Why do animals leave home before they die?
There is an opinion that cats leave home before they die so as not to injure their owner. This is wrong. Usually the day before the animal begins to feel that something is wrong with it. It feels pain and fear, and therefore tries to hide where it will not be disturbed, looking for a dark, quiet, secluded place. In addition, a weakened and sick pet, even if it wants to return home, may simply not find the way. In this publication we will give recommendations on how to survive the death of a cat and dog.
If your animal suddenly begins to hide from you, seek solitude, and does not want communication, this may be a signal that the pet is very seriously ill. In this case, it should be shown to a doctor as soon as possible. Perhaps there is still a chance for salvation.
If an animal dies of old age or an incurable disease, it is worth providing him with peace. You need to make a bed in a quiet, dark place, not disturb or touch him, because he’s already feeling bad. Perhaps the pet should be euthanized so that it does not suffer in its last moments.
When a dog dies, what does it take with it: signs
If the animal is still in the earthly world, but is already dying, the owner looks for a way to help the dog. One of the options for helping a grieving person is to look for good omens:
- if a strange dog gets attached to you on the street, be kind;
- to see dogs actively playing - for a wedding;
- If family members are sick, you need to give the dog a sandwich.
There are also bad omens associated with dogs. It is believed that there will be a funeral in the house if:
- the dog dug a hole in the garden;
- a dog is heard howling;
- The dog does not finish the food after a person who is sick.
Negation
Most people, when faced with the loss of a loved one, cannot immediately accept its death, especially if the animal died suddenly due to a fleeting illness or accident. If a dog or cat dies suddenly, the person is struck by stupor. It seems to him that what is happening is a bad dream, not reality. Emotions become dull. Awareness of what happened may not come from several minutes to several days.
This is a defensive reaction of the psyche to what happened. She's quite normal. If at first you do not feel pain or cannot cry, the reason is not that you are heartless. Perhaps the blow is so strong that you experience shock. It goes away with time. And you no longer understand how to survive the death of a cat or dog.
Poems for the death of a dog
When a beloved animal dies, melancholy may periodically set in. To support the dog’s owner, you can prepare poems about the deceased pet after his death:
☨ ☨ ☨
Holding you in my arms, I’m crying for you for a reason - After all, only a kind soul Moves into a dog’s house. (E. Yevtushenko)
☨ ☨ ☨
When the skies are suddenly full of clouds, Dropping the coolness of the rains onto the ground, Their dog souls fly above us, Possessing good and kind people. (P. Brosky)
☨ ☨ ☨
Anger and guilt
Feeling guilty when losing a pet is quite normal. If an animal dies from illness or an accident, the person begins to blame himself for not having done enough or for doing the wrong thing. If the animal died of old age, the owner may regret that he paid little attention to the pet during his lifetime. The decision to euthanize a hopelessly ill animal is especially difficult for many breeders. Although it is forced and aimed at saving the pet from suffering, the breeder can still consider himself a murderer and doubt the correctness of the decision.
If an animal died due to the fault of a doctor or car driver, or was poisoned, the owner feels anger and hatred towards the culprit of the tragedy. Dealing with these dark feelings is very difficult. The owner seeks retribution, which can lead to problems.
If your pet died due to someone else's fault, there is no need to take revenge. If you get hit by wheels, it is worth considering that the driver cannot always react in time to an animal that has jumped out onto the road. A veterinarian is not always able to save his patient, because treating animals is much more difficult than treating people. The veterinarian can only rely on symptoms and tests. The animal itself is not able to explain what is tormenting it. There is a fairly high percentage of pets that do not recover from anesthesia. And this is also not the doctor’s fault.
The dog had an infectious disease - safety rules
If the deceased dog suffered from an infectious disease, then safety rules are dictated by sanitary standards. The only option in this case is burning and disposal of corpses by the veterinary service. The goal is to prevent the spread of pathogens through soil and groundwater, which often occurs with conventional burial in the ground.
The owner is required to immediately call veterinary workers to treat the place of death, the animal’s body and household items. After this, doctors take the deceased pet for autopsy and cremation.
Awareness of loss and humility
Soon the realization comes that a miracle will not happen. The pet will not return, and nothing can be done about it. A person does not understand how to survive the death of a pet, he feels broken, nothing makes him happy. Memories bring pain, everything around reminds him of the loss, life seems cruel and unfair to him.
It will take some more time until the owner finally comes to terms with his loss and can move on with his normal life. When humility comes depends on the person, the circumstances due to which the loss occurred, the degree of attachment to the pet, and the presence of friendly support from the outside.
Dog cremation
In urban conditions, cremation of a dog is the only method permitted by law. The need for disposal is explained by the fact that when corpses rot, they produce toxic substances that pollute the soil and water. For burial in a cemetery, pre-burning is also performed.
Two types of cremation:
- individual - disposal of an individual corpse for an additional fee (rarely performed);
- general - cremation of several animal bodies at once (running a disposal machine for each corpse is unprofitable due to fuel consumption).
