It can be hard to anticipate or experience the loss of a dog. In this blog, we will be sharing experiences and tips about supporting yourself and other dogs on this journey.
Taking Care of Yourself and Your Dog
Self-care is just as important as dog care when dealing with the end of life of your dog. Our first tip would be to include and inform your loved ones. Everyone who cares about you and your dog can help and support you, not only by giving you a break but also by stimulating your dog with a different set of cuddles. You will feel so much better equipped to care for your dogs if you feel well yourself, especially during dog euthanasia.
Making sure you stay healthy and get sleep is paramount. As a hospice vet, I often talk about setting up a rota of who sleeps in the same room as the dog and who sleeps in the guest room. Acknowledging the impact of caring for a sick dog and adapting where possible is important. Make sure you sleep on a proper mattress and safeguard your back, as we need our backs to help our dogs.
Making a bucket list with all the dog’s loved ones can be really inspiring and create some great memories, which might soften the pain of missing them. Knowing about dog euthanasia and how to handle it, they had the best time they could right up until the end, which is important. It gives you something positive to focus on when it’s easy to dwell only on what lies ahead. It can help bring focus to the moment instead.
Don’t go through it alone. It is best to break the isolation of caring for a terminal dog as early in the process as possible and to include others in your worries and concerns. At dignipets, we offer online consults for exactly that purpose and more. We can discuss what matters for you and your dog’s quality of life until their final moments, including decisions around dog euthanasia.
Preparing for the future. We only have so much control when it comes to end-of-life situations. Knowing what lies ahead and thinking about decisions you will be asked to make at a difficult time can help. Memorialising your dog can give you ideas on how to pay tribute. Looking up aftercare options after your dog has passed away can give you a feeling of being more prepared.
Looking after others
Do you have a loved one who is dealing with the care of a terminally ill dog?
Listening without offering solutions can be difficult but very helpful. Give them time to grieve their dog, setting aside your own experiences unless they ask you to share. This means accepting that their way of grieving might be different from yours. When someone shares something difficult, we often feel we should fix it and make it better
But when it comes to dog loss, it is better to listen instead.
Referring to supportive organisations can be tremendously helpful. Lots of organisations that offer help with dog loss are available for support long before your dog has passed away. You can also book an online visit for them with one of our supportive team members if you feel they would be more comfortable talking to a professional. Joining a support page to read about other dog carers’ experiences can also help hugely.
Volunteering to help can also be very rewarding. Especially if your friend or loved one is elderly. Knowing their dog’s care needs will be met can prevent a lot of anxiety. The Cinnamon Trust has been doing this for years and has a lot of useful information on this subject.
We support dog carers every day with guidance and quality-of-life assessments
Our hospice vets work with you to create a plan that considers all your dog’s needs and wishes.
We’ll help your family implement this plan and, if needed, guide you through future decisions.
With your veterinary team, we’ll support your dog’s care through a personalised plan for the best at-home care during dog euthanasia
We even offer our hospice vet consultations online via video call to provide advice on veterinary care, diet and support, with less stress to your pet or you.
