A child may be afraid that other people or animals he loves may abandon them. How you deal with the grief process can determine whether the experience has a positive or negative effect on your child’s personal development. As we age, we experience an increasing number of major life changes, including the loss of friends, family animal communicator and pets. If you are an older adult living alone, your pet was probably your only partner and caring for the animal gave you a sense of purpose and self-esteem. While many people expect their pets to pass by quietly while sleeping, it may not happen, Lagoni says. As an owner, you may have to face the possibility of euthanasia.
Having this type of support is especially helpful with depression. Some psychotherapists also specialize in working with teens, while play therapists can help younger children overcome their emotions. Explain the loss of your pet to young children in a way they understand. Unfortunately, death is a natural part of life, so it is important to be honest with your child. It can be tempting to protect your child’s feelings by telling them that your pet is just gone, but this will cause more fear, guilt and confusion in the long run.
Children should be proud to have so much compassion and great concern about their companions. Many pets eat less after losing a furry friend, especially if the deceased was the “leader” of the pack. The leader, especially in dog families, generally controls meals and other dogs “follow the leader” to toilets.
Without the alpha dog to start eating, the meal routine is interrupted and the surviving dog is allowed to eat less. According to a study in New Zealand, about 30% of pets have a loss of appetite after losing a partner. If you are also upset, it is normal to express your emotions in an obvious way. But if you cry a lot or express yourself very intensely, don’t try to do it for your pet. As Catster notes, “Cats are very sensitive and respond to our emotions and feelings.
Some parents feel they should try to protect their children from the grief of losing a pet by not talking about the pet’s death or by not being honest about what happened. For example, pretending that the animal has run away or ‘gone to sleep’, a child can leave even more confused, scared and betrayed when he finally learns the truth. It is much better to be honest with the children and give them the opportunity to cry in their own way. The role that the animal has played in its life can also have an impact.
But the grief of losing Sunny was much greater than I had endured before after the deaths of my parents, grandparents and other dogs. Whether a pet dies on natural, tragic or intervention, it is always difficult to be truly “prepared”. When a pet dies naturally, it can be a shock that can be done with little or no warning.
Don’t let your dog feel like he’s alone when he’s in such a stressful situation. People love their pets and consider them members of their family. Caregivers often celebrate their pets’ birthdays, trust their animals and carry photos of them in their wallets. So when a beloved pet dies, it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed by the intensity of his pain. Some retired older adults who live alone may find it more difficult to adapt to life without a pet.
That’s the only way to explain what happened to your friend and why a sweet cat or dog friend has disappeared from his life. Seeing the friend’s body allows them to understand that he will not return. They still mourn, but don’t feel compelled to search for their missing friend. However, if that family member is your pet, there is a unique array of emotions you have to deal with. We asked Laurel Lagoni, a pioneer in pain relief programs for pet owners, to share her thoughts and considerations that can help her deal better in a difficult time. Losing a pet is difficult for everyone, including their remaining pet.