In the first option, the owner receives only the ashes of his animal, and in the second, a portion of the total ashes. Then the owner himself chooses what to do. Here are the following options: bury, place in an urn, scatter.
In many countries, cremation is considered a popular method of processing the bodies of both animals and humans. The method has long been recognized as the safest for the environment. However, the choice still remains with the owner.
How to cope with the death of a beloved pet if you are a believer
Orthodox priests claim that animals do not have souls, and therefore there is no life after death for them. They advise grieving owners to simply come to terms with the death of the animal. Sometimes this approach can cause even more pain to a grieving person, because it is difficult to believe that a loved one has disappeared forever from this world. How to survive the death of a dog or cat in this case?
There is a legend about the Rainbow Bridge, where the souls of animals wait for their owners. In that world there is no more disease and pain, no hunger and fear. The animals feel good there, and they look forward to meeting those who cared for them during life. This is probably just a beautiful fairy tale that exists to pacify the human pain of losing a pet. But this legend can help someone survive what happened.
How to console and encourage a person who has lost a dog: words of support
It is impossible to bring back a deceased pet, and it is difficult to survive his death. It takes patience to deal with emotions. Relatives and friends may also worry when they see the dog owner suffering. This can be expressed in words of condolences:
“I sincerely sympathize with you”
“(nickname) was a wonderful, faithful friend”
“Hold on, your beloved dog will remain with us forever in our memory”
Words of support for a person who has experienced the death of a relative are easier to find than in the case of the sudden death of a dog. According to information from dog breeders and dog handlers, the owners of such animals do not like being constantly reminded of their loss. As a rule, condolences are perceived with disapproval, because they seem to carry no meaning and are pronounced out of politeness.
This means that you should speak sincerely if you want to support your friend.
How to cope if you are an atheist
How to come to terms with the death of a pet if you don’t believe in an afterlife? Every living thing has its beginning and its end. We all cannot live forever. The death of a loved one always hurts, but there is nothing we can do about it. Therefore we need to move on. You did everything you could for your pet, gave him a well-fed and calm life, which many street animals are deprived of. This is a good thing that you should be proud of.
But the time has come to part. These are the laws of nature. It would be worse if you left before your pet. A lot of animals end up on the street after the death of their owners. So just be proud that you were there for your friend until the very end.
Transporting the body in a car
Quite often, even knowing that the pet will soon pass away, the owner does not have time to think through the technical details. For example, transporting a body in a car may become a problem.
If the dog is large, after death it will be very difficult to carry it. Rigor mortis occurs within 4–5 hours. If you are going to bury your dog in the ground or transport it by car, you must do the following:
- Pull your pet's paws towards the body and tie them together.
- Bend your front paws at the knees and fix them in this position.
- As a result, the posture of the deceased pet will resemble a ball.
- After the onset of rigor mortis, the ties must be removed.
Even after death, the dog may have repeated bowel and bladder movements. The luggage compartment of the car must be covered with thick film and a blanket. After you place the dog's body in the car, it needs to be covered.
How to say goodbye to your pet
The deceased animal can be cremated at a veterinary clinic or buried. For funerals, it is recommended to use a location that you can visit. A pet cemetery would be ideal, but that doesn't happen in every city. The pet must be wrapped in cloth and placed in a box. It needs to be buried deep enough to prevent animals from digging up the grave.
How to survive the death of a dog or cat? You can put your younger friend’s favorite toy on the grave, bring food or flowers. Of course, the animal doesn’t care anymore, but it will make you feel better. You can talk to your pet at the grave and talk about how much you miss him. Write a poem or story in honor of your pet, or draw a picture. Do something to express how important he was to you. Try to remember not the moment of his death, but the joyful and cheerful situations that you experienced together.
Why does losing a dog hurt so much?
Often the death of a dog is more stressful than the loss of friends or even relatives. In psychology, there are five stages of grief after the loss of a dog that the owner of the animal experiences.
Shock
Even if a pet has been seriously ill for a long time, its death is a shock for the owner. The sudden death of a pet causes even more stress. Poisoning or an accident is a huge emotional shock for which it is impossible to prepare. At this stage, migraines, insomnia, loss of appetite and weakness may occur. The brain blocks all feelings, and a person performs everyday actions “automatically.”
Negation
The owner refuses to believe that his beloved dog has died. He hears her sniffling, her steps. It seems to him that she is about to return. He does not allow her food bowl to be removed or her toys or leash to be hidden. Automatically, he gets up in the morning to walk his pet, and at the store he goes into the pet supplies department to buy treats for his pet.
Anger
The brain is desperately looking for someone to blame. A doctor at the veterinary clinic, an inattentive driver, or is it my fault? Didn’t notice the illness in time, didn’t take it for a walk, didn’t take good care of it? Most often, the pet owner blames himself for the death of the pet. By withdrawing, a person drowns in the abyss of self-flagellation and this can last for years.
