Many pet owners feel their pets are like surrogate children. When put into this context, it is completely understandable why the loss of a pet can be so devastating. Losing a source of non-judgmental, unconditional love in a person's life is usually extremely difficult, no matter the source of that love.
Research has confirmed that for most people, the loss of a dog is, in almost every way, comparable to the loss of a human loved one.
The death of a pet can hurt as much as the loss of a close relative or friend. It is normal to feel devastated. Often, individuals who live alone take longer to grieve because their companion played such an important role in their lives.
Research shows that the death of a beloved family pet is comparable in almost every way to the loss of a human relative or companion.
A hidden sorrow: experiencing pet bereavement as a disenfranchised grief. 'Disenfranchised grief' is a term used to describe grief that isn't fully or sometimes even partly acknowledged by society.
Humans develop a lasting attachment with their pets, which breaks at the loss of the pet. Regardless of the manner of death, a pet owner may perceive the death as traumatic and experience distress or exhibit posttraumatic stress symptoms.
Why Pet Loss Hurts. “One reason why losing a pet is such a deep loss is because animals' love is so unconditional and accepting,” she said. But it's also because so many aspects of people's lives are impacted. “Every single facet of life is part of the loss,” she explained.
It's essential to understand that healing and recovery is an individual process. There isn't a specific amount of time you need to get over a loss. Some people, for instance, can resume normal activities within a week or two. For others, it may take months for the pain to lessen.
Grieving a Pet Can Hit Harder Than The Loss Of A Person, And That's Okay. Many pet owners know that our connections with animals can be on an emotional par with those we share with other humans – and scientific research backs this up.
Symptoms of acute grief after the loss of a pet can last from one to two months, with symptoms of grief persisting up to a full year (on average).
Acute grief symptoms after the death of a pet can last from one to three months and general symptoms of grief can continue, on average, for six months to a year This grieving period can vary significantly from person to person and can be much longer or shorter.
While losing a pet is painful and overwhelming, unfortunately, it can also be a very lonely process, as many people don't understand the feeling of loss and don't recognize that the grieving process for a pet can be as long as that for a human.
The grief of losing a beloved pet is real, and it hurts. Don't minimize your grief. Allow yourself to feel all of the emotions that come with loss, without judging how quickly or slowly you are moving through the stages. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, so just let yourself ride it out.
Answer: Fortunately for us, dogs do not understand they are going to be put down and what happens after they are given the injection that puts them to sleep.
Should I stay with my dog during euthanasia? This is entirely your choice, but we often hear that it is comforting for owners to know that they were with their pet at the end. Your dog might also find it comforting to have you with them.
The pets that we had to say goodbye to are alive in heaven right now in their spiritual bodies and we will see them again if we accept Jesus as our Savior. Your Pet Is Not Gone Forever.
Guilt is a normal response to the death of a pet. We want to make sense out of what has happened and as a result, we frequently blame ourselves. Feelings of guilt should subside as you progress through the grieving process.
Losing a pet can be a traumatic experience for any child. Many kids love their pets very deeply and some may not even remember a time in their life when the pet wasn't around. A child may feel angry and blame themselves—or you—for the pet's death.
Understand that crying for your pet is natural. It's normal, and though painful, it's part of the grieving process that's necessary for you to heal. “Most people who have bonded with a pet know the comfort and joy animals provide. When we lose a pet, part of us feels like it's dying.
The grief that comes with losing a beloved pet can be all-consuming. In fact, the pain can actually manifest with physical symptoms that mimic a heart attack.
It is entirely possible to experience something called broken-hearted syndrome over the death of a pet. This is an intense surge of stress hormones related to an emotional event and causes chest pain and shortness of breath, and in some cases, acute cardiac events.