Advice from psychologists on how to come to terms with and survive the loss of a dog after death

Why is it so difficult to cope with the death of a dog?

This happens due to excessive closeness between the owner and the pet. It often happens to older people whose children live separately and have no one else. Thus, the dog becomes an object of care and care, in a sense, a support for the person. It is thanks to a dog that a person lives, he wants to return home and live for someone.

Why is it very difficult to cope with the death of a dog:

If the family is large, then despite the huge number of members, strong grief may be felt, as well as the grief of loss. This is also due to excessive stress between the pet and the owner. This especially happens if the dog and the owner are compatible in character; they understand each other very well.
Many people wonder why people kill animals so much. After all, it’s just a dog, you can get a new one. However, everything is not as simple as it seems. The emotions from the death of an animal are practically no different from those when a loved one dies.
Exactly the same phases occur that a person faces after death. Depression, apathy, and some inhibition in action may appear. In order to cope with the death of a dog, you need to occupy yourself with something else.

The dog is sick

Like a family member

Our strong attachment to dogs was subtly illustrated in a recent study of “misnaming.” This happens when you call someone by the wrong name, such as when parents mistakenly name one of their children after their brother. It turns out that the dog's name is also often confused by family members. This indicates that the dog's name is stored through the same cognitive processes as the names of other family members. (Interestingly, this rarely happens with cat names.)

What to do after the death of a dog?

First of all, you need to get rid of all paraphernalia that reminds you of your pet. These are collars, leashes, bowls, beds and clothes. Absolutely everything that belonged to the dog must be thrown away.

What to do after the death of a dog:

It is worth organizing a funeral, crying a little at the grave. Under no circumstances should you adopt a new pet at the initial stage. Usually a month after death, denial occurs; the person cannot cope with the bitterness of loss, so he tries in every possible way to fill the void. It is for this reason that he may purchase a new pet.
Under no circumstances should this be done, since you will expect the same character traits and behavior from the new animal as the deceased. The new dog does not have to conform or satisfy your wishes.
Therefore, hold off on purchasing a new dog. It is necessary to try to spend more time outside the home and limit your social circle to friends and acquaintances. Try not to communicate with people with whom you walk their dogs.
Because they will often ask and talk about pets, thereby causing severe pain. Oddly enough, the pain of loss finally goes away after a year. Therefore, at the initial stage there will be depression, non-acceptance, a phase of denial. Often a person blames himself for the death of a pet.

The dog is sad

Interspecies communication

What is it about dogs that makes our connection to them so strong? And why is there no similar connection with other pets?

First, dogs have adapted to living with humans over the last 10,000 years. And they did it very well. The dog is the only animal that has developed the ability to be our companion and friend. Anthropologist Brian Hare developed the domestication hypothesis to explain how dogs evolved from their gray wolf ancestors into social animals with which we can now interact in much the same way as other humans.

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Perhaps one of the reasons why our relationships with dogs are even more satisfying than our human relationships are because dogs give us unconditional, uncritical positive feedback.

How to stop blaming yourself for the death of your dog?

Advice from psychologists will help you cope with grief. Children cope better with the death of a pet. This is due to the mobility of the child’s psyche, and a rich emotional and inner world. Children move away very quickly, because with the emotions of grief and sadness come new, more joyful emotions. With adults, everything happens, exactly the opposite; some people, attached to their pets, can suffer for months or even about a year.

How to stop blaming yourself for your dog's death:

Cry. Tears are cleansing, they wash away fatigue and reduce depression. Thus, there is no need to suppress emotional instability and bitterness of loss. This is a natural outburst of emotions that will help you calm down.
Never blame yourself for the dog's death. In order to get rid of feelings of guilt, you need to accept yourself as you are, and understand that every person is prone to making mistakes.

Doggie

What causes the loss of a dog?

Given all this, it is not surprising that dog owners cannot easily come to terms with the loss of their dogs. Psychologist Julie Axelrod noted that the death of a dog is so painful because owners lose more than just a pet. This may mean losing a source of unconditional love, a primary companion who provides security and comfort, and even a protégé whom you mentored as a child.

The loss of a dog can also seriously disrupt an owner's daily life, more profoundly than the loss of most friends and family. For owners, their daily schedules—even vacation plans—can revolve around the needs of their pets. Changes in lifestyle and everyday life are one of the main sources of stress.

How to survive the death of a beloved dog: advice from a priest

If a person is lonely, you need to find some kind of hobby, go on a trip, visit, or do things that have been put off for a long time. It could be some boring routine work that is very exhausting. Thus, there is practically no strength left; the person has no time to think about the death of the pet.