Grief
At this stage, the person is already quite emotionally exhausted. He simply shuts himself off from the outside world and goes into depression.
Adoption
Time cures. Over the course of about a year, a person begins to lose the habit of daily rituals, such as walking a pet or going to the store to buy food. The pain becomes less, and only bright moments are remembered.
A person can have many pets, but only one becomes a true friend. It is difficult to say how this “chemistry” occurs. This does not depend on the age or breed of the dog. No one can replace him, it’s not even worth trying.
Lonely people develop a strong attachment to a pet. The fact is that over the years, a special connection arises between the owner and his pet. The dog knows how to read the emotions of its owner, and in its own way, tries to take care of him. It has been noted that dogs sense people and react to them differently. They growl, bark and try to keep the bad ones away from their owner, but they are loyal to the good ones.
Often the owner gets used to talking to his pet and sharing problems with him. The dog will not judge, will not argue, and unconditional love and devotion will always shine in its eyes. Therefore, a person often develops a much closer relationship with his pet than with relatives or friends. The loss of such a friend becomes an irreparable loss, which is very difficult to survive.
How to cope with pain
How to cope with the death of a pet if it seems like you'll never recover? Don't be ashamed of your emotions and pain. Not everyone will be able to understand and support you, but still cry if you want to cry, and talk if you want to talk. Don't keep everything to yourself. It is better to throw out negative emotions and thereby get rid of them than to accumulate them inside.
It is better to put all the animal’s belongings in a place where you will not constantly bump into them. You shouldn't throw them away, because you may regret this decision. Do something that can take your mind off your grief. Do some spring cleaning, go on a visit, take a walk in the park.
Share your grief with other people. Maybe not even to relatives, but to those who also experienced a similar loss. It's easier to cope together.
Channel your energy into helping others. Become a volunteer at a center that works with homeless animals. Take them into foster care and help them find new families.
New pet. To be or not to be?
Although, as stated above, you should not get a new dog right away, this issue can be considered over time.
Dog lovers are a special category of people; life is often really easier for them when they have a dog in their home. Don't think that a new dog is a betrayal of an old friend. You can remember how the four-legged friend reacted when his owner was sad. Most likely, he was also sitting sadly next to him or trying to cheer him up. Therefore, a new dog is a new friend, support, and not a replacement for the old one.
Of course, it will be difficult immediately after the loss. Not everyone will be able to understand. But by getting rid of guilt and helping others, you can move on with your life. Letting go of pain does not mean betraying and forgetting. This means continuing to live, keeping warm and bright memories in your memory and opening up to new events in life.
Arina, Volgograd
How to overcome guilt
Sometimes it is the inattention of the owner that leads to the death of the animal. This is very difficult to come to terms with. A person blames and torments himself, cannot forgive his own mistakes.
If a cat or dog died due to your fault, do not forget that no one is immune from mistakes. Man is not a machine; he cannot foresee everything. Even if you did something wrong, you had no malicious intent, and you certainly did not want your pet to die. You need to admit your mistakes and learn from them. But you shouldn’t constantly torment yourself, because you won’t be able to change anything.
You should not look for your guilt where there is none. It happens that animals die from anesthesia during planned operations, such as sterilization, for example. Owners often blame themselves for this, because such surgical intervention is not necessary. But this happens most often with animals that are already sick or have serious pathologies. If you give permission to euthanize a dying animal, you are acting mercifully. Sparing your pet from suffering is the best thing you can do in a hopeless situation. You shouldn't blame yourself for this.
What to do after the death of a dog to avoid falling into deep depression
Considering the importance of a pet for a person, it will be buried according to the rules: buried so that people can come to the grave. This is one way to alleviate the condition of a dog owner when the animal dies. For those grieving, there are other tips on what to do if a dog dies.
Take care of yourself
The loss of a pet can cause apathy, depression, and a difficult emotional state. It is not always possible to cope with this on your own. The owner of the animal loses the meaning of life and can give up on himself: he does not take care of himself, is not interested in the outside world, and withdraws when someone tries to talk. This is an extreme option that will not bring the dog back, but there is a high risk of ruining your life, since it is more difficult to recover after a long period of grief. It is necessary to endure a period of mourning, after which you can gradually return to life.
There is an opportunity to show respect to an animal: to remember often, to share these memories.
Be natural in your expressions of emotion
Grief may manifest itself in the same way, but the reasons vary from person to person. For a person, the death of a dog is no less a loss than the death of a loved one, because he lived with his pet side by side for ten years or even more. The owner has the right to feel any emotions about this, but several of them are noted, which determine the stages of grief:
- negation;
- anger, resentment;
- depression;
- despair;
- Adoption.
If a person lives through all of them, he will be able to overcome the test and continue life, which will no longer be the same from the moment the animal dies. Otherwise, the grieving process will drag on indefinitely.
