as you need to. Most of all, let other help you through the process. There is no reason to go through this hard time alone.

Remember Them

Having photos or things around the house is a great way to help you to remember them and keep their memory alive. Taking time to make a scrapbook or photo album could be an enjoyable and therapeutic thing to do, as part of the grieving process. You will have the memories to treasure then too. Maybe make this part of your plan. Plan to have a big cathartic crafting sess. This can clear your mind, give you a little bit of closure, and leave you with a great memorial piece for your beloved buddy.