How to Prepare Yourself for the Passing of Your Pet
Even though losing a pet is never easy, being prepared for it beforehand can lessen your mental and emotional pain. Here are four strategies for assisting with grieving and preparing for the eventual loss of your pet.
#1: Assess your pet’s quality of life
Your pet can’t tell you when they feel unwell, but they can indicate poor mental and physical health. Using a quality of life scale, you can assess your pet’s health and happiness as they age or deteriorate from a chronic medical condition. The quality of life scale allows you to be objective when evaluating your pet and can help determine if they are suffering.
#2: Decide when to schedule your pet’s euthanasia
While an unexpected pet death relieves you of the responsibility of determining when—and if—euthanasia is the right course of action, you might wonder if you failed to notice your pet’s sickness. On the other hand, deciding when to plan euthanasia and when your pet is ready to pass away is never easy. Humane euthanasia, however, can be your final act of love for your suffering pet. Keep in mind that few pets pass away gently while they are sleeping.
#3: Discuss how to care for your pet’s body
You might not be ready for your pet’s aftercare when they pass away. If you are aware that your pet’s time is running out, talking about how you want to handle their body can reduce your worry. It’s common to choose cremation, and you can decide to get your pet’s cremated remains. Aquamation is becoming more and more well-liked as a form of post-care, although it is still not readily accessible.
#4: Utilize grief counseling services to cope with the loss of your pet
In addition to leaning on family and friends as you grieve, reach out to support groups. Many veterinary universities offer pet loss support hotlines, and a multitude of pet bereavement groups on social media may fit your unique situation. You never have to make your journey through grief alone.
If your pet is declining in health or happiness, ask our team for help in assessing their quality of life and preparing for their eventual passing.