Don't cultivate denial
If a dog dies, what to do in this case: some owners cannot come to terms with it, do not believe in the death of the animal, which entails a series of misunderstandings with relatives and problems. You need to accept everything that happens to the animal. Escaping reality will not help either the pet or its owner.
You should live with the image of your favorite animal in your memory.
Don't rush to look for a replacement
People are not always ready to voluntarily experience pain and other difficult emotions. They can try to avoid this by getting another dog. This should be a puppy, which will allow you to raise it taking into account your own requirements. The danger of such an act is that the owner will project love and other feelings for the first dog that were not lived through onto the new pet. Often people wait for the pain to go away, but do nothing to change the situation. There are fears that history will repeat itself, only with different characters.
Share your grief
Members of the family in which a beloved dog grew up and later died must support each other. So, everyone experiences the pain of loss; grieving together will speed up the recovery process. It is important to remember that loneliness is not the best adviser, and staying too long without loved ones in grief is a direct road to phobias and depression.
When loved ones communicate with each other and share memories of the animal, this helps support the spirit of the grieving and preserve the memory of the pet.
Keep a diary
When a dog dies, you want to remember every minute spent with the animal. There is no need to wait for death; you should immediately start recording memories of your pet and adding photos to your diary. This will allow you to support the owner when the time comes to put the dog to sleep, accept this fact and come to terms with it, and continue living without the dog.
Create a memory album
If a serious illness is suddenly discovered in an animal, it is not possible to prepare for its death. The pet's owner can come to the clinic, spend the last hours, and help him leave if the dog is in severe pain (it will have to be euthanized). There are more opportunities to make a memory album if you have time to prepare for the inevitable. Such a book should contain photographs and small objects reminiscent of your pet.
Give kindness
When an animal dies, it is necessary to find a way to survive this grief after its death. The owner should seek solace in loved ones - shared memories will support the people who loved the dog. But often this is not enough, so you need to find something more significant. You can help animals that don't have a home. Among them there are always enough of those who need food, a roof over their heads, a true friend.
You can start with street animals; you should gradually take patronage over those who live in shelters.
Friend for an elderly dog
To survive the loss, the owner of the deceased animal finds the dogs on the street, helps, feeds them. But it is relatively easy to do this for young dogs. Only there are also old ones; as a rule, no one takes care of them, considering that they are already dying dogs, which in any case will soon die. You can pay attention to such animals, become their friend, show sympathy and take one home. But it’s enough to simply feed them and place at least some of them in shelters.
What to tell your child
Whether to talk to your child about your pet's death depends on the child's age and whether you have talked to your child about death. It is worth remembering that children have a more flexible psyche than adults. Sometimes children show their emotions much more vividly, but they come to their senses faster. Therefore, you should not hide what happened from your child. He will still have to face death, this is one of the steps towards understanding the world around him.
Treat the child's grief with understanding. Provide him with moral support, listen and comfort him. Do not blame for the drop in performance during this period. Give your baby time to come to his senses. You shouldn’t immediately buy a new animal specifically for your baby, because a pet is not a toy that can simply be replaced with another. The child must realize this.
Causes of death of puppies
Some dog breeders have witnessed the death of entire litters. The culprit of such rapidly developing events may be a herpes virus infection, hepatitis or a bacterial infection that penetrated into the puppy’s fragile body through mother’s milk.
A characteristic feature of the pathogenesis of infection by microorganisms is the transience of the disease, leading to the death of the entire litter in a matter of days. With a herpes virus infection, the pathogen enters the puppy’s body through saliva or discharge from the nasal passages. Infection can also occur through close contact or using the same items for care and feeding.
Even the owner himself can provoke an outbreak of the epidemic among his pets by bringing home the virus on his clothes, shoes and even hands. As practice shows, crowded keeping of animals in nurseries and homes leads to the fact that a herpes virus infection that occurs in one individual leads to 100% infection of all other pets. And there are no exceptions to this rule.
Interestingly, adult dogs have fairly good immunity to herpes virus infection. For this reason, the clinical picture of this pathology is quite blurry. But puppies, pregnant animals or individuals with weakened immune systems suffer severely from a herpes virus infection, which spreads like lightning throughout their body.
If we talk about puppies, they, as a rule, do not die immediately, but after 2 weeks. The virus travels a long and complex path before leading to the death of an animal. Having penetrated the mucous membrane of its host, the virus begins intensive reproduction in conditions of low temperature. Naturally, such activity destroys cells, which leads to erosion of the mucous membrane.
If for some reason the immune system is not able to resist the pathology at this stage, then the virus will unhinderedly continue its march through the body, infecting the nerve ganglia, which will serve as a refuge for it for the entire period of latent development. Further, when a stressful situation arises, for example, when the conditions for keeping puppies deteriorate, the genome is reactivated and the herpes virus re-infects the mucous membrane of the animal.
