The loss of a pet, whether suddenly or after a long illness, can be every bit as traumatizing as losing a family member. The bonds of love can be as strong between pet and owner as between humans, and therefore the pain can be just as debilitating and need to be handled with a true respect for your emotions.
The stages of grief you may feel after losing a pet mimic those you would feel if you had lost a loved one. Be prepared to feel all or only some of the grief emotions. The first stage is denial of the loss, followed by anger that it occurred. Then you may have thoughts that if you had done something differently, your pet might have lived. This leads to depression, and eventually, acceptance of the loss. Don't fight any stage of your grief, no matter how painful it is to you; let these emotions work their way through your system. Embracing your emotions, acknowledging that they hurt, is the first step to letting them go.
It's healthy that you share your grief with other people, as well. Ideally you have friends or family members who appreciate the magnitude of your loss and will allow you to reminisce about your pet and mourn it. If, however, you don't have a sympathetic ear, the internet offers many resources for grieving pet owners. Petloss.com and other websites feature message boards where pet owners may find support and understanding in each other. Acknowledgement of your pain is important and shouldn't be hidden out of embarrassment of seeming too attached to your pet. You loved your pet and cared for it as you would a family member. Your grief is legitimate, and fortunately, it is also something which will ease with time.
The stages of grief you may feel after losing a pet mimic those you would feel if you had lost a loved one. Be prepared to feel all or only some of the grief emotions. The first stage is denial of the loss, followed by anger that it occurred. Then you may have thoughts that if you had done something differently, your pet might have lived. This leads to depression, and eventually, acceptance of the loss. Don't fight any stage of your grief, no matter how painful it is to you; let these emotions work their way through your system. Embracing your emotions, acknowledging that they hurt, is the first step to letting them go.
It's healthy that you share your grief with other people, as well. Ideally you have friends or family members who appreciate the magnitude of your loss and will allow you to reminisce about your pet and mourn it. If, however, you don't have a sympathetic ear, the internet offers many resources for grieving pet owners. Petloss.com and other websites feature message boards where pet owners may find support and understanding in each other. Acknowledgement of your pain is important and shouldn't be hidden out of embarrassment of seeming too attached to your pet. You loved your pet and cared for it as you would a family member. Your grief is legitimate, and fortunately, it is also something which will ease with time.