How to survive the death of a beloved dog, advice from a priest:

If you feel that it is very difficult to cope with the bitterness of loss, do not hesitate to contact specialists. This could be a psychotherapist or psychologist. No self-respecting doctor will say that it is just an animal and there is no need to worry. He will provide you with the help you need.
A clergyman will also help you cope with the loss. Feel free to come to church, light a candle for the dog, peace of mind. Tell the priest about your loss. It will help you deal with mental anguish, calm you down, and perhaps after visiting the temple it will become much easier.
The clergy call for humility and calm, so you need to try to think less about the dog and fill the void with something. After all, a large amount of free time provokes unnecessary thoughts about the dog.

Dog

Psychological stages experienced by an owner who has lost a pet

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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.

How to console and encourage a person who has lost a dog: words of support

In most cases, psychologists recommend getting a new dog six months after the death of a pet. Moreover, it is best to take a pet from a shelter or the street. The fact is that these dogs are the most grateful, intelligent and understand the value of living in good conditions. This dog will be grateful to you for the rest of its life. We recommend not purchasing a dog so that it does not become an expensive purchase. First of all, it must be a friend to whom one feels affection and love. Most often this happens with yard dogs or dogs from a shelter.

In this way, it will be possible to brighten up the bitterness of loss; the two pets will be identified with something common, a totality. This heals the bitterness of loss, which is very good for the child. Be sure to try to think less about the dog, don’t dwell on death and don’t blame yourself. This often happens if the dog had to be euthanized due to a serious illness. You need to console yourself and understand that the opportunity to put your pet to sleep is a real gift. After all, people with cancer die in terrible pain, without the possibility of an easy death. Therefore, think about the good, and that the dog lived a carefree, happy life in comfortable conditions.

Doggie

If one of your friends' dog died, you need to sympathize.

How to console and encourage a person who has lost a dog, words of support:

I'm sorry for your loss, you were very close.
They say that animals end up on the rainbow and wait for their owners.
I'm very sorry, maybe I can help with something?

It’s better not to remind the animal about the death at all and just try to distract the person. Invite him to the movies or on vacation.

Don't say:

The dog suffered, but now everything is fine with him.
How much trouble you brought, now at least you can rest.
Don't be upset, you'll get a new one.

These expressions are the height of tactlessness.

Sad

When a dog dies, what does it take with it: signs

It’s not for nothing that a dog is considered man’s best friend. There are a lot of signs associated with her life, as well as her death. It is believed that pets can absorb all the negativity that is in the family or directed at the owners. Therefore, if a dog died suddenly, it was an accidental death from poisoning, or an accident on the road, then someone wished you harm, and the dog took it upon itself. In this way, the dog saves its owner from negative consequences.

When a dog dies, what signs does it take with it?

If it was death from old age, the dog had a happy life, absorbed all the negativity, but at the same time there was none left in the house. Such a death is considered a favorable outcome and does not promise anything bad.
In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to how the dog died. If, as a result of a very serious illness, I suffered greatly from cancer, then there is a lot of trouble and negative energy in this house. It is best to invite a priest to bless the home.
It is worth contacting a healer to work on a person’s aura and help remove damage and the evil eye. A dog is a kind of absorber of negative energy that is constantly in the house.
It is also necessary to pay attention to where exactly the dog died. If death occurred on the threshold, or in a booth, then one must expect troubles that will come from outside. It will be a stranger who will bring bad news or hurt you and your family.

Junk food

the dog is blind

The same uniform should be put on the dog when going to the country or on a visit - then your pet will be able to lead a normal lifestyle without requiring increased attention.

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Loss of vision will force the animal to develop all its senses, and the owner’s task is to help the pet learn to navigate space with ease.

Make it a rule to talk to a four-legged blind man - the intonation of your beloved owner’s voice will make it easier to move and will stimulate movement. Communicate with your dog at home and on the street, praise him for successfully avoiding obstacles and warn him about danger: simple manipulations will allow the animal not to feel loneliness and confusion. Learn to comment on your actions, even the most harmless ones: suddenly an outstretched hand may seem like a source of danger to the dog, and the breeder, who was simply petting the animal, will end up being bitten.

To develop your dog’s natural instincts, use toys - puzzles with treats hidden inside, squeakers and any sound toys. It is important to prevent your pet from withdrawing into itself - it will be really difficult to cope with blindness and psychological depression at the same time!

Just in case…

A blind dog is always at high risk. If disoriented in unfamiliar territory, a blind pet will not be able to find its way home and will die on the street. If possible, implant a chip in your dog or buy a collar with a GPS navigator, try not to let your dog off the leash, avoid contact with unfamiliar animals - these simple precautions will help prevent misfortune and guarantee a blind dog a long and happy life.

Dogs

All diseases that lead to vision loss ultimately block the retina. This could be the well-known cataract, glaucoma, age-related changes. Blindness in a dog can be congenital or develop as a result of a brain disease. With a routine external examination, it is impossible to identify the cause of blindness.

