The death of a loved one, be it a family member or your pet, can be equally sad and can lead you into an abyss of grief which seems to never end.
Grieving the death of your pet is a process that is understandably difficult, since you’ve not just lost a furry friend, but also a companion, unconditional love, and emotional support.
Why is Losing a Pet So Painful?
Our pets bring us comfort in numerous different ways; they go with you on your travels, greet you when you return home from a long day at work, and show their love by putting their whole trust in you.
In a sense, animals become a part of our family and they provide us with a kind of unconditional love that we really don’t get much from other places.
Apart from this feeling of love, there’s also a strong sense of attachment that we have with our pets, considering we spend a lot of time around them – sometimes more than the time we spend with our parents.
Moreover, in case you’re grieving a pet after losing them from euthanasia, you may be feeling guilt in addition to immense sadness. You might even be questioning yourself whether you made the right decision or not.
In such instances, remember that if euthanasia was recommended by a vet, your pet was probably going through a lot of unbearable pain, that was not going to get better. So, in reality, you saved them from dying a slow and painful death.
How long would you continue to feel the grief?
There’s no correct answer for that, since we all process our feelings in different ways, but one thing can be assured that the grief and sadness would lessen over time.
During this time, don’t try to rush through the process. You may want to talk to someone who’s been through the same and who can relate. It’s also recommended to try a mourning process, such as having a goodbye ceremony for your pet, finding ways to memorialize them, or by simply sharing your grief with family and a counselor.