Resources for Those Grieving the Loss of a Pet

Pets are part of the family and the death of a pet is a distressing event. Through utilizing support systems, pet owners can find ways to help ease the anguish of losing man’s best friend.

Losing a pet can be a devastating loss for a pet owner. The feelings of grief and bereavement surrounded by losing a precious member of the family can be overwhelming. There is no quick fix because grieving is a process, but there are many services available to those who are grieving the death of a beloved pet. Meetings, books, and phone call centers are available to help you get through this difficult time.

Selected Reading

By relating to another’s pet loss experience, many owners are able to identify with coping with pet loss and learn ways to cope. Articles and books on grieving over the death of animals provide long-lasting comfort.

Articles

Children and the Death of a Pet

By Enid Traisman, MSW

Helping A Child Cope With Pet Loss

Grief Support Center

Books

Cold Noses At The Pearly Gates: A Book of Hope for Those Who Have Lost Pets by Gary Kurz

When Your Pet Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing by Alan D. Wolfelt, PH. D.

Grieving the Death of a Pet by Betty J. Carmack.

The Loss of a Pet: A New Revised Edition by Wallace Sife

Coping With Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet by Moira K. Anderson

The Rainbow Bridge: Pet Loss Is Heaven's Gain by Niki Behrikis Shanahan

Saying Goodbye to Your Angel Animals: Finding Comfort after Losing Your Pet by Allen Anderson, Linda Anderson

Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet by Moira Anderson Allen

Animals in Spirit: Our Faithful Companions' Transition to the Afterlife by Penelope Smith

Celebrating the Memory of a Pet by Devon O'Day and Kim Mclean

Good-Bye My Friend: Grieving the Loss of a Pet by Mary and Herb Montgomery

Pet Loss & Human Bereavement by Kay and Herbert Nieburg

Pet Loss and Children: Establishing a Health Foundation by Cheri Barton Ross

Call Centers

For people who would rather reach out to another person and talk about their feelings, call centers are staffed by several veterinary medical schools around the country and provide immediate support and advice.

University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine

217-244-2273 (CARE) or 877-394-2273 (CARE)

Tufts University Veterinary Department

508-839-7966

Counseling and Support Groups

Sometimes being in a group of people who are experiencing similar circumstances helps grieving pet owners through the mourning process. There are several support groups located nationwide offering weekly meetings.

Bide-A-Wee Foundation

American Dog Trainers Network Grief Counselors

10 Strangest Items Swallowed By Dogs

My mother’s Schnauzer mix, Sha Sha, eats just about anything. I didn’t quite believe just how often she would quickly snap up everything in her sight until a few weeks ago when she swallowed a quarter and a nickel in the blink of an eye. The vet advised my mother to watch her for the next few days as the coins would likely pass. It’s a very common issue among dog owners and it doesn’t only happen with puppies. The majority of dogs do grow out of the need to eat inedible objects. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what a puppy would eat so it’s best to be vigilant about where you dog is allowed to freely roam. Many dogs and puppies have been known to swallow seemingly unsuitable items, which you might not find in any way enticing or preferable, but they do. Check out this list of the strangest things swallowed by dogs as witnessed by the ASPCA :

10 Cold Weather Tips for Your Pets

The frigid temperatures around the country are not just inconvenient; they can be incredibly dangerous for our pets. It's important that pets are kept warm and protected from harsh temperatures. Experts say frostbite can set in in less than 15 minutes, and animals are not exempt from this despite their furry coats. While frostbite is bad enough, hypothermia is the most dangerous hazard when the weather gets this cold. Signs of hypothermia include “violent shivering followed by listlessness, a rectal temperature below 95°F (35°C), weak pulse, lethargy, and coma.” It can become fatal very fast. It goes without saying that every dog and cat needs to be indoors during cold temperatures like these. I would argue, however, that dogs and cats need to be indoors during any cold temperatures. If you are cold, they are cold, simple as that. Outdoors is no place for pets.

10 Most Common Medical Conditions That Send Dogs to the Vet

No one likes going to the vet, especially our dogs. Like many others, my dogs can sense when they are going way before we get there. They get nervous and hyper. Some dogs whimper endlessly at the vet’s office while countless others have fear-induced accidents right in the office. While regular check-ups and vaccinations are a necessary evil, we can try our best to keep our pups in optimal health thus avoiding another dreaded trip. Veterinary Pet Insurance compiled a list of the 10 most common medical conditions that send dogs to the vet. Some are unavoidable while others may be caught early on. Dr. Carol McConnell, DVM points out that many of the conditions that most regularly require vet visits “can be stopped early or successfully managed in partnership with a veterinarian. To prevent some of the discomfort that so many pets experience from common diseases, the place to start would be by checking them regularly for developing problems.” Check out the full list here at Babb

Some Puppy To Love

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