Causes of blindness in dogs

The general symptoms of blindness are the same for most diseases. The cause may be injury or pathology of the eye or a nervous disorder: • cataracts – a disease of older animals: • increased intraocular pressure, also known as glaucoma, which can occur in a latent form for some time; • optic neuritis; • corneal damage; • inflammation of the eye membrane; • detachment and degeneration of fiber as a result of hormonal disorders of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, diabetes mellitus; • uveitis.

Symptoms of Dog Blindness

Dogs' eyesight is not naturally very good. Animals rely more on their sensitive sense of smell and hearing. These feelings become even more acute as vision decreases or is lost, causing the dog to feel relatively confident in familiar surroundings. You can detect a serious vision problem by observing your pet. • First of all, the change in gait attracts attention. The dog tries to raise its paws too high, especially when moving up the stairs, walks very carefully and often bumps into various objects that get in its way. • The dog avoids active games and, when walking, tries to stay away from other dogs with whom a conflict may arise. • On the street, the animal keeps its head close to the ground, trying to navigate by smells. • The dog stops responding to commands with gestures and in general its gaze is not as attentive as before.

Diagnostics

How to check your dog's eyesight at home? The symptoms described above are a reason to test her vision more carefully: • you can place several objects on the floor of the room, turn off the lights and call your pet. A dog in an unfamiliar environment relies more on smell, since in the dark its vision is even weaker than in the light and moves cautiously. Turn on the light and watch. If there is more confidence in the dog’s movements, then, presumably, everything is in order; • direct a beam of light from a flashlight into the dog's eye and see if the pupil constricts. This is not a 100% accurate test, but if the pupil does not respond, then this is a cause for concern; • check how your pet reacts to a threat. The dog should at least somehow react to your sharp threatening gesture and recoil. If this does not happen, then the dog does not see; • When walking slowly, try guiding your pet through an obstacle course. Only an ophthalmologist can reliably identify signs of blindness in puppies. In young dogs, congenital blindness occurs when they are approximately seven weeks old. When buying a puppy, be sure to ask the breeder for documents about the health status of the parents, since many eye diseases, such as night blindness in dogs, are inherited. You can test your pet yourself at home:

• wrap cotton wool on a thread and swing it in front of your muzzle. If the puppy reacts, at least with an eye movement, then everything is normal; • cotton wool will be replaced by a laser pointer beam.

How to survive the death of a beloved dog: advice and reviews from people

There are a lot of reviews from owners who have lost their dogs. They know better than anyone how to cope with the death of a beloved pet.

How to survive the death of a beloved dog, advice and reviews from people:

Olga, owner of a bull terrier . I loved my dog very much, when she became seriously ill, she had to make a decision whether to euthanize her or not. I agreed because I could no longer watch the torment of my beloved baby. After my death, I blamed myself for a long time for agreeing to the procedure. More than a year has passed, now the emotions have subsided, I got myself a new pet, and I don’t regret it one bit.
Maria, owner of a Pekingese. When my Mickey died of old age, I immediately got a new dog. To be honest, I was not quite ready for the new character and stubbornness of the animal. Initially, I projected and expected that the new dog would behave like the deceased one. Of course, puppies are different, but this one turned out to be very active, playful and characterful. At first I was a little discouraged and not very happy. I didn’t give the dog to friends, and decided to take care of it myself. I’m very glad, although my Lizzie doesn’t look much like Mickey, she’s no worse. This is a different dog, with a different character, with its own shortcomings and advantages.
Oleg, owner of a Yorkshire terrier . My Nika died after giving birth due to lack of calcium. Unfortunately, the doctors were unable to save him. But there was no time to kill himself; there were only 4 puppies left in his arms. I fed him with a syringe and warmed him up with a heating pad. I left one baby for myself. He reproached himself for calling the doctor at the wrong time; the dog could have survived.

Dog
Initially, experts recommend preparing yourself for the death of a dog. On average, a dog lives 13-15 years, so you need to be prepared for the fact that you will outlive your pet. Under no circumstances should you be upset. If you have a child, it is recommended to get another dog after the pet turns 8-9 years old.

Confusion and grief

In many cases, dog owners know that they are more upset about losing a pet than they are about losing friends or family, and they feel guilty about it. Research has confirmed that for most people, the loss of a dog is comparable in almost every way to the passing of a loved one. Unfortunately, our culture does not have any rituals - memorial days, obituaries - that would help us get through the loss of a pet and allow us to come to terms with grief. Therefore, sometimes expressing too much grief over the loss of a beloved dog can make us feel embarrassed, which will force us not to show our feelings in front of other people.

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Perhaps if people realized how strong and intense the bond is between us and dogs, such grief would be more widely accepted. This would go a long way in helping dog owners accept their pet's death and move forward.