4 Ways to Prepare Yourself for When Your Pet Passes Away
Losing a pet is always difficult, but taking steps to prepare ahead of time can help alleviate some of the emotional and mental strain. Below are four ways to prepare for and cope with the eventual loss of your pet.
#1: Assess your pet’s quality of life
Although your pet cannot vocalize their discomfort, they can show signs of both mental and physical illnesses. 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 is a tool that can help you evaluate your pet objectively and determine if they are suffering.
#2: Decide when to schedule your pet’s euthanasia
Losing a pet unexpectedly may ease the decision of when to euthanize them, but it may also make you wonder if you failed to notice their illness. Deciding when it’s time to say goodbye and opting for euthanasia can be a challenging task. Nevertheless, it’s essential to keep in mind that not many pets pass away peacefully in their sleep. Therefore, choosing to euthanize your pet humanely could be a compassionate last gesture for ending your pet’s suffering.
#3: Discuss how to care for your pet’s body
If your pet passes away, preparing for their after-care can be overwhelming. Consider discussing your preferred method of body care before their passing to reduce stress. Cremation is a common option where you can receive their ashes. Although less common, aquamation is becoming more popular, yet not yet widely accessible.
#4: Rely on grief support groups to process your pet’s death
To get through the grieving process, it is helpful to seek support from not only family and friends but also from pet loss support groups. Several veterinary universities offer hotlines for this purpose, and there are many pet bereavement groups on social media that may be relevant to your specific situation. Remember that you do not have to go through this journey alone.
If you notice your pet’s health or happiness decreasing, reach out to our team for assistance in evaluating their quality of life and making preparations for when they pass away.