From this moment on, the dog becomes infectious, since the causative agent of herpesvirus infection is actively released into the environment, although the carrier himself may still not have a clear clinical picture of the pathology. Miscarriages and stillbirths are quite common in infected young bitches. Even if puppies are born alive, they are completely unviable and die without even living for 2 days.
What to do to avoid puppy death?
After the puppies are born, the owner must carefully monitor their development. The first signal indicating an impending disaster will be the babies’ refusal of mother’s milk. After a short period of time, the puppies clearly show problems with the respiratory system. Then the puppies begin to rapidly die one after another. In less than a week, the entire litter dies.
You need to understand that with a detailed clinical picture of the pathology, it is already pointless to treat puppies. The only thing you can try to do is isolate healthy babies by transferring them to artificial feeding. In parallel with this, it is necessary to improve the living conditions of animals.
According to veterinary experts, the most effective method of combating the sudden death of puppies is the formation of the mother's immunity. Even short-term contact with dogs that have recovered from the herpes virus will allow the bitch to develop natural immunity. However, such activities should not be carried out before or shortly after childbirth.
Although infectious hepatitis is much less common than herpesvirus infection, its consequences are no less terrible. The death of the litter occurs so quickly that the owner does not even have time to invite a veterinarian. Less than 1 hour passes from infection to death.
The clinical picture of infectious hepatitis, represented by vomiting, diarrhea, fever and profuse discharge from the eyes and nose, confuses even experienced dog breeders as they diagnose their pets with poisoning. Even a recovered animal will carry the virus for a year.
The pathogen is released into the environment along with the dog's urine and excrement. Thus, the owner should prohibit his pet from sniffing dog marks during walks in the fresh air, since in this case the risk of infectious hepatitis penetrating through the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth is extremely high.
The life cycle of the virus in a dog’s body begins with damage to the lymph nodes, where it multiplies intensively. Further, having left the affected cells of the lymph nodes, viral particles accumulate in the liver parenchyma, causing its destruction.
At this stage of the pathology, the animal develops a clear picture of hepatitis and vasculitis, which can lead to the death of the animal. Today, the only effective method of protection against viral hepatitis is timely vaccination.
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The death of a beloved dog is a great grief for every owner. Whatever the reason, this event always leaves an indelible mark on the soul, but life does not end there and you need to learn to cope with the shock. The most difficult thing in this situation is to survive the first days, when, in addition to the difficult emotional state, you have to deal with other issues related to the death of your pet.
Should I get another pet right away?
This is a controversial issue, and psychologists have differing opinions. Having lost a pet, many owners try to plug the hole that has formed in their hearts by immediately adopting another pet. For some, it actually helps them deal with grief. The person directs all his energy to caring for the new resident and no longer constantly thinks about his loss. If a puppy or kitten appears in the house, there is a lot more hassle, and there is less time to dwell on your problems.
But such a quick arrival of a new pet into a family does not always bring joy. The owner must understand that animals have their own personalities. Whether an animal has a personality is a highly controversial issue. But definitely every living creature has an individual set of habits and qualities. Therefore, by getting a new pet, you will not bring back your dead pet. There is no exact copy; your friend has already left you. If the new animal is too different from the one that died, the owner may feel disappointed and irritated. A new family member will no longer please, because he is not able to replace a deceased friend.
If your pet has died, you must first realize that he is irreplaceable. You must come to terms with its death and only after that plan for the addition of a new pet to the family. This way, it will be easier for you to accept your new pet for who he is, without looking back at the past.
What should we strive for?
You can survive the loss of a pet if you follow some recommendations. They are quite simple. However, it is not always possible to do what psychologists advise. The available methods should be considered in more detail.
No need to look for the culprit
Almost always after the death of a pet, people begin to blame themselves. This is especially true if a four-legged friend dies due to injury or illness. However, according to the psychologist, not everyone is capable of being an ideal owner. This is just unreal. Plus, dogs can get sick, just like people. It is not always possible to identify the disease in time.
It is worth understanding that even professional breeders and doctors can make mistakes. Therefore, expert advice recommends not to blame yourself. You already did everything you could. In addition, you managed to surround your four-legged friend with love and care.
Need for a pause
The advice of a psychologist recommends pausing for a while and waiting until the pain finally subsides. It is not recommended to immediately look for a replacement for your pet. Otherwise, you will start comparing two different animals, which will not have a very positive effect on the new pet. The score will simply not be in his favor.
At first, you should not go to the stores where you bought food for your pet. It is recommended to pass by the breeders from whom the puppy was purchased. After a loss, it is better to protect yourself from unnecessary questions.
No need for reminders
It will be more difficult to hold back tears and mental pain if your eyes are constantly caught by a drinking bowl or a collar with a leash. Therefore, hide all things that belong to your pet. You can give them to your friends. You should not save them even if you are planning to get a new puppy in the future. They will always remind you of your loss.
Help other pets
According to the advice of a psychologist, the help provided to a dog shelter will help you cope with the loss and bring your emotional state back to normal. At first, of course, it will be difficult. However, the happiness that you were able to help someone will gradually displace negative emotions.
If you are walking down the street and see a homeless dog, find him a shelter. You can offer help to volunteers. This will save everyone from suffering. A striking example of how you can help a dog is demonstrated in the video.
Think only about the good
After the death of a beloved friend, happy moments will constantly begin to spin in your head, those minutes that you spent together. And most often they visit memories in which the dog was already sick or old. According to the advice of a psychologist, it is important to get rid of such thoughts immediately.
It’s better to remember your four-legged friend happy, scroll through your memory of interesting adventures, exciting trips, first successes in training. Positive thoughts like these will help you cope with the loss of your pet.
Memory is designed in such a way that after a while you will think about your pet with a smile.
Get a new puppy
It is no coincidence that this item comes last. You just shouldn’t think about a new puppy right away, since the pain of loss is still great, and, accordingly, you won’t be able to get distracted. It is recommended to approach this step gradually. First, you need to get rid of the unpleasant thoughts that arise due to the death of your four-legged friend. Otherwise, you will not be able to surround the new family member with care and love.
Get a pet as soon as you're ready. This will help you acquire new bright emotions and stop worrying too much about the loss of your old pet.
Contact a psychologist
All people process loss differently. Some recover faster, while others need outside help. If you feel like it's been a long time since your pet's death and you still can't get over it, you may need professional help. If you don’t understand how to cope with the death of a pet, advice from a psychologist will help you come to your senses.
There's nothing wrong with asking for help. It is much worse to pretend that everything is fine with you, despite your difficult emotional state. We are all individuals, and therefore we experience stress differently. For some, the death of an animal may not be a particularly significant incident; for others, it is the cause of the development of very serious depression.
Thus, every owner will inevitably sooner or later face the death of their pet. At such a moment, it is important to know how to cope with the death of a pet. For many people, the loss of a four-legged family member becomes an unbearable grief. At such a moment, there is no need to blame yourself, restrain your emotions and become isolated. If you realize that you cannot cope with your grief, you should seek help from a psychologist.
Question answer
Are dogs cremated?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
To bury an animal, you should study the current legislation. Thus, it has long been prohibited to bury domestic animals on land not intended for this purpose. If the dog happens to die, you need to contact the veterinarian, he will take care of the dead pet. The most common method of burial is burial or scattering of ashes after cremation. This is a difficult procedure. A person who has experienced this will doubt for a long time whether it is necessary to get another pet and why do it when losing a dog is so difficult.
Cremation
How to stop blaming yourself for the death of your dog?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
If a dog dies, they begin to look for the cause of what happened. This makes it easier to cope with the loss. When it is possible to find out what contributed to the death, a feeling of guilt arises. This could be unsuitable dog food, which caused disruptions in the functioning of internal organs due to inconsistency in the composition, swallowed hard sharp objects, poison from neighbors, etc. The owner feels guilty, it is not easy to get rid of it, it is a long process. It is important to show wisdom and come to the understanding that it is impossible to take into account all negative factors. It is not man who controls the lives of his animals, but God.
Where is the best place to bury a pet?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
Regardless of whether a puppy or an adult dog has died, there can be one burial place. For this, only 2 options are considered: cremation, burial in a pet cemetery. The second method is more preferable, since it will be possible to come to the grave. But this is a relatively new type of service, and therefore is not offered in all cities. You can say the last words over the grave, and leave an epitaph on the stone tombstone, for example, an excerpt from the parable: “A man died, his dog lay down next to him and also died.” She talks about the loyalty and devotion of pets, how they miss a deceased person.
What's the best way to say goodbye to your pet?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
If the animal died in the arms of its owner after euthanasia, there will be an opportunity to say goodbye to the beloved dog: to talk, to finally say important words face to face. Then you can pick up the body; you will have to transport it yourself to the place of burial or cremation. But often animals die unexpectedly. They leave their owners in a matter of hours, minutes or 1 day. All that remains is to say goodbye before burning the corpse or burying it in the traditional way.
Does a dog have a soul?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
It must be taken into account that the souls of dogs and people are different. Every living thing on earth is animated. However, in plants and animals the soul is not separated from the body. According to Scripture (Lev. 17:11), animals have no such thing as an incorruptible shell. Their soul is not separate from the physical body, but is blood. This means that after death, the biological fluid will decay and fall into the ground. It follows from this that the soul in this case is pronounced in the context of the earthly, and not the spiritual. It animates the body, that is, it makes it alive and allows it to be distinguished from inanimate nature.
On what forums is it better to share your experiences?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
There are websites that offer highly specialized products for pets, and there are often sections for people to communicate on topics that interest them, related to animals. There are quite a few such forums, you can find a suitable one in your region, but if you couldn’t choose the right one, there is always the opportunity to communicate with people on all-Russian forums. Such sites are structured in a similar way, and the loss of a dog is often raised among the issues for discussion.
Do old dogs leave?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
There is a belief that aged cats leave their usual habitat, go to where they feel comfortable in order to find their final refuge. There is plenty of evidence of the same behavior, but among dogs. This applies to animals living in private houses, not apartments. Here you have the opportunity to leave the owner’s home to find your death further away. Many people tell stories about how animals that seem healthy leave and never return. There is also evidence that dogs, even in very poor condition, try to at least get out of the house and die immediately.
What epitaphs are best for a dog?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
The last words were written on gravestones in Ancient Rome and Greece. It was a duty to pay my last respect to my beloved pet. Texts in poetic form are widespread. Example: There is no friend more loyal than a dog. What a pity, we understand this too late. No more wet nose poking your cheek, No one will wake you up in the morning with barking.
You can give preference to prose and compose your own epitaph, for example: “We have been through a lot. A true friend forever." Another option: “I miss my dog. My faith in you is unshakable, sleep well.”
Do they erect monuments to dogs?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
Even in ancient times, expensive tombstones were installed for animals in full height and together with the owner. On modern graves you can see a bowl, a leash that is attached to the collar on the dog. But such monuments are not related to Christian tombstones; they should not contain ritual religious attributes.
In what cases is it better to euthanize a dog?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
Euthanasia is chosen when the dog is doomed, in agony, or in severe pain. Even if the dog’s owner knows that he may lose the animal, his dearest friend in the world, he decides to take medicated sleep so that the pet stops suffering. This procedure is not prohibited; it can be recommended taking into account the dog’s condition. But the owner has a choice: to cope with the disease and its consequences independently or in a clinic; alleviate the suffering of the animal, put it to sleep.
How to explain to a child that his friend is no longer there?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
The direction of thought when talking to children about losing a pet depends on their age. A child 3 years of age and older intuitively senses what death means, because he may notice the prolonged absence of a pet and the concern of adults. The main recommendation of psychologists in such cases is honesty. It is necessary to briefly explain what happened to the animal (it died suddenly), but it is advisable to bury it - to conduct a simplified impromptu ceremony. This will allow the child to visualize what he heard earlier and to better understand what was said.
When is the best time to get a dog?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
At first, the owner does not know how to cope with the loss of the dog. Gradually, life begins to improve, everything returns to normal. But the animal is not forgotten, its memory is preserved, this does not allow you to purchase another dog. Most often, owners begin to consider the option of buying a new pet after 3-6 months, less often - after 1 year or more. The timing depends on how quickly the person was able to overcome their grief associated with the loss of the dog after the death of the animal. In some cases, the decision to take another dog into your home never comes.
How to support a person whose animal is dying?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
Dog breeders give advice to the relatives of a person whose dog has died. First of all, sincerity is important. You don't even have to say anything. You should also not divert the conversation towards religion, saying that the dog’s soul will rest in heaven in 40 days. Its owner can profess Orthodoxy, according to the canons of which the soul of an animal is its blood, which means it is not separated from the body, goes into the ground, turns into dust.
After the death of a dog, when can you get a new one?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
Owners often grieve for their pets for quite a long time. They cannot cope with the death of a friend. The breed doesn't matter, be it a Shepherd, Yorkie or Poodle. But the wound is healing, and over time there will be a need to get another dog. Some people acquire a pet shortly after the death of the previous one, while others remain lonely and live without a pet for the rest of their lives. This means that there are no strict deadlines, you can focus on your psychological state.
The old dog left home, did she go to die?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
There is no scientific evidence that a dog goes off in an unknown direction to die far from the home where it lived. However, numerous testimonies from animal owners confirm this theory. Many dogs that live in private homes, have freedom of movement, anticipate their death, and try to leave their owners.
How to support a person whose dog has died?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
In any tragic situation, it is important to show sincerity. Words for a grieving person have little meaning; they are often not given weight, especially against the backdrop of the indifference of the one who utters them. However, if a person puts feeling into what he says, a touch and a look is enough to support him. But mourning etiquette requires politeness and tact, so it is better to stick to neutral, universal phrases: “I mourn with you,” “I’m sorry for your loss.”
How to survive the euthanasia of a dog?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
When an animal is sick for a long time, the logical end comes - it’s time for him to leave. Sometimes a person has to take part in this. Euthanasia is a procedure that results in the death of an animal. This is a great grief for the dog’s owner, but one can be consoled by the fact that the dog is no longer suffering. It is important that at this time there is a close, loving, caring person next to him. This is an opportunity to say goodbye to your pet, then you can bury him.
How to cope with the death of a puppy?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
When a person decides to take a dog home, he becomes attached to it almost immediately. The amount of love an owner has for his pet is enormous, which is also the cause of great grief when a puppy dies. You can survive a tragedy if you have close people nearby. It is necessary to preserve the memory of the dog, a couple of toys, a photo. At the initial stage, you should remove them so as not to cause pain, but then you can return them, remembering your pet. It is important to survive the pain, not to hide it at the bottom of the soul, because sooner or later it can rise again, this will cause a second wave of grief.
Can a dog die of boredom?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
The magnitude of the animal’s suffering away from its owner is shown in the films: “Hachiko”, “White Bim, Black Ear”. But it’s not only in movies that such situations can become reality. They are possible in life, if a person gives all his love to an animal, the pet feels it and nourishes tender feelings in return. This is a very strong connection that is almost impossible to break. When one of them disappears, the second will wait, yearn, and eventually die if he is not found.
Soul of a dog after 40 days
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
According to the canons of Orthodoxy, in animals the soul is not separated from the body. After death, it falls into the ground along with the ashes. But this is an incomplete picture; you can find out what esotericists think about the death of the dog. They claim that the souls of dead animals in the next world are looked after by the owner's relatives.
How to survive a dog's illness?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
Sudden death is one of the most terrible phenomena, when there is no way to come to terms with what happened. If the animal is sick for a long time, the owner will have time to adapt to the news about the dog’s imminent death. But this doesn’t make it any easier, because soon the opportunity to hear and see your pet will disappear. To survive such grief, you need to enlist the support of loved ones, find an outlet in hobbies, activities that bring grace and benefit. There is another way - helping homeless animals.
If a dog is killed, what should you do?
Expert opinion
Lavrova Tatyana
Rehabilitation specialist, psychologist
The first reaction of an owner who has lost a dog is the need to find those responsible for the crime. But in the absence of witnesses this is impossible. The magnitude of grief will be enormous regardless of the cause of the pet's death. You can try to help those pets who need it. This way the owner will be able to at least partially compensate for his absence from the deceased dog’s side. This will bring relief.
I had to put my dog to sleep, how can I cope with the guilt?
Expert opinion
Nadezhda Dubrovskaya
Practicing psychologist, Master of Psychology RGSU, Moscow
The feeling of guilt depends on the reason that prompted a person to act in a certain way. If his intentions were noble, based on the interests of others, then he should not torture himself. The decision to perform euthanasia is made carefully, taking into account the condition of the animal. If a person sees that a dog is dying, it will be gone in 1 hour, 1 day, but will suffer all this time, then euthanasia is still the only possible way out of the situation. This means that the person is not at fault.
Who is guilty?
The main problem that prevents people from experiencing grief is the search for someone to blame. It doesn’t matter what exactly happened, instinctively, a person looks for those responsible for what they did, let it be God or evil fate, but the accusation will find the defendant.
It is much worse when the owner blames himself for the death of the pet - “I didn’t have time,” “I didn’t notice,” “I made a mistake in choosing a veterinarian.” Finding someone to blame applies to situations where a pet leaves due to illness or an accident.
Naturally, you should not wait for the fateful hour; you need to take care of your friend while he is alive and well - proper nutrition, vaccinations, safety, care, regular veterinary examinations. The more responsible you are about your basic responsibilities, the faster you will be confident that you did everything right when the time comes to cope with the loss of your dog.
A separate topic for discussion is euthanasia. Many owners refuse to humanely euthanize an animal, considering it murder. In fact, a hopelessly ill dog suffers only because the owner’s inner selfish child cannot accept reality. If you are gnawing at guilt, atone for it in any way available to you. Contact an animal shelter, become a volunteer, pick up a kitten on the street, wash it and find it a home.
Do good, save lives, feeling important will help you forgive your “mistakes.”
Psychological stages experienced by an owner who has lost a pet
Dog pregnancy by day: details, table
According to many psychologists, after a person has lost his beloved pet, he goes through several stages, which in most cases end in humility and acceptance of the situation.
The death of a dog becomes a very big grief for the whole family.
Aggression, guilt
Initially, any owner experiences a period of emotional prostration. In this case, the person wants to be alone and give vent to tears. Even a little reassurance can result in a new stream of tears if at least something reminds you of your pet.
However, this stage is quite short. After it, the owner experiences a period when he begins to blame himself and others for the death of his dog. At the same time, anger and aggression may appear against those who, in the owner’s opinion, are guilty of the current situation.
Deep grief, depression
Immediately after the loss of a pet, the dog owner experiences a feeling of great grief, which can gradually develop into prolonged depression. In the absence of other diseases that have worsened against the background of the experienced situation, the duration of the depressed state lasts approximately 2-3 weeks.
Important! If depression persists for a longer period of time, psychological help may be needed.
Awareness of loss and humility
After some time, the owner begins to accept the fact of the pet’s death and the fact that it is impossible to return it. The person comes to terms with the situation, everyday activities gradually crowd out sad thoughts.
Memories of wonderful days will help you cope with loss
Adoption
The last psychological stage is the acceptance of grief. The owner is left with a feeling of light sadness. He understands that the dog cannot be returned, and remembers with a warm feeling all the moments spent with the animal.
